HTPC Build - Antec Fusion 430 (Black)

[armandp]

Introduction

I just finished building my first HTPC 3 days ago. I have created this topic to share my experiences with this setup and how i'm playing around with different kind of configurations. I recently started a dedicated blog because this topic was becoming to bloated - the blog can be found here.

History

The solutions i've used before ...

- KISS DP-500 (one of the first standalone xvid/divx players/streamers)
- XBOX Softmod with XBMC (still kicks ass but no HD playback and DTV)
- Popcorn Hour A-100 (superb budget hd streamer but lacks GUI and DTV)

Requirements

My wishlist before i selected the hardware...

• Silent / Passive cooling / Energy efficient
• Watch digital (HD)TV and stream it over network
• Play 1080p&720p content - HDDVD/Bluray, x264 (both 5- and standard 4.1 profile)
• Hardware acceleration for video
• IR/Remote
• Casing fits surroundings (special mediacenter casing)
• HDMI (+audio)
• Digital optical out (raw)

Hardware (07-07-2008)

Thé solution for me as of today ...

Case: Antec Fusion 430 Black (demo)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H (mATX)
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core 4850e (ADH4850DOBOX) *
Cooling: Scythe Ninja Mini (Fanless)
Memory: OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Vista Performance Platinum 4GB Dual Channel
Harddisk: Samsung SpinPoint T166, 500GB (7200rpm, SATA II, 16MB, NCQ)
DVD-r/w: Samsung SH-S203B, OEM, Black
Keyboard: Media-Tech Rimini

Recent changes: *

* (07-07-2008) Changed CPU from BE-2400 to 4850e
* (07-07-2008) Moved TV card (Digital Everywhere DVB-C FloppyDTV + AlphaCrypt) to WHS (also dedicated TVServer)

Connectivity

My existing setup and how my HTPC is connected to it...

Display: Philips widescreen flat TV 37PF3321 37" LCD HD Ready with Crystal Clear III (Integrated HDMI)
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR606(Integrated SPDIF Optical Out/Integrated HDMI)
Remote: Logitech Harmony 525 (IR)
DVB-C Provider: Casema DTV with SD/HD channels (FloppyDTV/AlphaCrypt using smartcard)
Network: Local network (including internet) connected to a WHS with TVServer (Integrated NIC)

Assembling

Some pictures of the build process are attached below.

Important notes:

• The case comes with only one pair of satapower connectors which are too short to reach both hdd and optical. To hook up both you need an extra molex/satapower connector.
• If you want to use a remote to power on/off your system, you have to connect the IR/LCD unit like explained here. For easy assembling i recommend doing this right after you fitted the motherboard into the case and before you connect anything else to the motherboard.

Configuration

How i configured my HTPC ...

Bios (30-06-2008)

Version: F5 (GA-MA78GM-S2H)
Primary Display: HDMI
ACPI Suspend Type: S3(STR)
Very fast resume from suspend (3 seconds!), and case leds and fans will be off in suspended state.

OS & Drivers (10-07-2008)

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit + SP1 + latest critical updates
Chipset: Latest for GA-MA78GM-S2H
Audio: Realtek HD drivers 1.95
Video: Catalyst 8.7 (BETA) Drivers (ATI HD3200)
LCD/IR: SoundGraph iMON 7.01 (for LCD display and IR, I removed the Antec supplied driver)

Codecs (21-05-2008)

• AC3Filter 1.46
• MPC Video Decoder
• Haali Mediasplitter
• CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD8)
• CyberLink PDVD8 AVC/H264
• DirectShow VobSub 2.37

as a tryout i removed FFDSHOW and replaced it with the MPC Video Decoder (this is the decoder used in Media Player Classic HC).

