Convince me to build an HTPC, or what's the ultimate HTPC hardware?

[stanger89]

OK, so many here probably know that I'm a former HTPC fan turned SageTV extender addict. Well recent events around here have made me start re-evaluating pretty much everything in/with my system.

Getting to the point, I'm trying to figure out what I need to build an "ultimate" HTPC suitable for my HT. While I do read AVS Forum's HTPC section regularly, maybe "browse" is a better term. So I've got a sort of high level understanding, but I'm sort of a learn by doing type so it seems at some point I'm just going to have to build a machine and play with it, so the question is, what all would I need.

Looking around, the things that seem like I want to be able to do/try are:

• WMC + MyMovies/Mediabrowser
• LAV filters/CUVID + MadVR
• HBR audio decoding (so I don't need to replace my AVM20 just yet
• HBR bitstreaming/3D (futureproofing)

Shouldn't be too bad, the biggest constraints seem to be on the video card.

Since I want good video decoding/LAV CUVID, it looks like I'd want a VDPAU Feature Set C or D plus 3D and bitstreaming. Problem is I's hard to find a concise, concrete info on what cards support what.

It looks like ideally something like a GeForce 210 would be good, supposedly supports VDPAU C and it looks like it should bitstream. But doesn't appear to support 3D Blu-ray (a 240+ is required?)

I guess beyond that I figure I'd plop it in my Ahanix D.Vine 4 case (full ATX compatible), and probably go with an i3/i5 maybe since I've had had better luck with Intel than AMD in general.

I guess with that, any thoughts?

[korben_dallas]

Will this function solely as a client?

I built my own mini PC recently. I was surprised at how difficult it was to find a small form factor case that met all of my criteria. Once I had that nailed down, finding a mini-ITX mainboard wasn't too difficult. But what was difficult was ensuring the other components like CPU fan and add-in card would properly fit, prior to purchasing everything online.

Noise is another huge pet peeve of mine. While I cannot hear the mini PC from my regular TV viewing position, I can hear it from about 3 feet away, which irks me.

[PLUCKYHD]

I ultimately went with an i5 sandybridge. I went with the i5 over the i3 for commercial skip reasons. The integrated chipset and tmt 5 do it all. 3d,bitstreaming hd audio everything you need. I hear the amd platforms are good as well but I wanted quicksynch for intel and transcoding speed ups. If you are building new a seperate video card is no longer necessary IMHO.

[ChaOConnor]

Plucky, did you find the i5 integrated graphics were up to the job? Doesn't look like any of the i5's come with Intel 3000 series, where some of the i3's are coming w/ the Intel 3000 series. Just curious, because right now I have the i3-2105 as a new HTPC chip, with the ability to do some light gaming.

[stanger89]

Well, if, or so long as I stick with Sage, I don't need another PC at all. So practically, this would be if/when I were to have to switch to another solution without, or with less "robust" extenders, so thinking mainly as a main "do it all" machine, so tuners, playback, etc.

[korben_dallas]

Will your recording drives be in the machine or externally attached / NAS?

And do you want to have the option for Blu-Ray disc playback?

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by ChaOConnor

Plucky, did you find the i5 integrated graphics were up to the job? Doesn't look like any of the i5's come with Intel 3000 series, where some of the i3's are coming w/ the Intel 3000 series. Just curious, because right now I have the i3-2105 as a new HTPC chip, with the ability to do some light gaming.

There are specific i3's, i5's, AND i7's that contain the HD3000 graphics (that said, the slower GPU in my clarkdale i3 is more than sufficient for anything up to and including normal bluray, only showing an occasional stutter on 3D Bluray). According to wikipedia's tables, the following Sandy Bridge chips have the 3000 graphics: i3-2105 ($140), i5-2405S ($218), i5-2500K ($220), i7-2600K ($315) (I think the 2405S is out of stock most places, making the 2500K the best value. Keep in mind moving to the i5 bumps you up to a 95W cpu (the i3 is only 65W), so in a tight case, thermal concerns are significantly greater.

[rparker]

if you can use a half height card. just use the nvidia gt 430 for the video. It can stream to your AV reciever all dobly hdtruee and dts-mna formats.
and it cost 49.99 after rebate at newegg. with an ASUS P8H67-I DELUXE and itx mini with an i-3 and it works great. even watching blu ray via sage tv client from my server hds.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Will your recording drives be in the machine or externally attached / NAS?

Yeah, they would be, I'd probably move my Caviar Blacks into it.

And do you want to have the option for Blu-Ray disc playback?

BD Rips (folder structures) at least.

[Skirge01]

Have you given any consideration to a server/client setup? Breaking things apart gives you quite a bit more flexibility with each setup because there are fewer components in each, thereby reducing case requirements, heat output and, consequently, reducing cooling requirements. I have a full PC client AND server in the main TV room. Both are no more than 6 feet from my ears and are nearly silent. As soon as the TV is on at any level, you'll never hear either of them.

[Fuzzy]

He's talking about a WMC system.. there's no such thing as client server...

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

Have you given any consideration to a server/client setup?

In general I like having a headless server, but that just may not practical in a SageTV-less world. Specifically WMC doesn't support that at all.

Breaking things apart gives you quite a bit more flexibility with each setup because there are fewer components in each, thereby reducing case requirements, heat output and, consequently, reducing cooling requirements.

About the only thing it would save me is the recording drives in the machine, which isn't a lot.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

He's talking about a WMC system.. there's no such thing as client server...

Oops. I did miss that he mentioned wanting to try WMC. Then again, if he's looking to "try stuff out", maybe WMC won't be the final decision.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by stanger89

About the only thing it would save me is the recording drives in the machine, which isn't a lot.

I was also thinking about tuners. With drives, I guess that depends on your needs. I have 13 drives in my server, so squeezing them into a client would be difficult, if not impossible.

[stanger89]

I've got an unRAID and ReadyNAS for those.

[korben_dallas]

You want to decode the lossless audio tracks and then send them over HDMI?

[stanger89]

No, analog for the mean time, I currently don't have an HDMI SSP, so I have to decode HBR audio in the player/source, or use S/PDIF. At some point I'll upgrade my SSP and then I'll just bitstream it, but an AVM50V is quite the investment, so I'm not sure how soon that will be.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

You want to decode the lossless audio tracks and then send them over HDMI?

I HAVE and HDMI AVR, and I still decode on the PC, and send it uncompressed over HDMI. There are advantages to this, most notably, the ability to sync video to the actual video refresh using ReClock (it can't adjust playback speed as precisely when dealing with packed encoded audio).

[rparker]

funny I am able to watch movies with auto streaming and letting my avr handle any sync issues with no problem. I much rather watch movies at 24 frames as they are showing in the theater.

[stanger89]

I believe Fuzzy it talking about the inability to get a PC to refresh the picture at precisely right rate to avoid periodic frame drops. By using reclock you sync the audio to the video, eliminating frame drops.