HTPC Build (Blu-ray, PVR etc.)

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fxit_man

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Hi there

I want to build a HTPC to record blu-ray, play blu-ray, and record DSTV, etc etc. (manual recording is fine without an EPG for my uses), and play streaming video over the net etc.

Revised components:
Components:
Case - Antec Fusion Remote Silver
PSU - CoolerMaster SilentPro 500w
CPU - Intel i3-2100T SandyBridge (35W TDP)
CPU Cooler- Is a diff one from stock needed? If so, Scythe Big Shuriken ??
Mobo- GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 1155 Socket MicroATX
RAM- 2x2GB 1333MHZ DDR3 Corsair XMS TW3X4G1333C9A
SSD - (For OS) 64GB Corsair CSSD-V64GB2-BRKT Nova
Storage - 2TB Western Digital Caviar SATAII 64MB Cache 3.5-inch
Optical - LG WH10LS30 Blu Ray Burner/Rewriter
Capture Card - Hauppauge Colossus Internal PCIe card (which has HD in and out)
Graphics Card - Asus 1GB Radeon HD 5450 Silent DDR3 with Low Profile Bracket
OS - Windows 7 32/64 bit
Click to expand...

Thoughts? Thanks.
 
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Nothing wrong I can see....dont think the SSD is a little overkill for an HTPC tho?
 
Cool thanks.

I wanted it to boot up as quick as possible to minimise delay from turning it on to being able to watch my TV!

What about DSTV? Is it fine connecting DSTV (Old dual view decoder) via Composite to the capture card? I think only the new HD PVR's etc have the macrovision protection don't they??

Or should I rather get a RF capture card..

I also want to cater for if i ever upgraded to the HD DSTV Decoder
 
Hay if thats what you want, nothing wrong with it, Im maybe just cheapy in the head in regards to what I need outta my HTPC :P

DSTV capture......I know nothing about Im sorry to say. Im sure one of the many gurus will be able to help you out. I am but okie dokie, zug zug.

Maybe DSTV/Multimedia could also help. But as I said, sure one of the gurus can give you an answer :)
 
I'm not 100% up to speed on the whole DSTV encryption story, but you'd want to check out whether the HD decoder uses HDCP, as if it does yuo're not gonna be able to use the blackmagic with it (see here, under "Copy Protection").

Secondly, if you do manage to record HD, you're looking at massive file sizes (quotes of 750GB per hour here).

I'd be more inclined to go for one of the Hauppauge options, since they generally come with a remote which plays nicely with Windows 7 Media Center, and IR blasters to change your DSTV channel. (Start here, for eg).

OK, that's my 2c.

Edit: To echo what was said above, there's a bunch of knowledgable folks in the DSTV/Multimedia forum, ask this question there and they'll probly give valuable input.
 
smtgra011 said:
I'm not 100% up to speed on the whole DSTV encryption story, but you'd want to check out whether the HD decoder uses HDCP, as if it does yuo're not gonna be able to use the blackmagic with it (see here, under "Copy Protection").

Secondly, if you do manage to record HD, you're looking at massive file sizes (quotes of 750GB per hour here).

I'd be more inclined to go for one of the Hauppauge options, since they generally come with a remote which plays nicely with Windows 7 Media Center, and IR blasters to change your DSTV channel. (Start here, for eg).

OK, that's my 2c.

Edit: To echo what was said above, there's a bunch of knowledgable folks in the DSTV/Multimedia forum, ask this question there and they'll probly give valuable input.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Some interesting info there.

For the remote - the case i mentioned in the OP includes an IR Receiver with remote, so that's not a problem.
 
