Need advice on building a HTPC.

[vcd4me]

Ok so for Xmas I am finally getting a dvd writer.

I have decided to also build a new computer for it as well seeing as there are some great prices(after rebates) on components around xmas time. There are only two definets in this build the drive and an amd based computer.

Here are my requirements:
watch/record TV
play/back-up DVDs
5.1/6.1 sound


Now having said that I have only built 1 computer and it was a while ago socket 370...old ....real old...LOL. so excuse some of these questions.

Here are my questions in no particular order:
1. Is ther any other alternatives than www.tigerdirect.com to buy cheap kits.
2. I noticed that on tigerdirect they have names after the amd processors like thorughbred , barton...etc....What exeactly does this mean ?
3. Is there anywebsites you can recommend to learn about building computers?..prefably on with plenty of pictures in the guides
4. I also noticed the memory has changed.... Any websites where I can learn about the diffrent types of memory?
5. For video - I am considering an ATI AIW card... any other suggestions
6. For audio - I am considering sound blaster... any other suggestions

I am sure I will probably need to add to this list as we go.

Thanks in advance
VCD4ME

[rallynavvie]

Building a system hasn't changed much since those days so I doubt you'll need a guide or anything. You may want to buy the motherboard with the CPU as a combo from someplace like www.micropro.com just to save yourself the hassle of getting the heatsink/fan on with thermal paste, plus a place like that warranties their work for at least a year. From there adding the PCI/VGA cards is a breeze and adding hard drives even easier. Hardest part about building a computer is getting the OS up and running in my opinion. Another thing to consider is to get WinXP Pro with your hardware purchase as many places sell the OEM CD with most hardware purchases.

If you go AMD get a Barton core, it has a higher FSB and better cache which is always handy. I like the Asus A7N8X Deluxe board for single AMD set-ups, it's worked well for several of my friends. Memory is dependant on the processors and the board, but with the above combo get a set of 256MB sticks from Mushkin to utilize the dual-channel RAM. 512MB is a good amount for just about anything. Hard drives are up to you, but you'll need one boot drive and a secondary drive, preferrably a large one (200GB or greater). For a video card get a Radeon 9800XT if you can afford it. Forget the AIW thing, capturing through a VGA card is bollocks. Get a Canopus ADVC-50 or 100 to capture/convert digital/analog video/audio. Sure it cost more but the quality is really worth it. Maybe then you can just get a cheaper VGA card (I just picked up a GeForceFX 5600 Ultra for $100). For sound cards I like the Hercules cards, like the GameTheaterXP I've got on my video machine. It never gives me audio problems and has a ton of options for methods to output and input audio. The only thing that bothers me about it sometimes is the breakout box and its huge cable, but not a problem if you don't move your PC around as much as I do. The onboard sound on that board I mentioned is good, but not quite as good as this card or a SB Audigy Platinum. For DVD drives get a LiteOn 163 or 166 DVD-ROM since many people here (including myself) swear by them for how well they rip DVDs. They are a bit noisy though. For burners I only ever use Pioneer products but I have a Sony that works great too.

Anything else? Monitor, case, hardware MPEG encoders, RAID...?

[jeex]

he's right about the liteon dvd-rom's.. its like a jet engine.. you better make sure you get good speakers, so that you can turn the volume up high enough to listen to some mp3's while you're ripping a dvd.

[vcd4me]

rallynavvie,

Hard drives are up to you, but you'll need one boot drive and a secondary drive, preferrably a large one (200GB or greater).

Did I miss something why would I need such a big hard drive ?
DVD are only 4.7 - 9.4

Forget the AIW thing, capturing through a VGA card is bollocks

What is bollucks?

Get a Canopus ADVC-50 or 100 to capture/convert digital/analog video/audio

.
I just looked at this card in the capture card section but there is no cable input

Anything else? Monitor, case, hardware MPEG encoders, RAID...?

don't need a monitor I will be using on 65"rptv
As for a case I was thinking of the cooler master HTPC case.
Hardware mpeg encoder? that is why I was thinking about the AIW

Thanks in advance
VCD4me[/quote]

[Faustus]

I agree about capturing through a card being a pain. BUT if you want an HTPC I highly suggest checking out the following pages and forums.

http://www.thegreenbutton.com
http://www.snapstream.com

What software you use will highly change what capture hardware you buy.

