Non Techie family whole house setup

dbfresh23 · #1 11-25-2005, 07:15 PM

I'm in the planning stages of setting up a system for a friend. They are interested in a whole house media server which will consist of 4 plasma tvs and 1 rear projection home theater.

I keep trying to decide between SageTV and MCE. An MCE system would be fairly easy, 5 xbox 360s and a media server. SageTV I'm obviously looking at more like 6 complete computer systems. The MVP Isn't an option for them as I highly doubt that it could deliver the quality that the 360 or full pc could.

While HD is important to them, though it wont be the deciding factor since the only option would be firewire from stb - they aren't exactly the type of family that wants an antenna on the roof.

Since they are NON TECHIE I'm basically looking for suggestions on the easiest possible setup for them.

The main thing that has me slightly leaning towards MCE is cablecard, they wouldn't have to get used to a new menu in the event that SageTV wont work with it when it does get released.

flavius · #2 11-26-2005, 03:13 AM

Are they on cable? - Get HD STB's.

jquinlan · #3 11-28-2005, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

I keep trying to decide between SageTV and MCE. An MCE system would be fairly easy, 5 xbox 360s and a media server. SageTV I'm obviously looking at more like 6 complete computer systems.

Try to stick with the SAGE setup, MCE uses a modified Terminal Services for media extenders, dont know if 360 work this way but the original XBOX did, so the server will be doing work for 5 remote screens. With SAGE it will be using file sharing to the 5 PC's and they will render it for the TV's.

Also MCE will follow and DRM on TV programs that comes down the pipe.

dbfresh23 · #4 12-13-2005, 05:44 PM

Well I finally ordered their parts today. I decided to go with MCE as the OS, that way they can try both MCE and SageTV and see which is easier for them. Since I don't know which route I'll wind up sending them in the clients haven't been ordered yet, But I am drooling over this media server!

Antec 4U Rack Case w/ 550W PS
Foxconn 955X7AA Socket T P4 Motherboard
Intel P4 640 - 3.2GHZ w/Zalman CNPS7700 HS/Fan
2GB PQI TurboRAM Dual Channel DDR2 667
Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 500GB SATA II HDD
eVGA 7800GT PCI-E x16 256MB Video
Hauppauge PVR-500
PowerColor Theater 550 Pro PCI-E TV Tuner
Fusion5 Lite QAM HDTV Tuner
BlueGears Dolby Digital Live Sound card
NEC 16X DVDRW
Logitech Harmony 688 Remote
MS MCE Wireless KB
Windows MCE 2005
Nvidia DVD Decoder
MCE Remote/IR Reciever
Zyxel 8 Port Gigabit Switch

No... SageTV isn't on the list - Yet anyway. I'll let them go through the demo first. I don't even think it would be a contest if I could get ahold of an HD extender for SageTV w/o having to keep building the PCs.

mikesm · #5 12-13-2005, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

Well I finally ordered their parts today. I decided to go with MCE as the OS, that way they can try both MCE and SageTV and see which is easier for them. Since I don't know which route I'll wind up sending them in the clients haven't been ordered yet, But I am drooling over this media server!

Antec 4U Rack Case w/ 550W PS
Foxconn 955X7AA Socket T P4 Motherboard
Intel P4 640 - 3.2GHZ w/Zalman CNPS7700 HS/Fan
2GB PQI TurboRAM Dual Channel DDR2 667
Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 500GB SATA II HDD
eVGA 7800GT PCI-E x16 256MB Video
Hauppauge PVR-500
PowerColor Theater 550 Pro PCI-E TV Tuner
Fusion5 Lite QAM HDTV Tuner
BlueGears Dolby Digital Live Sound card
NEC 16X DVDRW
Logitech Harmony 688 Remote
MS MCE Wireless KB
Windows MCE 2005
Nvidia DVD Decoder
MCE Remote/IR Reciever
Zyxel 8 Port Gigabit Switch

No... SageTV isn't on the list - Yet anyway. I'll let them go through the demo first. I don't even think it would be a contest if I could get ahold of an HD extender for SageTV w/o having to keep building the PCs.

