Another 1st time HTPC build

DubGF

Hi Guys,

I have been bamboozeled by all the reading lately. Here, AVForums etc.

Basically I want a HTPC to record TV, watch dvd's on a SCART TV, and surf the net. I would also like to stream movies/music from server upstairs. Currently use Sky (not HD or Sky+), but will be getting NTL soon as well.

Have wireless at home but can cable it with one of these, http://www.devolo.com/co_EN_cs/produkte/dlan/dlanaudioextsk.html


Would like to future proof so DVD player could really be blu ray,
Can someone recomend a setup please?

Thanks,
Gary

spartacus93

Hi Gary

Do you have any parts or software yourself or is it going to be all new? Are you going to built yourself? If you're building yourself i'd recommend something like this...

Case: Antec Fusion 430. Great case, looks well, quite etc. Includes a power supply aswell. €159
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H is cheap and has built in sound and video that will more than suffice. €61
Processor: I usually use AMD, although Intel may have the edge theses days. The processor's going to be very inmportant for encoding or playing HD content. I wouldn't skimp on it. €100
Memory: RAM is very cheap. Get at least 2 gig. Maybe 4. 4 gig is only €70 these days...
Hard Drive: Expect to pay about €90 for a decent 500 gig drive, and double that for a 1Tb.
Software: Windows Vista Media Centre can't be beaten. €100
Remote Control and IR blasters: €40
TV capture card: Hauppauge PVR 1300 €100 (you might get the pvr150 for less)
Dvd Player - €30 or bluray €200.
Network card (€30) and wireless keyboard and mouse (€30)


Hooking up the Sky or NLT box to the HTPC is no problem. Just get a scart to composite cable and connect the two. The ir blasters that come with the remote control can then be used to control the sky box (ie when you change channel on the pc it will send a signal to the sky box for it to change channel. no need for the sky remote.)

Are you using a HD TV? If not bluray might be a bit overkill at the moment. Although it does seem to be getting increasingly popular. Straming video over wifi can be a bit hit and miss. You might be better off connecting the two using CAT5 cables.

Hope this helps

DubGF

Hi Spartacus93,

No its will be all new, have some old kit but its very old, a pentium 2 prototype machine !!

Yes building it myself, I work in IT so should not be a problem.:eek:

Have not got a HD TV yet, will be getting one once there are more channells/price drops even more.

I can wire the room in question no problem for Cat6, so thats not a big deal.

I will check out the recomendations you gave me.

Stupid question coming up, if I were to purchase all the above, will i get everything i need, like sata cables, etc etc ??

Will the tv card handle both Sky and NTL ?

Thanks again,
Gary

spartacus93

Yeah, everything will be included. The Motherboard will include SATA and IDE cables. Powersupply will have cables for everything also.

Yeah, both cards mentioned can handle NTL and SKY no problem. You won't be having NTL and Sky at the same time will you??

DubGF

Bonj,

Will this processor do the job?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz Socket AM2 2MB, BOXED w/fan, http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=331906

Any experience with this RAM?

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=300182
Going to get 4 GB.

I currently have Sky, and NTL recently used my house (corner house) to feed the rest of the street with fibre cables, as a result I am getting free NTL basic for life. So in effect I will have both. Would it be possible to record from either one? Would that require 2 tuner cards?

Thanks again,
Gary

spartacus93

That's the processor I have. Works great. Very very quick, never any delay playing videos or DVDs. Everything loads instantly. No experience with that RAM. I use this http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=333974 . Works out cheaper and the advantage being this is only 2 x 2gig chips. Yours is 4 x 1 gig chips. Chances are your motherboard will only have 4 RAM slots. I have 4 gigs installed and 2 slots free (can easily install more). You would have 4gigs installed with no room to add more.

I think that may require 2 tuner cards, I'm not 100%. There used be an adapter to add more inputs to Hauppauge tuner cards, and even with that I think you could only use one at a time...

DubGF

Ok, have changed the RAM on the order, thakns didnt see the 1Gb individual chips on the site...

Vista Ultimate should do the trick yeah? Or is that too much?

Any opinions on wireless keyboard/mouse combos?

Thanks,
Gary

spartacus93

Home Premium is plenty. Don't spend the extra on ultimate. Not worth it! Get home premium 64bit (32 bit will only show up 3.25 gig of ram so you'll need 64 bit to get the full benefit. Should be about 100 bob.

Not much advice on the keyboard... Have one of these http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=312544 . Not good at all. Very poor range so maybe avoid that one . Always had good luck with Microsoft gear. Maybe have a look at them.

DubGF

Thanks again for all your help.

It was just what I needed to give me the kick up the arse to finally order it all.

Will let you know how I get on once its all built...

spartacus93

You're very welcome. What did you order in the end?

Do pop back in when it's all built. There's some cool programmes and tricks that you can add to Media Centre. Things that automatically remove adds from recordings, and a caller ID function so that when your house phone rings, whoever's ringing will pop up on the TV so you can decide whether or not they're worth getting off the couch for!!

DubGF

This is what I ordered...

