Building a 1080p experience

[redtrigger]

Hi,

I am looking a purchasing a system that will allow me to: -

Download 1080p movies
Watch HDTV
Listen to Ipod/music

I am thinking in order to keep my pc as a network pc only and not a media player, I need the following: -

LCD or Plasma TV 1080p (Sharp LC42D83X)
HTPC with dual digital tuners connected to the internet
A/V receiver with HDMI connections. Is this necessary or can I connect my home theatre speakers to the HTPC?

All these are to be connected via HDMI cables (not wireless) so that I do not loose any quality in Video and Sound. I figure that this will allow me to get rid of a whole load of gear which is taking up a lot of space in the lounge room, and leave me with two boxes and a TV.

Is this correct or am I totally missing the point with the 1080p thing??

redtrigger

[[_chef_]]

"Download 1080p movies"

Where should they come from???

[rallynavvie]

]"Download 1080p movies"

Where should they come from???

Seconded.

I think the sheer size of the disc images for 1080p content deters most people from pirating such material and even if it were a legitimate service it would still either require a lot of bandwidth or a lot of time

[jman98]

The only way I know of to currently download 1080p movies is to get them through what I would call alternative means of distribution. Such means are usually not legal. There's a lot of talk about various systems that eventually will allow you to legally download 1080p movies, but those systems aren't here yet.

[redtrigger]

There are plenty of 1080p movies for download on the internet.

Would someone care to comment on the system I am looking at setting up??.

cheers,

redtrigger

[TJK1911]

Would someone care to comment on the system I am looking at setting up??.

Unless your viewing distance is no more than five feet, you're going to need a bigger television than 42" to get the benefit of 1080p resolution. There are any number of places on the net to calculate optimum viewing distance/screen size/screen resolution. 42" is pretty dang small and unless you're right up next to it, 1080p is overkill.

YMMV

[lordhutt]

]"Download 1080p movies"

Where should they come from???

You can get about any HD or Bluray disc.
Full downloads....20-50 gig.
Everything is out there if you know where to look...and I am not talking about that P2P garbage.

As far as building a system is concerned...I would look here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26

[Video Head]

There are plenty of 1080p movies for download on the internet.

Would someone care to comment on the system I am looking at setting up??.

cheers,

redtrigger

The system would not be difficult. LCD or plasma is a personal preferance as is the size of the screen, but size does matter. The HTPC would not need to be anything special: get a case, P/S, mobo, processor, memory, a couple of tuner cards, hard drives, optical drives, fans, O/S and frontend. You'll probably want wireless keyboard and mouse as well as a remote control. There are mobos out there these days that have integrated HDMI, gig ethernet, a dozen USB 2.0 ports for connecting mp3 players/cameras/drives, Firewire, SPDIF & HD analogue audio. Connect the HTPC to the TV via HDMI. Connect the HTPC to the reciever via SPDIF and analogue audio. Connect cable/satelite to the tuner cards and the TV. Connect the TV audio out to the reciever.

Do you need 2 tuner cards because you want to record 2 shows at the same time?

[redtrigger]

Thanks TJK1911 and everyone,

I will do some investigating on the optimal size for 1080p and check out AVS Forum for more info.

regards,

redtrigger

[lordhutt]

As for a Universal Remote/keyboard

I just received this today.

The Gyration Media Center and PC Universal Remote Control with Compact Keyboard Suite.

Wireless RF (no line of sight required) up to 100 feet.
The remote doubles as a mouse (gyroscopic) and is also programmable for your AV equipment.

I have been looking for a way to run my HTPC for about 6 months now and I think I finally found a remote that I like.

Also, make sure your video card is HDCP compliant.

[rallynavvie]

Unless your viewing distance is no more than five feet, you're going to need a bigger television than 42" to get the benefit of 1080p resolution. There are any number of places on the net to calculate optimum viewing distance/screen size/screen resolution. 42" is pretty dang small and unless you're right up next to it, 1080p is overkill.

42" is good for a room with 10-15' of viewing distance. I have a 37" in my apartment and it's plenty large for a 10' viewing distance. I can see pixellation on 1080p content when I'm sitting closer than 5' to that display. However some transfers I have on BRD don't look much better than upconverted DVDs. 42" is by no means a small TV, we don't need to start supersizing our televisions just for the e-peen factor

[lordhutt]

Unless your viewing distance is no more than five feet, you're going to need a bigger television than 42" to get the benefit of 1080p resolution. There are any number of places on the net to calculate optimum viewing distance/screen size/screen resolution. 42" is pretty dang small and unless you're right up next to it, 1080p is overkill.

42" is good for a room with 10-15' of viewing distance. I have a 37" in my apartment and it's plenty large for a 10' viewing distance. I can see pixellation on 1080p content when I'm sitting closer than 5' to that display. However some transfers I have on BRD don't look much better than upconverted DVDs. 42" is by no means a small TV, we don't need to start supersizing our televisions just for the e-peen factor

Hmmm...I have a 52" at about 8' away....I wouldn't mind if it was a 60!!

[[_chef_]]

]"Download 1080p movies"

Where should they come from???

You can get about any HD or Bluray disc.
Full downloads....20-50 gig.
Everything is out there if you know where to look...and I am not talking about that P2P garbage.

As far as building a system is concerned...I would look here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26

Sorry, that never would be "1080p" then.

[lordhutt]

]

]"Download 1080p movies"

Where should they come from???

You can get about any HD or Bluray disc.
Full downloads....20-50 gig.
Everything is out there if you know where to look...and I am not talking about that P2P garbage.

As far as building a system is concerned...I would look here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26

Sorry, that never would be "1080p" then.

Huh???