[seand]

 http://www.gcas.org/albums/Sean_D/blackcase.gif

Primary Use

Play and Scale DVD's to fit my HS10 1366x768

Save and Replay DVD and NTSC

MP3 Jukebox (thus the wireless connection)

Play Downloaded Movie Trailers


Note: I can download MP3's and Movie Trailers on another PC and then upload them VIA my Wireless LAN to the HTPC

Other Use

Gaming (the occasional 1st person shoot-em-up or racing games)

Hardware

Black ATX Case

ATX RAID Intel 845PE Chipset Motherboard

2 GHz P4 Celeron

RAM 512 MB

HDD 120 GB Western Digital + 8MB Buffer

CD/DVD Toshiba SD-M1612 16X/48X

Logitech Cordless Optical Elite DUO PS/2 & USB Black

D-LINK DWL-520+ PCI Wireless LAN Card

CL Sound Blaster Audigy 2 5.1 PCI

ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR AGP w/TV-OUT

Software

Win XP Home

Descaler

Theater Tek DVD 1.5


I can build this system for around $1,200.00


What am I missing??


Hardware / Software Recommendations?


Future Upgrades

Hi Def Capture

DVD RW

RAID Array to store HD material

Up the RAM to 1 GB

H3D

 

[bgyori]

Looks like it will be a very nice system. You may want to consider an IR reciever and something like girder (IR controlling software). That way you won't have to pick up your keyboard or mouse everytime you want to pause your movie.

 

[mulveling]

The HS10 can only do [email protected] Hz. This is fine for desktop, but it will cause stuttering for NTSC DVDs, which need 60Hz for stutter free playback. Luckily other resolutions can look great with DVDs, but just keep in mind that you can't bypass the HS10's scaler without giving up smooth DVD playback.


Also, any reason you chose the Audigy2? You can probably get better sound cheaper (Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Maudio Revolution).


If you're interested in using the ffdshow filters to improve dvd playback or if you want to use the more advanced features in Dscaler, you'll probably end up wanting more horsepower than that Celeron. If I were you I would take those Audigy2 bucks and get a Santa Cruz OEM (assuming you're using digital out) and a P4 2.53.


Mike U.

 

[seand]

bgyori-

I hadn't thought of that... I have a Pronto NG, so controlling the PC could be pretty cool.


mulveling-

Where did you get that "[email protected] Hz" from? I'm looking in the manual, and can't find it.


So I guess I can't make the Radeon output in [email protected] Hz then??


Or is it that D-Scaler can's do that??

 

[arungupta]

If you want the flexibility to play WM9 encoded video, consider


ASUS P4PE motherboard - $111

Pentium 4 (not celeron) 2.4 or 2.53 GHs CPU - $145 to $185

Kingston or similar 512MB PC2700 RAM - $71


(Prices per newegg.com)

 

[bgyori]

Going with a P4 instead of a Celeron may be a good idea depending upon what you will be running on this system (most notably first person games). Due to the larger cache it will far out perform the Celeron when it comes to graphic applications. I have a Celeron with a gf3 ti and the performance of the video card is really hampered by the Celeron’s low cache level when it comes to 3d games. Also the higher FSB speed is another big plus.

 

[M.S.-Ohio]

No question about it, the Celeron is a great CPU, but the brunt of its abilities are not falling in the HTPC arena. Go with the P4, even if you have to drop down to a 1.8 and OC it to the 2.4 speed (no sweat with P4 CPU's, trust me).


The Celly is a great "business class/office CPU" but its not a great multimedia CPU.

 

[Pagali]

Maybe I'm blind, but I don't see a capture card listed. What are you going to use with dScaler? The Flyvideo 2000 or 3000 seems to be quite popular at present.

 

[Doc Tonic]

Just a few thoughts:

1. I love my audigy 2 card...have both the platinum and regular and they sound great. The creative THX speakers are also a nice future addition

2. Instead of the 120 GB drive you might want to consider two 80 GB drives. That way you can have one drive only for your OS and apps and one for recording shows (gives you the ability to wipe the drive periodically to clean it and keep it defragmented).

3. I have the cordless logitech keyboard and mouse and I want to throw them away. My other computer has the MS wireless optical mouse, which is far far superior. Go MS for that.

4. As for software, Theatertek works great with the 9700 pro and you'll also need powerstrip. If this is primarily for HTPC, stick with the 9700 if you are into games for $100 bucks more you can get the 9800 which is much better. But you'll be sort of on your own in terms of powerstrip support from the forum until we all get one of those. Also, you can be sure the initial 9800 drivers will be a bit screwy.

