What do you use your HTPC for?

MarkR

I've been thinking of building a HTPC for a while, I just have to convince myself that I actually need it. Currently I have the below

• Normal Sky Box
• Targa DRH-5100x (Double layer DVD Recorder with HDD - plays DIVX)
• Ronin DVD Player (nothing special - progressive through component.)
• Sony KDFE-A111 something 3 LCD RPTV (vga/hdmi/component etc connections)
• Xbox 360 under the christmas tree
• Notebook from work
• Desktop for herself upstairs

Looking at what I have already, would I get much more out of using a HTPC? I was thinking maybe I could use it for PC games, or maybe as my download machine (hate to leave notebook running all the time on ac).

I suppose if I did make one it would be a linux based box, would need to put it in a fancy case to make it acceptable to the better half, then I could at least get rid of the dvd player, and probably the targa too?

8T8

For HTPC;
Record from TV ala PVR.
Unbeatable video & audio support.
Tweakable video settings for better image quality.
Can be used for games as well.
Very quiet systems can be built.
Expandability for other duties.

Against;
Cost of HTPC is high with good components.
Certain games can be fiddly on screen - intended to be played on monitor up close e.g in game text.
Noise could be a factor with a high performance GPU in the system.
Boot up time is still not great.

I know you say linux is probably what you will go with as the OS but the Xbox 360 may very well be getting much better video support. Microsoft has been soliciting feedback on Doom 9's forums about video support so basically XviD/DviX, H.264 & more would be playable on the Xbox 360 if they come through.

If it did happen then all you would need is a PC running MCE in order to use the Xbox 360 as an extender once both are on your home network they can work in tandem.

Reasons for;
Xbox 360 is quick to boot
Can do everything MCE can in extender mode bar unsupported video {anything that's not WMV at the moment}.
DVD scaling is permitted over VGA - option to lose the Ronin DVD player
HD-DVD add-on is easy to use.

Reasons against;
Xbox 360 is noisy vs a well built HTPC.
Microsoft may well choose not to enhance video support in the Xbox 360.
Getting the TV signal to the PC running MCE could be a problem with a set top box if both are not in the same room.

{There are workarounds at the moment for the video support problem with the X360 but they are messy & neither seamless or ideal with the loss of quality in the video}

MarkR

Gives me something to think about. Thanks

subway

the other big advantage is that mce acts as a pvr, whereas the drh you have currently acts as a vcr - afaik.

that means you have to select a channel on the sky box, then set a recording time on the drh, then hope nothing changes in between.

with mce, you have a built in EPG, you select a program to record from that,
when the program comes on, mce changes the channel on the sky box and starts recording it.

MarkR

True indeed, luckily I have a phantom pvr thing which allows me to record by using the autoview in sky.

I think after I play with my new xbox 360 for a while I'll probably build one in the new year. Even though some games won't be great on a big tv think i'll put in a reasonable graphics card and cpu / board.

Thanks guys, i'll be back.