[rallynavvie]

Cable input on an ADVC-100? That's what Radio Shack is for
Just drop in there and get the converter to RCA plugs and you should be set. I'm not sure what kind of signal digital cable uses but if a TV can read it I don't see why a capture card shouldn't.

You'll want to have the largest hard drives possible. Maybe use an 80-120GB as your primary and get a 200GB as your storage drive. Are you planning on using this computer to do anything else? Gaming is very fun on a PC hooked up to a home theater system in case you're wondering. When capturing you'll be getting the video in DV AVI which will take up loads of space, then you need to encode to MPEG2 to burn onto DVD to set aside for later. Or you could skip the ADVC-100 and get the Canopus DV Storm2 bundle and have true realtime MPEG encoding when you capture (if you're not planning on making any changes to it before authoring it). This would be the best way to go, however it roughly doubles the cost of your PC. Good hardware MPEG encoders ain't cheap. The one built into the AIW cards is flaky at best. I heard the Matrox one wasn't a bad job, but that's an expensive video card in its own right. Check out the Canopus website to look for MPEG encoders, I know they have a cheaper option than the Storm2 since that's mean to do serious video work with (plus you can capture from up to three sources simultaneously ).

All this is the non-brand method that I would personally use, but I'd be using my HTPC as my video workstation as well. This would make for a VERY powerful PC for almost anything worth doing on a computer. Throw dual Xeons on it and you'll have one of the most badass home theater systems in the country 8)

[Faustus]

My HTPC should be finsihed in the next 3 weeks, sadly my capture card of choice is on backorder.

[rallynavvie]

Which one are you getting? I'm going to be shopping for one next spring again. I'm not sure yet if I want to retire the ADVC-100 or the Dazzle to an HTPC or if I'm going to double up with the video box to make it that much more powerful. I've already got the Parhelia for several displays and better performance with video, I was leaning heavy toward a Storm2 system with it as well. Then I'd get a fast single CPU system for gaming and whatnot.

[mike1061]

I was using the Canopus ADVC-100 primarly to correct the audio video sync problems that my Pinnacle studio 8 had. It also is supposed to make the Pinnacle software work better because the digital format is easier to handle.
Mike.

[Faustus]

Which one are you getting? I'm going to be shopping for one next spring again. I'm not sure yet if I want to retire the ADVC-100 or the Dazzle to an HTPC or if I'm going to double up with the video box to make it that much more powerful. I've already got the Parhelia for several displays and better performance with video, I was leaning heavy toward a Storm2 system with it as well. Then I'd get a fast single CPU system for gaming and whatnot.

I'm building a MCE box so I ordered a Hauppauge PVR250MCE straight from the maker, its the only way to get it. But because of the demand they are back ordered at least 2 weeks.

After I get the card in the last part I need is for my GeForce4 to get back from GAinward, then the GF2 goes into the media box for TV out and I'm ready to rock, the remote came in from newegg on Wed. I'm building a barely acceptable system for it, because its going to be used only for this and not as a full computer, and also because I'm doing it on the cheap side, no special small form factor or anything. Just a stardard computer case with the parts in it next to my TV.

[rallynavvie]

Even if I did make an HTPC specifically I don't think I'd use a mini-ATX system. I always thought the Antec Sonata with the piano black finish on it would make a gorgeous addition to my home theater system.

[vcd4me]

Well acording to all these post and comments I actually am lost and confused !

Lets try this nice and slow then maybe I can figure where I went wrong.

I'll start over.

This machine will be used in home theater and office. No games at all, I out grew games in my teenage years and I am way beyond my teenage years. I want to record tv shows like a tivo as well as back up my dvds. I want to be able to watch tv while using my computer.

I really can't understand why I would want to get 2 video cards, one for capping and one for tv out? That is why I stated I was thinking about the ATI AIW. It has everything I need. I have an old ATI AIW and love it.

Now as for sound something with spdif to audio receiver what I was thinking.

I really don't understand why I would need a 200+ plus and a second HD I have capped on my old computer with 40 GB partioned 3 ways 1/3 for programs 1/3 for capping 1/30 for dvd backup?

Thanks in advance
VCD4ME

[rallynavvie]

How do you plan on backing up DVD9s with only one hard drive?