 

[Rop]

While we're at the topic of wireless mice and keyboards: I love my gyration combo ! The mouse works by waving it in the air (not a gimmick, it really works!) and they use RF rather than IR so line-of-sight is not needed. Works right across the 20' of my living room and kitchen.


-Rob-

 

[LeonidasVouros]

Yesterday I finished a similar HTPC with that you are planning to make. HS10 is a marvelous projector and with a low gain 1.0 screen you will have a good contrast ratio. you can easily view your PC screen even with some lights on. I live in Europe and here we have tha pal DVDs. I SEE NO STUTTERING WITH THE 1368*768 56 HZ RESOLUTION. ALTHOUGH AT 56HZ THE PICTURE IS STABLE WITH NO FLICKER. ANYWAY FOR LCD PANELS ANY REFRESH RATE AROUND 60HZ IS OPTIMAL (DIFFERENT FROM CRT MODELS..)I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH NTSC PLAYBACK.... I USE WINDVD PLATINUM WHICH WITH COLOR HARDWARE AND DXVA ACC ON GIVES A VERY GOOD PICTUTE AND ABSOLUTE RIGHT SPDIF OUT. NOTHING TO COMPARE WITH POWERDVD XP. I AM AWARE OF THE FORUM OPTION FOR THEATER TEC BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE OF A BETTER PICTURE QUALITY. WINDVD IS CRITISED FOR SPDIF AND STUTTER PROBLEM DUE TO INTERVIDEO'S FAILURE TO INCLUDE A DXVA OPTION AMONG THE OTHER TWO..... AFTER THAT BEING ENABLED THE PICTURE QUALITY IS ENCHANCED..... FOR VIDEO CAPTURE YOU COULD ALSO TRY THE AIW 9500 CARD WHICH I THINK HAVE ALSO AN ATI REMOTE CONTROL....

YOU COULD ALSO SEE MY OTHER POST
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=247144

 

[seand]

REVISED LIST:

------------------


Hardware

$55 Silver/Black ATX Case 300W-400W power supply

$110 ASUS P4PE motherboard

$185 2.52 GHz P4 Celeron

$70 RAM 512 MB

$65 HDD 1 - 40 GB Western Digital + 8MB Buffer

$99 HDD 2 - 120 GB Western Digital + 8MB Buffer

$45 CD/DVD Toshiba SD-M1612 16X/48X

$100 Gyration Cordless Keyboard & Mouse Black

$60 D-LINK DWL-520+ PCI Wireless LAN Card

$76 CL Sound Blaster Audigy 2

$319 ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR AGP w/TV-OUT

$25 TIRA USB IR (or some other IR adapter)


Software

$90 Win XP Home

$70 Theater Tek DVD 1.5

powerstrip

girder

ffdshow


I'm looking into different sound cards since all I really need is digital audio in and out. My Reciever will handle the decoding...


I'm getting closer to $1400...


COMMENTS??

 

[eggz]

Where are you planning on placing your HTPC?


If it is anywhere near where you are going to being watching your plasma, you should consider how you are going to quiet this thing down. I'll assure you that the PSU you get with a $55 case, the stock P4 cooler and the Radeon fan are going to drown out your murmurs of happiness as you watch your gorgeous display. HTPCs are meant to be seen, and not heard (unlike children you CAN quiet them down without spending lots of money).


I'd suggest spending a few dollars on quieter components (visit silentpcreview.com for ideas). If you are not going to do much gaming, you could just use SPDIF pass-through from the mobo and save the money you were going to spend on the Audigy 2. To my ears, the Seagate drives are the quietest around; I'd also suggest only putting one drive in your HTPC and use another machine on your network as the media server.


I also agree with Mary H, the Flyvideo 2000 is an awesome value.

 

[seand]

eggz-


Good Points. It's an LCD projector, not a plasma. The HTPC will be near at the front of the room - under the screen near the normal DVD, VCR, Cable box, Reciever, etc.


The projector will be ceiling mounted about 15 feet away (+ 8 ft vertical).


I like the idea of a media server in another room. I wonder if an 11MBps wireless network will be fast enough??


I may just use the motherboards pass thru sound. We'll see...

 

[arungupta]

seand - a suggestion on networking - I have both wired and wireless running in my house. I have found wireless network good for web browsing, barely adequate for music/photo sharing and not at all suitable for video sharing. The realized wireless bandwidth is not 11Mbps but only a few Mbps. So I use the 100mbps wired net for all media sharing, and wireless only for regular PC work from a laptop.

