Starting Out

bigpoppa

Ok have the following setup in my livingroom:-

32" LCD TV with two free hdmi ports. I have a sky+ box (non HD) connected via scart to the tv and also have an old skybox with a UK FTV card connected via scart also. I have an xbox1 connected with red / white / yellow which runs xbmc. Finally I have an xbox360 for gaming. Behind the tv is a phone line with dsl and have my wireless router there. Xbox1 and Xbox360 are both connected with network cables.

I watch both sky boxes but watch loads of downloaded tv on xbmc. All the contect is on a desktop upstairs with a large hard drive full of media / mp3 etc

I would like a solution which allows me get rid of the xbox1 and replace it with a htpc which will allow me watch all my media on the tv, record stuff to hard drive if needed and play all my mp3s through the tv.

Phew! Can someone spec me a reasonably priced setup?

8T8

Okay step one assuming your gonna go with Windows which is the path of least resistance bear in mind MCE does not support multiple guides (inputs) so you could only record from one or the other of your two sources.

Two freeware media centres that run atop XP are media Portal & GB-PVR these two do support multiple inputs so you could record from Sky or Freesatview.

With that out of the way any current PC is capable of the tasks you require. With a HTPC you can opt for smaller size cases which can fit in better in a room or you can go for full size cases (think fancy desktop case). The full size cases are much easier to put together of course but the smaller ones stick out less. The suggestions below are slightly better than average so you can of course go cheaper or use your own parts in mind.

Cases are awfully subjective so I will pick one as an example;
Case - has the A/V look with a built in PSU takes mATX motherboards. Review here & here.
CPU - very good dual core CPU
RAM - 1GB DDR-2
Mobo - integrated audio/ethernet
HD - 250GB quiet HD
WiFi - internal or external it doesn't really matter
Tuner - compatible with MCE, has s-video, composite inputs.
GPU - no fan, DVI, AVIVO DVD decoder which is also compatible with MCE.
Remote - MCE remote can be used with other Windows Media Centre's as well.
DVI-HDMI cable
DVDRW - Plextor is optional as it has a utility to govern speeds, can be made very quiet.

If that is too expensive then gives us a ball park figure for your budget.

bigpoppa

Taken me a while to get back to this have been liquidating my assets to pay for this stuff

For ease of others have put prices below in bold.

Few Questions:-

Q) Would prefer a more traditional case as although it will be at my tv will also be using it as a regular pc?

Q) What way will I connect (cable wise) the sky boxes to this pc?


Q) Is this handy enough to assemble?

Antec Fusion 430w Micro ATX Media Centre Enclosure 174.71
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz Socket LGA775, 2MB, BOXED w/fan 165.00
Crucial 2x512MB 240Pin DIMM PC2-4200 NonECC Unbuffered CL4 94.91
MSI S775 Intel G965 MATX A L DDR2 105.54
Samsung 250GB S300 7200RPM 8MB 70.14
NetGear WG111T 108Mbps USB 2.0 Wireless Adapter 47.96
AVerMedia AVerTV MCE 116 Plus, 16 Channel preview, Auto scan, FM Radio 85.00
Sapphire Radeon X1300 256MB DDR2, PCI-Express, Tv-Out, DVI-I, Lite-Retail 71.00
MCE Remote control for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 English 38.01
DVI Cable, DVI M-HDMI M, 3.0m 19.51
Plextor DVD±RW burner, PX-760A, 18x, 10x Dual, Retail 81.00

8T8

Q) Would prefer a more traditional case as although it will be at my tv will also be using it as a regular pc?

HTPC case works just like a regular case it just looks more that part in a home theatre setup. If you want a tower case that will work just fine in fact any any case will.

Q) What way will I connect (cable wise) the sky boxes to this pc?

If your Sky box has s-video output use that if not you must convert the scart output into s-video or composite video read this rough guide.

Q) Is this handy enough to assemble?

Looks great nothing wrong with any of that.

HOB-it

I know you are discussing getting a HTPC here but have you considered a divx player with usb 2 connector. hook up an external hd to this and you can watch all you media files that way. or look at the range of kiss divx players which have ethernet connections in the back for streaming what ever you have upstairs on the main pc.

mossym

problem with those are:

1)no recording
2)Can't watch live tv through them
3) Limited Format support
4) no HD support on most.


they're not even comparable to a htpc

bigpoppa

Morning Folks,

HOB-it - Pretty much wanted one of these as want a pc at my tv which will allow me record etc, want it for a variety of reasons

8T8 Thanks so much for your help, ordered the lot this morning except the netgear as I am going straight into router and have a pioneer burner already so didnt get the plextor

Few final questions to wreck your head

Plan to build this and install xp pro plus gb-pvr on it (with some plugins), any other s/w I need?

Also with regard to audio what cables do I need to add?

Will keep posting here to let you know how I get on and what mistakes I make

8T8

Plan to build this and install xp pro plus gb-pvr on it (with some plugins), any other s/w I need?

Not really no, I do recommend installing ffshow though for playback of most content, use the CCCP codec package which contains it and a bunch of other useful stuff.

Also with regard to audio what cables do I need to add?

The rough guide covers that basically RCA/Phono cables the red/white ones.

bigpoppa

Evening, having problems with gbpvr which does not appear to support the AVerMedia AVerTV MCE 116 card! been fighting with it a few days now

Also wont work in mediaportal although it is gbpvr I really wanna use.

The avermedia updated drivers come with avertv app which works but aint great.

Will be looking into how to edit the .ini files to try get it to work but the whole area is a kind of black magic so off to do some reading up!

MAJJ

Hi Bigpoppa,

You want to try this? I've started it but not made much progress.

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Add...supported_list

Feedback how you go.

Cheers,
MAJJ

bigpoppa

Finally got a picture in gbpvr but it is black and white and with rolling bars. running an s-video straight from back of sky box to my avermedia card so making some progress. sound is coming through perfect too.

ROS123

8T8 is this still your current reccomendation for a HTPC. Can I ask a very stupid question, as well as a HTPC would it function as a std PC for browsing maybe even some gaming (AOE or somthing sedate like that) Where is the best place to but these components ?

8T8

ROS123 wrote:

8T8 is this still your current reccomendation for a HTPC. Can I ask a very stupid question, as well as a HTPC would it function as a std PC for browsing maybe even some gaming (AOE or somthing sedate like that) Where is the best place to but these components ?

As a higher end HTPC the parts I picked out are still more than sufficient for media playback.

For regular PC usage like browsing it is more than capable for that sort of task.

Gaming for slow paced games like AOE it is also fine for, the X1300 is okay but a little bit weak in the 3D department if you want a fair bit more pixel pushing power for games get a 7600GT with a passive cooler.

ROS123

8 thank you, tomorrow the project begins, I will also take into consideration your latest suggestions...