[Faustus]

Well acording to all these post and comments I actually am lost and confused !

Lets try this nice and slow then maybe I can figure where I went wrong.

I'll start over.

This machine will be used in home theater and office. No games at all, I out grew games in my teenage years and I am way beyond my teenage years. I want to record tv shows like a tivo as well as back up my dvds. I want to be able to watch tv while using my computer.

I really can't understand why I would want to get 2 video cards, one for capping and one for tv out? That is why I stated I was thinking about the ATI AIW. It has everything I need. I have an old ATI AIW and love it.

Now as for sound something with spdif to audio receiver what I was thinking.

I really don't understand why I would need a 200+ plus and a second HD I have capped on my old computer with 40 GB partioned 3 ways 1/3 for programs 1/3 for capping 1/30 for dvd backup?

Thanks in advance
VCD4ME

You want to watch TV at the same time on a TV or on the comptuer screen?

The reason you want 2 cards is the AIW cards do not support hardware mpeg encoding and therefore suck ALOT of CPU time just trying to do the compression needed for PVR functions. YOu see the only commerical boxes running them are the Dells and you have to have at least a 2.6ghz Hyperthread to get the Media Center version. The primary video card is for TV out and standard video.

Look there are two primary and suggested ways to go about this.. one is to use a 3rd party program that is VERY nice called "Snapstream", you get get more info at snapstream.com

The 2nd way is via a Windows MCE machine, more info at www.thegreenbutton.com, or at Mircrosofts website.

Reasearch both and you'll find your answers. Personally I'm going with MCE but different people have different needs.

[vcd4me]

rallynavvie,

Even if I did make an HTPC specifically I don't think I'd use a mini-ATX system. I always thought the Antec Sonata with the piano black finish on it would make a gorgeous addition to my home theater system.

I only picked the coolermaster because of the look. I have not seen the case you are talking about Do you have a link for that model and do you know of any other good looking cases. BTW what is wrong with using a micro atx board? Does it have limits or something?

How do you plan on backing up DVD9s with only one hard drive?

Isn't a dvd9 is only 9.4 gigs ? I am planing on using a 80 GB hardrive., and partitioning it.


flaystus,

You want to watch TV at the same time on a TV or on the comptuer screen?

I want to be able to watch tv on this machine, as well as use it in my office (small business), as well as take it to my summer home as an all in one unit. At my summer home it will be used

The reason you want 2 cards is the AIW cards do not support hardware mpeg encoding and therefore suck ALOT of CPU time just trying to do the compression needed for PVR functions. YOu see the only commerical boxes running them are the Dells and you have to have at least a 2.6ghz Hyperthread to get the Media Center version. The primary video card is for TV out and standard video.

I have an old ati all in wonder and I record to mpeg now, isn't that what I want. What Pvr functions are you referring to? I am not trying to build a machine that will pause live tv. I simply looking to be able to use the computer to replace my vcr in my HT, I don't plan on actually recording that much tv.

Look there are two primary and suggested ways to go about this.. one is to use a 3rd party program that is VERY nice called "Snapstream", you get get more info at snapstream.com

The 2nd way is via a Windows MCE machine, more info at www.thegreenbutton.com, or at Mircrosofts website.

Reasearch both and you'll find your answers. Personally I'm going with MCE but different people have different needs.for playing dvds, with surround sound and surf the net

.

I will do some reading on those site hopefully it will help me understand this better.

Thanks in advance
VCD4ME

[rallynavvie]

When "backing up" a DVD9 you're essentially going to encode it down to DVD5, right? Any way you spin it encoding to the same drive is going to be slow. The first thing I did when I decided to get an entry-level video system was to get a second hard drive, not so much for storage and file size issues but for read/write ease. With how cheap IDE hard drives are these days a couple of good 80GB drives are only going to set you back $200 tops, though I've just seen them for $70 before rebates in the holiday ads.

I was saying I wouldn't prefer a micro ATX system. However for a single-purpose system like this it isn't a bad option. I just don't like how little room there is for upgrades in them. I only know one person with one and it's nice for the portability but he has problems with cooling with it. If anything I thought it'd be easier to cool a smaller case. You may like it for the portability factor though. I've got a Lian Li aluminum case for my video machine and regularly haul it around to places without problems. It used to be lighter, but it's not so much anymore