Case - Antec Fusion Remote Silver
Cool
PSU - CoolerMaster SilentPro 500w
If you can get one without fan...super....maybe this has no fan...too lazy to google
CPU - Intel i3-540
overkill....
a normal dual core 3ghz will do...your machine is going to sit in idle 100% of the time ask me....even with capturing.
CPU Cooler- Scythe Big Shuriken
Get passive if you can....but the intel ones are very quiet...
Mobo- GA-H55M-USB3 MicroATX
usb3? if you need otherwise a R700 jobby will do.
RAM- 2x2GB 1333MHZ DDR3 CorsairXMS TW3X4G1333C9A
2 Gb more than enough.
SSD - (For OS) 64GB Corsair CSSD-V64GB2-BRKT Nova
overkill...a normal pc will boot from sleep in 3-4 secs :)
Storage - 2TB Western Digital Caviar SATAII 64MB Cache 3.5-inch
Nice
Optical - LG WH10LS30 Blu Ray Burner/Rewriter
Cool
Capture Card - BlackMagic Intensity Pro (which has HD in and out)
I like hauppage...
Graphics Card - Sapphire HD5570 1GB DDR3 Graphics Card
again a R700 Jobby will do...one with HDMI out.
OS - Windows 7 64 bit
64 bit will just give you drive problems down the line...trust me...
you will never use more than 2Gb of ram...let alone 4...

You don't mention sound?
This is almost one of the most important features ;)
a nice 7.1 SB card will do
i struggled to get a optical out but spdif is 100% the same quality.

oh the software...
http://code.google.com/p/streamedmp/
beaats any MP handsdown....trust me...i've played with them all!!
 
Thanks drukkie, appreciate your thoughts on the components.

Sound - I have a Bose sound system - I was thinking to just connect the on-board Optical Out to it?
Capture Card - Hauppage doesn't have an HD capture card afaik? Only the HD PVR box which is external.
OS - Thanks, i thought 64bit would benefit the processing as well though, not just memory.
SSD - Noted thanks, scrapped that then.
Graphics card - i'm considering 1GB Radeon HD 5450 Silent DDR3 which is fanless


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-Radeon-Silent-Profile-Bracket/dp/tech-data/B00371PORS/ref=de_a_smtd

Thanks
 
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oh as for capturing....i've given up...there is a delay between the live tv and the MC....so when you push info to see what is showing on the other it takes 1-2 seconds to reflect...i know it sounds trivial but you have to see it to know how frustrating it is!!!!
i now have a HD PVR which you can also buy by excluding some of those premium part you will not need...will easily pay for the PVR
subtract
capture card...
icore
2gb ram
cheaper mobo

I use my MC only for movies series...surfing...news...BR...
as for capturing....i could capture SD channels a year or so ago...but not sure if you can do it with the new/old HD PVR(macro encryption etc....)
 
What delay are you talking about? I capture using a hauppauge card and 7mc and I reckon it's faster than the hd pvr at my mother in laws place.


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App
 
check out this mobo....review from Mybb...looks nice...for what i'm doing....
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/reviews/19149-Gigabyte-Brazos--350-APU-review.html
not sure how it will handle hd capture though....

@smt...the delay im talking about is the dealy between live TV and what the mc puts out...
so lets say you swap a channel on your decoder there is a delay between that and what is shown on the MC...(it has to encode etc and display)
Unless it changed in the last year and there is no delay....if so name the card and i will have a look...
might just get it :)
 
I have the Antec Fusion case. Remote software was buggy and caused my win 7 64 Ultimate to BSOD when entering sleep. Maybe they have updated drivers on their site now. Love the case though.

There's no need for an SSD for bootup. My machine is up and ready for action in about 3 seconds from a low power state - all fans off, drives off monitor off. Use Hybrid sleep.
Although I do want an SSD to speed up opening MC. I use Media Browser and it takes a few seconds to update and refresh on first load.

Definitely check out the low power Sandy Bridge i3 2100T. Perfect for HTPC at 35W TDP.

Lastly, check this review out

Oh, and that 750Gb is only if you are recording uncompressed HD (highly unlikely)
 
Thanks guys! Very helpful!

@dexster - where did you get your fusion case from? Last i checked it was +-R1800? Silver or black? So how are you controlling it in that case? What are your specs? Do you think I would need more than 4GB? If not, should I stay 32bit?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions..

Cheers
 
Hmm, i've been checking out this BlackMagic card and I believe it won't work as a "Tuner" card in Media Center, as technically it is a capture card and not a tuner card?

Maybe i'll have to get a tuner card after all... How would I record HD DSTV though then?
 
One last thing to check is whether the decoder allows itself to have it's channels changed via ir blaster.

I'm pretty sure the hd pvr can't and I'm dubious about the dual view. I've got the 1110 and that ones fine which is useful since it means I only need one remote. Check out the mceguide forums, the answers probably there.


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App
 
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