[Detonation]

Hello all, I've finally gotten around to building an HTPC to organize and easily access the numerous media hard drives I have laying around. I was originally just going to build a media server similar to a NAS that my PC, Xbox, and TV could connect to over the network, but after I priced things out, it will be worth it to spend the little bit more and just build a low end HTPC.


Maybe current home theater setup contains:

Samsung LN46A860 HDTV

Sony STR-DH700 Reciever

Yahama NS-SP1800 BL 5.1 Speakers

Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii


(I spent the big bucks on my TV and got budget audio equipment because I'll be in an apartment for at least the next couple years so I don't need a massive sound system).


Right now I am stuck choosing what motherboard and chip set I want. Here's what I've determined already:


-AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Processor

-CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W PSU (already bought, $30 after rebate $20 rebate only good on today on newegg)

-4GB DDR2 800 RAM (2 x 2GB, I'll pick up something that's cheap)

-Either the older Coolermaster Case I own or an actual HTPC case, still deciding if its worth the extra money

-Harmony 550 Remote (already own, will buy an IR receiver if the case I get doesn't have one)

-Smaller HD I already have for OS drive, and then 2 or 3 TB drives.

-MediaPortal

-Eventually I will want to use my computer as a DVR for OTR channels, but for now I'm going to leave the TV Tuner out.


Like many people, I'm torn between the ATI 780g and the nVidia 8300 chipset. My research on here tells me that the 780g has better video but can't output 7.1 audio over HDMI, while others says nVidia is overall better, but I haven't found enough info to make a choice. Both are around the same price.


What I need to know about the 780g is will it output 5.1 audio over HDMI still? I only have 5.1 speakers and do not plan on adding a blu-ray drive to my setup, just playing video files (HD and SD). The only video that would make use of the 5.1 would be the x264 HD videos I have - I use my Xbox for upconverting and watching DVDs. So, my plan is to just hook the HDMI output of my HTPC to one of the inputs on my receiver so it feeds to my TV and speakers.


Newegg has some combo discounts with the 5050e so if I were to buy the 780g, I would get the GIGABYTE GA-MA78GPM-UD2H and if I choose the 8300 I would get the ASUS M3N78-EM. Also, is the M3N78-VM worth the extra $15 compared the 8200 M3N78-VM?
(sorry I would link them but I need 3 posts first)


Let me know what you think. I know this setup is very similar to a typical setup and these questions have probably been asked many times (I tried searching but couldn't get conclusive answers) but I appreciate any advice you guys may have. Thanks.

 

[lsilvest]

When it comes to video cards you'll get get diehards with either ATI or Nvidia. I personally prefer ATI for multimedia/video. I've found it much easier to get the proper resolution with ATI software and drivers (even though their drivers can drive you crazy at times). I have 2 dedicated HTPC's, the main one using a 780G mobo with HDMI and it has specs very close to yours and handles HD recording and playback flawlessly (using BTV) and both video and audio output are excellent. I do use a ATI video card instead of the onboard. The onboard was ok for HD playback, but I wanted more processing power for editing. On this one I have the HDMI to my HDTV and the sound through the TV to an AVR. I believe the HDMI is sending out 5.1 if the source has it, but the TV can't transmit true 5.1 to the AVR. However, I have listened to the same OTA station with discrete 5.1 going to my AVR from the TV tuner (which does send 5.1 through the coax digital output) and through the HTPC and when it comes out I honestly can't tell the difference.


My other is one I set up with left over parts from upgrades and it has an Nvidia 8600GT and I cannot get that card to display properly (always overscans) with either HDMI or component. I finally used VGA to get the screen displaying without hiding the side icons or taskbar.


I have a Gigabyte 780G on my main pc which I also do some recording and HD playback. The onboard sound on this one is really good - Gigabyte has added Dolby output options to the Realtek menu. Here, though I'm using component and optical to my AVR.


I do highly recommend the 780G chipset and if you'll check further I think you'll find it's probably the most popular for HTPC's whether you use the onboard or a video card. My cards are fanless and I have no overheating problems with either unit using them. By the way, one of my mobos is a Foxconn and I am very happy with it - been stable as a rock and the power options for sleep and wakeup have been impeccable (using XP SP3).


Do want to point out though that I am not a gamer, so what works for me may not be as desirable for hard-core gamers.