 

[arungupta]

Also regarding sound cards, P4PE has on-board sound with SPDIF digital out. See review:

http://www.motherboards.org/articles...ws/1215_2.html


"It has 6 channel on-board audio using the Soundmax AD1980 chip. The motherboard supports RCA and optical digital outputs with an additional bracket. There are CD and AUX in ports for CD-Audio and Auxiliary devices on the motherboard stuck between two PCI slots. This is an installation issue."


The PCI bracket (not a PCI card) comes with the motherboard, you insert it into a slot in your case and attach the cable to the motherboard. The review has a picture of the bracket.

 

[seand]

If i use the board's sound and lan plus just 1 HDD, I save about $200 by not buying the following:


$65 HDD 1 - 40 GB Western Digital + 8MB Buffer

$60 D-LINK DWL-520+ PCI Wireless LAN Card

$76 CL Sound Blaster Audigy 2

 

[mjcumming]

I have the Sony12HT and run it at [email protected] I do not have problems wit h stuttering on DVDs or HD content playback on my Radeon despite this unconventional refresh rate.


Mike

 

[Jim Espo]

just my .02 cents worth..I agree a P4 is a more robust processor, but if you are on a budget, is it really necessary?.


Just about wrapping up my HTPC, waiting for the Enermax 350 watt Power Supply to arrive.


My use is similar to Seand's, and I have followed the recommendations from people on this forum. Currently I am running a PIII 700 with Nvidia 32meg DDR, 256 meg pc100 on a old Abit BH6 MB,Firewire,SB 128 2 7200 meg WD 60 megs and CDR and 36X CD. Hooked to the net with a Dlink net card and cable modem. Not that impressive, yet it runs my 1st person shooters, edits video and burns CD's without a hitch. According to quite a few people this is plenty for a HTPC, although not cutting edge.


My new PC (due to be finished 4/14 according to UPS) I guess doesn't measure up either. I have ASUS PB4 with a Celeron 2.0, a SB Audigy2, Radeon 9000 Pro, Sony DVD Rom, 50 x CD, 256 meg of pc 133 (lets see how this works for starters). A Maxtor 40 meg 7200 liquid bearing (drive #2 is later) all in a silver DIGN case with VFD.


I have under $800 in the rig, and only recycled the CD drive. $20 for the RAM at BestBuy after rebates helped alot too. When prices drop a bit I want a DVD-R. I was leery of using the onboard sound so I bought the SB. My receiver is a THX Pioneer Elite and I want to do a side by side comparison of the two. If they are identical then I sell the SB.


I dunno, the other PC does everything well, although not stellar. A Celeron 2.0 not up to snuff? What the hell is he gonna do with the box, run NASA? $80 for a Celeron on GOOGLEGEAR.com is tough to beat.. I remember not too long ago the consensus was a 1.0 worked fine...GRRRRRRRR! MORE POWER!


Ok, maybe it was a nickels worth...If it sucks I'll let you guys know and go P4 shopping.

 

[snoop]

My thinking exactly, in almost all of the video encode/decode benchmarks i've seen, the celeron equalled the p4 from a performance perspective. Perhaps if you're layering a handful of filters and postprocessing the p4 might marginally outshine the celeron. I'm just not sure its worth the extra hundred bucks at the 2ghz level. But at that level the c2.0 will clearly require less power and generate less heat than a p4 in the 2.5GHz range.


I have a pretty nice 1GHz p3 machine decoding divx and dvd's with ffdshow on postprocessing high out to a projector running a 110" pic, with excellent quality, and a Celeron 1.6GHz doing the same with ffdshows postprocessing full on and the sharpen filter engaged. I'm looking at 50% cpu utilization on the p3 and 35-40% on the C1.6. Those are peaks per Task Manager. I also just built my girlfriend a celeron 2.0/845 PE/ATI 8500 system to do the same divx/dvd decoding and we're running bsplayer and ffdshow/ac3filter with postprocessing on full and several of the filters tweaked about dependent on the media, and its running less than 40% all the time.


Who has a setup that is running a visually beneficial configuration on a particular processor that has run task manager to ascertain cpu utilization and can show that a C2.0 isnt adequate for 99.9% of video decoding? Note I said DE-coding. If I were doing complex encoding (and didnt want to wait all night for it) or building my own dvd media I might rethink the extra cache on the p4. But as of right now a substantially cheaper processor looks good for playback, and a year from now when the 3GHz hyperthreading units are a couple of hundred bucks I can drop one of those in and waterfall the celeron to some other purpose.