Just curious, but why would you order an Intel CPU instead of an AMD 64 based system? It's a lot cooler than these hot Intel CPU's, and the latest AMD CPU's have SSE3 support.

Thanks,
Mike

dbfresh23 · #6 12-14-2005, 08:05 AM

Were the system for me, it certainly would have had an AMD cpu in it. It came down to the system running 24/7 and which CPU I trusted more to do that reliably - Intel won. I run my AMD Desktop 24/7, but I think Intel has a better history of reliability. Another big factor was motherboard options, the board I'm using has 8 SATA, 1 PCI-e x16, 3 PCI-e x1 and 3 PCI and uses an Intel chipset.

mc2wheels · #7 12-14-2005, 09:20 AM

Your logic is wrong. Your Intel cpu will run way hotter, and if you do a poor job of ventilating your machine, it will age way faster, as will the rest of your components. Stand by your decision all you want, but AMD chips are definitely the best way to go currently. Fastest chips with lowest heat output and cool'n'quiet technology to keep fans at a minimum. I do like Intel motherboards, but there are lots of tried and true AMD solutions out there that are perfect for an HTPC solution.

And by the way, for standard def TV, the mediaMVP provides much better video than the best available graphics cards. I get a pretty good picture with my 6600GT in my living room PC, but IMO, the MVP gives a better picture and is silent. For HD content, then obviously you want a different solution, like a PC with an nvidia card.

Lucas · #8 12-15-2005, 03:04 AM

mc2wheels,

dbfresh said that the system is for a friend who is non-technical so he wants to play it safe. ie, not having to get frequent calls saying that the system crashed and the wife's shows weren't recorded.

His logic is not wrong, it's just his safest bet based on his experience.
In my experience as well, Intel chipsets are more stable.
Note also that the system he outlined will most probably be a server in a case with good airflow and locked somewhere where noise is not an issue.

I know what you are saying about temperatures, my current HTPC is based on a 2.8 prescot in an LC03 case. It was a challenge to get things running within acceptable temperature ranges.

My plan is to move my current HTPC into a Server case, like the coolermaster stacker, with plenty of space and ventilation and lockit in storage room.

I will then build a new HTPC client in the LC03 using AMD.....

I won't mind if it has problems as long as the server keeps running 24x7.
How's that for politically correct.

mc2wheels · #9 12-15-2005, 12:49 PM

With that graphics card, this server is not meant for a closet; it at least has to be somewhere near a monitor/tv. Why have digital out if you are not hooking it to home stereo? And what's the remote for? This is probably the main theatre PC. This is why it is even more important not to generate heat. First of all the noise in cooling the sucker, and second because if the case ends up looking like some av component, the non techie is going to put it in a cabinet behind glass and it will bake.

Then, there is the issue of the motherboard. Intel chipsets == stable. Foxconn == flip a coin. At least as far as I am concerned, they don't have a long enough track record with motherboards. Maybe they are quality -- Don't know -- but this sure doesn't seem like going with a reliability track record.

Whatever... I don't have a dog in this fight... just doesn't seem like the right move to me.

dbfresh23 · #10 12-15-2005, 03:00 PM

Actually, Lucas is mostly correct. This will be a server in a closet in a rackmount case. It will be plugged into a receiver and will be controlled by IR using cable that will be run through the walls. So the server will not be sitting near any TVs, but the component and IR cables will be run in the walls to where the TVs are. This will likely also be used for the Home Theater (Projector + 120" screen).

The only thing in the system that will make any Noise is going to be the video card. I've used these Zalman coolers before - the things are about as quiet as you can get. Not that it really matters since it will not be around anything else.

So basically you are both somewhat correct. It will be more then just a server, but it will be in a remote closet - not in a cabinet behind glass. I haven't been completely clear - These people are spending in the range of 30K on their whole house system - they are basically paying a premium to NOT see the stuff, heck even the speakers are the in wall speakers that you paint over and cannot see...

mc2wheels · #11 12-15-2005, 03:52 PM

Wow, wish I had friends like that.

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