New HTPC

[tbergman]

....the blaring lights aren't my style.

Yeah, I've never understood the lights all over a case, but apparently some like it. But your cable management looks nice and clean.

 

[bandphan]

Yeah, I've never understood the lights all over a case, but apparently some like it.

Kinda like global warming

 

[krzywica]

is it ok to PM you in case of questions this week? thanks scott

Yeah thats fine man.

Hit me up whenever.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My father-in-law asked me the other day, "What can you do with an HTPC that you can't do with a regular PC"?

I said, "Nothing, it just looks better".

 

[highfigh]

Where are you guys getting your parts from?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Where are you guys getting your parts from?

I get 99.9% of my IT parts from newegg, for most likely best deal, best service and fastest shipping.

Only time I cheated on newegg is with Zipzoomfly.com, then price difference was significant

 

[highfigh]

I get 99.9% of my IT parts from newegg, for most likely best deal, best service and fastest shipping.

Only time I cheated on newegg is with Zipzoomfly.com, then price difference was significant

So, if I need a BlueRay reader, enough storage (possibly a NAS) and a video card (or two, depending on what formats I want to use), what will I need for power supply, motherboard, chipset, etc? I was looking at a bare bones setup at Tiger Direct- here's a link:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5633678&Sku=B69-1162

This one has a case I would never be happy with but the chipset looks like a higher series.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5633691&Sku=B69-1164

What is everyone using for a GUI- just iTunes, WMP, etc? I'd really like to some up with something sleek and more of a point and click.

 

[bandphan]

So, if I need a BlueRay reader, enough storage (possibly a NAS) and a video card (or two, depending on what formats I want to use), what will I need for power supply, motherboard, chipset, etc? I was looking at a bare bones setup at Tiger Direct- here's a link:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5633678&Sku=B69-1162

This one has a case I would never be happy with but the chipset looks like a higher series.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5633691&Sku=B69-1164

What is everyone using for a GUI- just iTunes, WMP, etc? I'd really like to some up with something sleek and more of a point and click.

Newegg has better CS than TD or their sister CompUSA. I was 134 with discounts for mobo and AMD X3.

 

[bandphan]

UPDATE:

My little girl kept me from advancing forward with the server build, so Ill get started on it this week. PICs coming of the over stuffed re-build hereinafter.

 

[bandphan]

 

[bandphan]

 

[bandphan]

Ill finish installing sound card and graphics today. Pick up another 1tb to installing in server. PM wica for processor advice and spend some more money

 

[highfigh]

Newegg has better CS than TD or their sister CompUSA. I was 134 with discounts for mobo and AMD X3.

The links were more for what was included, not the source.

Have you seen a general list of recommended parts for an HTPC or articles/books on minimum requirements?

 

[bandphan]

Case (with fans)
Power Supply
mobo
Processor (x3 or x4 is more than enough) http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ for comparing
Processor cooler if not a retail processor or overclocking
Optical Drive
Hard Drive/s
Video Card (one of the new units that bit streams audio over hdmi )
Memory

You can get a good sub 500-600 build
For the performance and price Ive got no issues using AMD. Go to newegg and start playing around building systems in your "wish list", then post the link to it and we all can peak

edit: I havent been a "barebones" kit person, just never liked their combos

 

[highfigh]

Case (with fans)
Power Supply
mobo
Processor (x3 or x4 is more than enough) http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ for comparing
Processor cooler if not a retail processor or overclocking
Optical Drive
Hard Drive/s
Video Card (one of the new units that bit streams audio over hdmi )
Memory

You can get a good sub 500-600 build
For the performance and price Ive got no issues using AMD. Go to newegg and start playing around building systems in your "wish list", then post the link to it and we all can peak

edit: I havent been a "barebones" kit person, just never liked their combos

Thanks. One thing I don't like is the power supplies being in the 300W range, That just makes me think it's pushing the limit and after a customer launched the supply in his Request server, I saw that it's not particularly potent. I always like to have some headroom, whether it's a power supply or an amplifier.

What OS is most common with HTPC? The Request use some form of Linux, but I don't know which. Graphics are good, it's stable and after almost three years, I have no complaints, other than that customer's two year old putting three CDs in the drawer and making it impossible for it to open under its own power, which took out the drawer motor and the power supply. I guess it's better than smoking the motherboard.

 

[bandphan]

Corsairs do a good job overbuilding of PSs and underrate their specs. As for OSs im running 7 64 ultimate, I think what most find more important is what HT app to run. I absolutely hated vista 32 and 64, just to many fricking bugs

 

[krzywica]

Corsairs do a good job overbuilding of PSs and underrate their specs. As for OSs im running 7 64 ultimate, I think what most find more important is what HT app to run. I absolutely hated vista 32 and 64, just to many fricking bugs

I would agree that Corsair has the best PSU's on the market bar none. I'm running 2 of them at my house and have built countless PC's with them and never had a hiccup. Also they are the most quiet PSU's I have found as well, even more quiet than many PSU's that claim to be silent.


If you want a Jukebox for your HTPC then I would say check out Boxee or XBMC. Both are great options and have great support, they will also both run on your OS.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If you want a Jukebox for your HTPC then I would say check out Boxee or XBMC. Both are great options and have great support, they will also both run on ANY OS.

There, Fixed it for you

(yes, I know they don't run on OS/2, but who cares )

 

[bandphan]

for those interested I was able to unlock the forth core. Temps went up under Prime, gonna order a after market CPU Cooler. Server is still coming Thanks krzywica

 

[dalessandro12]

But just out of curiosity, what all would be involved in putting together a box for a file server? I mean how much would it cost for the hardware, and would I need special software, or would a copy of win. 7 be enough? I doubt I would have much room left in my office for another computer, plus I wouldn't want something that was noisy.

I built a Windows Home Server under about $300 that is "green" and it is dead silent. I literally thought I plugged in the wires wrong when I first booted it up until I saw the fan was moving and put my ears to it! I am running an 80+ Certified PSU, 3x1.5TB WD Green drives and my Mobo (Gigabyte) has some energy saving options built in.

I have my server in my office and serve all my ripped DVDs, Blu Rays, music and pictures through my wired network to my HTPC in my family room.