What do I need for my HTPC?

ve

I have analogue NTL, but am considering upgrading to NTL digital. I have a 1080p lcd, which I would like to connect up a HTPC via HDMI. I would like to be able to pause / record / rewind live tv using my HTPC and not using a DVR from NTL. From my understanding, do I need a DVB-C (as opposed to -S or -T) TV card to do this? Also I heard that there may be problems connecting this up to NTL as they do not permit the connection of non-NTL devices to their service, is this true?

I don't plan on using anyone other than NTL for my TV service, but what services I receive from them may change over the next few months.

Also can Vista Media Centre be a one stop shop for playback of BluRay discs, along with recording/playback/rewind of live tv?. At the moment I don't really plan on doing any gaming with the HTPC but that may change in time. Also I want to hook up a 5.1 surround sound system in my living room. Also I will obviously be connecting this box to the Internet, so browsing web, checking mail, etc via TV is also a requirement. I'm a Software Engineer and I plan on working on some open source (community released) HTPC software projects once I get the thing up and running. So far I'm looking at buying the following...

Antec Fusion 430 Silver, 430w PSU, HTPC, Micro ATX, aluminium front bezel

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, AMD 780G+SB700, HDMI, Socket-AM2+, m-ATX, PCI-Ex(2.0)x16

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz Socket AM2 1MB, BOXED w/fan

Corsair Dominator TWIN2X8500C5DF 2048MB, DDR2,2x1GB(KIT),DHX,E.P.P, with FAN

Samsung SpinPoint F1 750GB SATA2 32MB 7200RPM

Pioneer DVD±RW-burner, BDC-S02BK, 12x, Blu-Ray Reader, SATA

Keysonic Wireless Keyboard/Touchpad ACK-540RF

If I could get what I wanted as close to €500 as possible, I would be happy, but €600 would be possible if it meant significant value for money.

Any help with queries and comments on my choice of components very appreciated

bazwaldo

To record NTL analogue, you need a card with an analogue tuner. And for Vista MC, the card must encode (hardware encoding). Hauppauge seem to be the most popular card.

If you switch to NTL digital, you need to feed the composite part from the scart output from your NTL box into the composite input of a hardware encoding card. I have a Hauppuage PVR150 which does this. Don't know if they are still on the market. This does analogue too.

I don't know too much about blueray/sound/graphics cards. However I see you are using the motherboard for your HDMI out. I'd check if that can manage 1080p.

Also I have that keyboard. Its alright for the odd use. If you want to use it daily for more than a few minutes, I'd invest in something better. I find the keys a little awkward and you need to have the keyboard at just the right angle for the receiver to pick it up. Maybe thats just for me though

POE101

"Also can Vista Media Centre be a one stop shop for playback of BluRay discs, along with recording/playback/rewind of live tv?"

Simple answer is yes ! I have a Vista Media Centre PC hooked up to a 42 inch HDMI ( 1080 i ) Windows media centre will handle all the TV stuff via an Analogue PCI TV card which is hooked up to analogue output e.g from NTL set top box. It is important to note that analogue PC based PVR with NTL will only allow you to record the channels available on analogue and will not give you access to all the Digital channels if you have NTL digital. There is a lot of discussion on the net about DVB-C tuners for PCs (digital video broaadcast - cable - i.e. -C cable as opposed to -T Terrestrial or -S Satelite services) . But it appears connecting one of these to NTL is illegal and besides requires additioal auxilliary card for decyption and don't know if it will even work)


Three major things regarding Blu Ray

1> At the moment Windows Media Centre will not play Blu-Ray formats so you need to make sure the drive is bundled with a Blu Ray player (e.g. Cyberlink's PowerDVD) but DONT RUSH to buy a drive until you have read on....

2> My PC WILL NOT PLAY ALL BLU-RAY disks (plays about 10 out of 13 that I own) and it is not clear where the problem is other then to say there is a compatabiility issue somehwere. The Blu Ray format is evolving so and old player or software may not be compatable with latest releases - it is a bit of a nightmare and I would love to hear if anyone else has had these issues. I brought back two disks and had themn replaced I also had my Blu Ray drive changes from LITE-ON to LG and donwloaded PoerDVD patches and Driver updates BUT NOTHING CHANGED - I just get a black screen and PowerDVD closes)

2> When I play ordrinarfy DVDs the graphics card knows it is connected to HDMI TV and UPSCALES the picture to High Def (I think a lot of HD DVD players are being sold as UPSCALERS now that the war bewteen Blu Ray and HD DVD is over) While technically there will be a difference in the quality I have to say that UPSCALING does a fantastic job with your bog standard DVD. I have also read that the higher end graphics cards do a better job at upscaling than any commercial stand alone player will,

I would recommend holding off on Blu Ray and just fit a good DVD drive and high end Graphics card (mine is GeForce 8800 and there are better but these are reasonably priced) It would be fascinating to play a few movies to a crowd and see if they could pick out a BLu Ray over a normal DVD on an appropriate set up in controlled conditions)

Finally...
Last comment I would make about using a Media Centre PC is to make sure its quiet - I have read that Antec take noise levels very seriously and am sorry I did go that route (too expensive)


Hope this helps..

FYI this is my setup
CPU : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6550 @ 2.33GHz CPU (Hardware acceleration) : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT System Memory : 2048 MB Operating System : Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Graphics Card : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Graphics card video memory : 512 MB Blu-ray Disc Drive : [F:] HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L Software Player : PowerDVD 7.3.4407.0 Video Connection Type : Digital(with HDCP)

POE101

If your 5.1 Surround System has optical (or co-ax) digital input/s and your PC doesnt have corresponding outputs - DEFINITELY buy a 5.1 digital sound card with appropriate digital output/s i.e to match which ever your sound system has (if it has optical go with that)

I would also recommend buying a bluetooth Keyboard with integrated mouse pad. I had been using a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse with my Media Centre PC so I could sit back and browse the web from an armchair but the range was limited and caused no end of frustration with typos and lost charachters - it literally kept me on the edge of my seat typing. I now have a Logitech Bluetooth wireless keyboard with integrated mousepad. When you are sitting in an armchaor you dont really want to have two devices (mouse and keyboard) but this may not suit everyone as mouse pads are not as easy to use. Having the wireless keyboard also largely negates the need for the Media Centre remote control - fewer things to get in the way or get lost.

bigtom71

I have a KeySonic Compact 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard with integrated Touch Pad, which I've been using for the last 2 years. It is really handy, easy on the battery life and can take a few knocks as well (I have 3 small ankle biters at home that regularly throw it around the room - aarg!). It works on RF and comes with a USB dongle to go into the PC (it is fairly long at about 2.5 -3" but I put it onto a short USB extension lead and Bob's your aunty's whatever). I have my PC connected up to my LCD tv in another room and have no problems - just sit back on the couch and type. I tested it a few times and it still worked from about 5 metres away.

I can't fault it at all and you can pick one up in Dabs for about €35 (it was about €60 when I bought it).