Ordered products:

1,00 PCS 340102 Antec Fusion 430 Silver, 430w PSU, HTPC,
Micro ATX, aluminium front bezel

1,00 PCS 335583 Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H, AMD 690G+SB600,
HDMI, Socket-AM2, m-ATX, DDR2, PCI-Ex16
1,00 PCS 331906 AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz Socket AM2,
2MB, BOXED w/fan
1,00 PCS 314286 Hauppauge! WinTV-HVR1300, Hybrid Card,
PCI, Analog Tv-Tuner & DVB-T(Digital-TV)
1,00 PCS 333974 OCZ Gold XTC DDR2 PC6400 4096MB KIT,
w/two 2048MB PC6400 XTC, CL5-5-5-15

1,00 PCS 327715 Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB SATA2
16MB 7200RPM
1,00 PCS 317429 Antistatic Wrist band
including ground cord
1,00 PCS 350140 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Eng
SP1 OEM DVD 32bit
1,00 PCS 312544 Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110,
USB/PS2, keyboard/mouse, Retail

They had no 64 bit windows, so just went with 32 bit, the 2 Gigs of RAM should be plenty for me, even in the future...

Just went for a standard wireless mouse/keyboard, see what its like, can upgrade if needs be.

Another question please if I can, what type of cables do I need to go from Sky box to HTPC to TV. I have a SCART TV at the moment...

tubos

DubGF, let us know how you get on with that, I'll be looking at doing something similar to yourself in the next few weeks so will be good the hear from you.

spartacus93

Did you get a DVD / Blue Ray drive? That looks like a great spec. Shouldn't give you much bother!

Am, I'm not near mine at the minute. Think the mobo has s-video and RCA connections http://www.afortunet.com/RCA%203m%202%20pic.jpg . so you can just get an RCA to scart cable

DubGF

Didnt get any drive, going to look at that when its all built.

Have a spare DVD drive at home, IDE though, will have to see if there is an ide port on mobo.

Thanks again,
Gary

spartacus93

DubGF wrote: »

Didnt get any drive, going to look at that when its all built.

Have a spare DVD drive at home, IDE though, will have to see if there is an ide port on mobo.

Thanks again,
Gary

There is

DubGF

Well lads...

All the kit arrived yesterday, I was like a kid on Christmas morning...

I have it all just about sorted, have not powered it on yet...

However, I think I am going to have difficulty with the LED indicators from the front panel. I just cant figure out where to place them on the board, any one any experience of this?

Also, the SATA connectors on the board are very close to the steel slot that isolates the each bay, I could only get 1 SATA cable in. Has anyone seen this before?

Thanks,
Gary

bazwaldo

I have a slightly older version of the Fusion case and managed to fit 2 sata drives no bother. The only problem I had was the vfd cable which was hidding where where DVD chassis was.

For connecting the LEDs to the motherboard, have your instructions from the Fusion case and reference your motherbard instructions which should have a map of where everything is. Make sure you ground yourself also before starting.

See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055095464 for details.

DubGF

Another question if I can please...

System all built, Vista installed, AV, updates etc etc, ready to move it down to the TV room.

Can I ask about cabling this through the Sky box/TV?

Using a HVR1300 Hauppauge card, Sky box has 2 SCART outputs.

Should I be using s video to scart or an alternative?

Thanks,
Gary

bazwaldo

Are you using both SCART outputs already (TV+video)? If so, you'll either need split the signal or get a plug in SCART splitter (better option).

I don't know if the sky box outputs s-video as I have NTL. NTL outputs component(RGB) + composite so I take the composite for my htpc. Try using a single cable scart to composite/s-video + audio rather than an adaptor plus av leads to get a better picture. I bought my Philips scart to composite off ebay and is good quality and cheap. maplins and peats have similar ones too.

DubGF

Hi bazwaldo,

Do you mean from the Sky box or TV?

If Sky box, no am not currently

If TV, Yes, have a wii on the other one.

I think I am confused over what way this all should work.

Is it this:

Sky box stays as it is, cable coming from satelite.
Connect cable from sky box (Scart - svideo), to my TV card
Then connect Video card to TV (DVI to Scart)

Is what I am thinking wrong?

Thanks,
Gary

bazwaldo

Sorry for the confusion. Yeah I meant from the sky box.

If the sky box outputs s-video, then connect scart from sky box to tv card. Using a scart to s-video+audio cable.

I don't think you can have dvi to scart. Thats digital to analogue. If your TV doesn't have a dvi/hdmi connection, then you need to use the composite/s-video output from the video card.

DubGF

Ok, the Sky box has no s video.

My video card only has DVI, HDMI and VGA.

My tv only has SCART and S video.

What are my options?

Sorry for all the questions....

bazwaldo

Output from sky box is I guess RGB and composite. You need to get a scart to composite (red/yellow/while connections) lead. Composite is also known as RCA if looking to online. There is a RGB to s-video convertor from maplins but thats another item to plug in and haven't heard how well it works.

I bought a graphics card to output s-video to my TV, thats probably what you have to do. Someone else might know of another way.

DubGF

I have just installed the TV out card that came with the mobo, forgot it was there... This has s video and Y,Pr, Pb/AV connectors on it.

Are these RCA connections?