 

[lsilvest]

Just saw another thread on here someone posted that Newegg has a new Gigabye 785G that passes 7.1 thru HDMI. May be your answer.

 

[Detonation]

Thanks for the replies.


I already have a gaming PC thats been a continual work in progress over the years as I upgrade parts. Currently an Athlon 5600+ on an Asus M3A-HDMI mother board with a Radeon 4850 and 4GB Ram running Vista 64. So this will just be a dedicated HTPC.


I'm leaning towards the 780g, which was my first choice to begin with, because I will never really need 7.1 (or by the time I do, it will be time to upgrade the HTPC anyways), and no one ever complains about it's video quality. My PC's mobo has this chipset in it, and before I put in the 4850, multimedia playback was fine, it just couldn't handle games like Half Life 2 very well. I did see that the 785g that just came out on newegg, but like I said above, I don't think its worth the extra money now for the 7.1 support and better graphics. No need to spend the extra $28 for features I won't notice or use, along with taking the risk on a brand new chipset that could have problems.

 

[scorrpio]

Unless Realtek added Dolby Liive support, 780G will not give you 5.1 - unless you watch something that can output DD or DTS. You might not need 7.1, but really these days, it is either plain-Jane stereo, or 7.1 - meaning if you want 5.1, you need to get a 7.1 solution, and configure it into 5.1 mode. I would seriously consider a 785G mobo. (or an 8ch LPCM Nvidia solution).

 

[Detonation]

Basically the only time I will make use of 5.1 is when I'm using my HTPC for HD Media (like .mkv videos). I watch DVDs on my Xbox for the upconverting, and I will eventually buy a Blu-Ray player or PS3 rather than a drive for my HTPC. All other video will be smaller avi files like xvid or divx.


So, my bottom line question, if the source material (lets say a 1080p x264 .mkv HD movie) has 5.1 audio, can I send that to my receiver over HDMI for 5.1 output, or will it always be stereo? And also, could I do video on HDMI and audio on the optical out, and would it be 5.1?


I found this topic and read through it, which was inconclusive, but its also outdated:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1028559&page=2

 

[Bigbird999]



Quote:
And also, could I do video on HDMI and audio on the optical out, and would it be 5.1?

This is exactly what I do. With a 780 G mobo and onboard ATI video. Video via HDMI or VGA (better for my older plasma) to my TV and audio via optical to my elcheapo receiver. Audio is 5.1 if the video file has it. DVDs and mkv HD rips with 5.1 audio are outstanding. As a bonus the mobo has DTS connect so it outputs 5.1 (positional sound) for gaming. I'm not a serious gamer, but to improve the gaming fps I dropped in a 4670 and for me it is pretty fantastic. FarCry at 60fps 5 ft from a 42 in plasma with 5.1 sound.


I screwed around for a while trying to get HDMI>AVR>TV video and audio working but all the components wouldn't play nice with one another so I gave up and went with the above config.

BB

 

[lsilvest]



Quote:
Originally Posted by scorrpio /forum/post/16834609


Unless Realtek added Dolby Liive support, 780G will not give you 5.1

Whether it was Realtek or Gigabyte that did it, my MA78G-DS3HP has options for Dolby Live, Dolby Pro Logic, and Dolby Virtual. I'd guess the other newer Gigabyte mobos also have it.

 

[saukriver]

It looks like newegg.com no longer has the Advanced Micro Devices AMD Athlon X2 5050e 2.6 GHz 45W CPU available? Has AMD discontinued, and what is a comparable replacement for a 45W CPU

 

[schmitty338]

I would suggest the Athlon II 245. It's 65W, but for the speed that is quite acceptable. Also, you can undervolt it if you want to make it the same wattage as the 4850/5050e, but quite a lot faster.

 

[saukriver]

The Athlon II 245 was suggested by renethx on another thread. Interesting.


How do you undervolt something?

 

[schmitty338]



Quote:
Originally Posted by saukriver /forum/post/16892706


The Athlon II 245 was suggested by renethx on another thread. Interesting.


How do you undervolt something?

You probably won't need to undervolt, since the Athlon II's run quite cool. . . but if you want to, you can just decrease the CPU voltage in the BIOS (depending on the Motherboard) incrementally until your computer is no longer stable. Then up the voltage a couple notches so it's stable and you're set.