How would you use this hardware to create an HTPC

R

randomwalsh

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2009
Messages
1,228
Reaction score
6
Location
Durban
Hey

So here is the hardware

Intel Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40Ghz
4gig DDR2 800
MSI 520GT 1gig

Connected to Samsung 46C750 via HDMI 1.4a cable with optical passthru from TV to Logitech Z5500

Here are the thing I would like to accomplish with this machine.

Run Xbmc Eden with Aeon Mq3 skin
Run Sickbeard+couchpotatoe+headphones+sabnzbd
Run utorrent+peerblock
Run Mediamonkey + itunes(for ipads)
Run The Sims 3 (wife)


So basically it will be HTPC 90% of the time. This is what I have done thus far

OS: Windows 7 64bit
All is installed but I am experiencing lag with my xbmc navigation, ie when I browse through my tv shows and movies its not smooth and sometimes delayed.

Also what would be the best settings video wise and audio wise.

Currently I have dvxa enabled. I have noticed alot of posts that say you must turn on sync display rate to video. Is this bad for the tv to always change hz?

Remote wise... What apps would you recommend for the ipad / iphone?

Thanks for reading and your advise....
 
I sync my video playback to the refresh rate of the TV, so my TV runs at 60, so that is what my stuff syncs to, makes everything smooth and I haven't seen anything strange.
 
i wolud get rid of win 7 and try xbmcubuntu or openelec, far less resource intensive
 
Meteor said:
i wolud get rid of win 7 and try xbmcubuntu or openelec, far less resource intensive
Click to expand...

With those specs Win7 shouldn't be a burden. It runs fine on my core 2 duo 2.4 with 2 Gb ram.
 
Crowley said:
With those specs Win7 shouldn't be a burden. It runs fine on my core 2 duo 2.4 with 2 Gb ram.
Click to expand...

I used to run XBMC on win7 and with a large library it will be lagging from time to time, lately I've been using openelec and it runs as smooth as silk with 1300+ movies and 6000+Series episodes. You must decide if you want an HTPC that runs smoothly or a PC that also runs XBMC.

Openlec= Run Xbmc Eden with Aeon Mq3 skin
Run Sickbeard+couchpotato+sabnzbd and maybe Headphones?
Run Transmission torrent Client

Idle resources CPU 0.5-1% per core, ram 200Mb
 
dont know much about htpc stuff,but how about a dual boot?linux for media,like the others said,and keep windows for sims 3 when it gets used every now and then.
 
mmmm will install openelec on a memory stick and see how it goes.

I disable the mq3 skin and xbmc is behaving much better. I guess that skin is a heavy skin.
 
randomwalsh said:
mmmm will install openelec on a memory stick and see how it goes.

I disable the mq3 skin and xbmc is behaving much better. I guess that skin is a heavy skin.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. I'm running Openelec from a 4Gb flash-disk and I've pretty much forgotten that it's not running from the HDD.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X