HTPC - 1st Spec for 1st time build - Advice Please!

eddiem74

I am just spec'ing my first HPTC. I have done some reviewing on boards, and over on Avforums, and think I am nearly there.

I want this initially for TV, music, movies, and pictures, and obviously to be able for anything HD. Little or no games though, so not a concern.

Overtime I would also like to look at streaming content all over the house, so if there is anything needed to future proof this, please let me know.

I will be connecting this to a Plasma & Panasonic AX200 projector, SkyHD, and Onkyo 605 Amp.

Ok, so here goes, my first attempt at a spec:

Case Sliverstone LC17S - Sliver £66
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.67GHz 1333Mhz Socket LGA775, 4MB, BOXED w/fan £122
Heatsink Scythe Mini Ninja Socket 478/775/754/939/940/AM2 Heatpipe Cooler £27
Ram 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair DDR2 6400 2x256Mx64 non-ECC 2x240 DIMM unbuffered 5-5-5-18 64bit OS DHX £68
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L, P35, Socket-775, ATX, GbLAN, DDR2, ICH9, PCI-Ex16 £60
Graphics card Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 256MB DDR2, PCI-Express 2.0, DVI-I/HDMI, Heatsink £28
Keyboard / Mouse Keysonic KB-ACK-540RF v2 Notebook Cordless Keyboard, Touch Pad Mouse £28
Hard Drive Samsung SpinPoint T166 HD501LJ - hard drive - 500 GB - SATA-300 £62
DVD Pioneer DVD±RW-burner, BDC-S02BK, 12x, Blu-Ray Reader, SATA £99
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Eng OEM DVD 32bit £59
Power Supply Corsair Powersupply 520W Black, ATX/EPS, 120mm Fan, 4xSATA, SLI £63
TV Card Hauppauge Win TV Nova-T 500 Dual Digital DVB-T Tuner *MCE/Vista Ready* £53
Wireless Netgear USB WG111GE Adapter/54Mbps 802.11g (USB 2.0) £14
External HD 500GB Western Digital Elements External USB2 HDD 7200rpm 16Mb cache £69

So anything missing ? (I am a complete novice, so don't assume I am aware of other little bits and pieces, thanks)

Any obvious/possible compatability issues with this spec?

I don't have listed an MCE remote, I have a harmony already, but do I still need to purchase one to learn from it to the harmony ?

I am also purchasing this all from Scan in the UK - any feedback on them or should I be looking elsewhere ? Rough total at the moment is £818 excluding shipping. :eek:

Advice and guidance as always appreciated !

RuggieBear

Are you sure Scan deliver to Ireland?

eddiem74

RuggieBear wrote: »

Are you sure Scan deliver to Ireland?

Website says about half way down the page "We have now reduced shipping costs to
Republic of Ireland even further!"

MAJJ

Hi Eddie,

Am not sure Vista 32 can read more than 3.5GB ram

I think you will need an receiver( IR) for any remote you will use, would imagine though your harmony could learn from an existing/borrowed remote. My remote is Radio Frequency so can't help there.

Don't know much about the rest so will leave that up to the experts.

Good luck,
majj

RuggieBear

eddiem74 wrote: »

Website says about half way down the page "We have now reduced shipping costs to
Republic of Ireland even further!"

Groovy. Been a while since i even looked at their website.

eddiem74

MAJJ wrote: »

Hi Eddie,

Am not sure Vista 32 can read more than 3.5GB ram

I think you will need an receiver( IR) for any remote you will use, would imagine though your harmony could learn from an existing/borrowed remote. My remote is Radio Frequency so can't help there.

Don't know much about the rest so will leave that up to the experts.

Good luck,
majj

Hi Majj,

Have seen that on the RAM alright in relation to Vista Premium, however still thought 3+GB was better than 2GB, although I think 2GB is all that is really required. Might be a little saving here alright !

I have a Harmony 895 which has IR & is RF, but still think I will need a remote to learn from unless a download from the Harmony database will get me started?

MAJJ

Hi Eddie,

It was more just so you knew that .5 would be unused. If it was me I'd start with 2GB and get the rest later as it always get's cheaper.

My point was your system will need to receive a signal from whatever remote you used. The MS ones need a receiver to work.

Maybe I am not sure how the RF on the harmony works but I thought it was to allow non line of site access i.e through cabinet doors to your equipment/ The remote sends RF to the extender (located in cabinet with LOS to the equipment) which converts to IR and onto the receiver in the amp/dvd etc.

I think you still need a receiver in your HTPC.

Majj

eddiem74

It was more just so you knew that .5 would be unused. If it was me I'd start with 2GB and get the rest later as it always get's cheaper.

Yeah, I'll give this some further consideration before I order.

My point was your system will need to receive a signal from whatever remote you used. The MS ones need a receiver to work.

Maybe I am not sure how the RF on the harmony works but I thought it was to allow non line of site access i.e through cabinet doors to your equipment/ The remote sends RF to the extender (located in cabinet with LOS to the equipment) which converts to IR and onto the receiver in the amp/dvd etc.

I think you still need a receiver in your HTPC.

You a right on the Harmony, so are you saying my case needs an IR receiver for the remote to work with? So there is not one built in ? (Apologies if I am missing the point )

MAJJ

eddiem74 wrote: »

Yeah, I'll give this some further consideration before I order.



You a right on the Harmony, so are you saying my case needs an IR receiver for the remote to work with? So there is not one built in ? (Apologies if I am missing the point )

Hi Eddie,

No problem. Not 100% clear myself but yes I believe you need a receiver in your case. The normal MS remote needs a receiver.

Can anyone else confirm?

Majj

eddiem74

MAJJ wrote: »

Hi Eddie,

No problem. Not 100% clear myself but yes I believe you need a receiver in your case. The normal MS remote needs a receiver.

Can anyone else confirm?

Majj

I believe the case has one although its not that clear from the picture/spec, but its one of the two little 'dots' on the front left of the case. Also from others who have ordered I never seen someone order that, but it could be one of those small details people assume or overlook !

eddiem74

Yeah, the case doesnt have an IR receiver, so looks like I need to source the MCE Remote & IR receiver now !

Good catch I would have missed that for sure !

MAJJ

Your welcome Eddie - only knew that info due to others on this forum helping me.

Yeah thought the price was a bit too good. Best of luck on your project

mathias

The MCE remote does need a receiver , but it comes with one , and a couple of IR blasters for controlling other devices , like a sky box for example. For the price its very good value.

The MCE remote is class , its the best way to control the system , even if you buy a Harmony you still need the MCE remote to teach the Harmony properly ! And the receiver is essential.

The Zalman 160 ( mine ) came with a receiver built in and an MCE remote , but it costs a lot more than that Silverstone , any case with any kind of display usually does !