Partitions

1x 500GB HDD

1. VistaOS (100GB, allows for easy reinstall)
2. Pagefile (10GB, minimize fragmentation of the pagefile)
3. Timeshift (10GB, minimize fragmentation of the timeshift buffers)
4. Data (380GB, media files, recordings and other non-installed resources)

OS/Vista configuration (10-07-2008)

- allow USB HID device for Trust Media Keyboard to wake the pc from standby (together with ACPI bios setting)
Device Manager -> HID -> "Device" -> Properties -> Power Control tab
- Aero disabled

Display and graphics

connected through HDMI

CCC:

Resolution: 1280x720 (HD-Ready TV without 1:1 pixelmapping so no proper 1368x768 image)
Refreshrate: 50Hz (because of TV = PAL in my region)
Deinterlacing: Auto *

*Will pick BOB most of the time - Vector Adaptive would be best but isn't available without HT 3.0)
note: If you disable Aero in Vista you get Motion Adaptive deinterlacing in CCC (could be also HT 3.0 related)
If you force the Motion Adaptive detinterlacing in CCC it will look nice for TV MPEG2 SD but MPEG2 HD deinterlacing doesn't seem to work anymore.

I also disabled the ATI Hotkey service because it would reset my Cool n' Quite function leaving the CPU at full speed when it was not required.

I set my TV to PC (instead of HDMI) mode to eliminate overscan. I also want to note that this is a personal thing and really depends on the possibilities of your TV

Only issue (MP) left: Flickering overlay with EVR!

MediaPortal (07-07-2008)

Version: 1.0.0.0 RC1 (incl TV server) + SVN 19453
Skin: Indigo 2.0
Plugins:

• CybrDisplay External Status Plugin 08-05-2008 update (LCD)
• MPControlPlugin Test Build 1.4.2 RC1 (from IR Server Suite)
• MP-TVSeries 2.0
• Traffic 0.1
• My Usenet 0.5

My setup officialy became multi-seat when I moved the FloppyDTV to my newly installed WHS server. Setting up TV Server on my WHS was like a midsummer breeze and after importing my channels and setting the new tsbuffer/recordings disks i was ready to go. I have absolutely NO issues to report at this time - it just works!

Logo's (25-06-2008)

TV: Ziggo (old Casema in NL) Logopack
TV Series plugin: provided by Indigo skin

IR Server Suite: (16-05-2008)

I installed the IR Server Suite (Test Build 1.4.2 RC1) to make my Logitech 525 (profiled as a MCE remote) work with Media Portal.

The remote now works 100% and the delays i got previously with the older version are gone!
This will definately boost my "girlfriend/wife friendly" rating

For a step-by-step walkthrough i can recommend this guide (credits: gdl). It explains in detail the steps you have to take to make the remote working. Note: i did not use this guide myself but after reading it i found it to be exactly the same as how i made my setup working.

TV Crop settings: (27-4-2008)

Because i don't have any overscan (PC Mode on my TVdisables that) on my HTPC output i need to crop the TV image that FloppyDTV is giving me to ensure i don't get to see, what i believe is called VBI, on some SD channels (ea. NGC).

I have set the following settings from within MediaPortal, TV -> (info) Crop settings: top,bottom,left,right: 5

Codec settings in MP: (27-05-2008)

- TV - MPEG2: Cyberlink SP Video PDVD8
- TV - HD: Cyberlink PDVD8 AVC/H264
- Navigator: DVD Navigator
- DVD: Cyberlink PDVD8
- MOVIES - SD: MPC
- MOVIES - HD: Cyberlink PDVD8 AVC/H264
- MOVIES - Postprocessing: DirectVobSub (for subtitles) (yes this will disable DXVA but there's no way around it for now)
- ALL AUDIO: AC3Filter (maybe i'm gonna replace this with Spdiffer)

Overclock settings (Based on old hardware - CPU: BE-2400)

To let the @5.1 profile 1080p play flawlessly without hardware acceleration (software decoding) i took a chance and overclocked the BE-2400. With my current setup (Scythe Ninja+ 2x 120mm TriCool of Antec) the system seems pretty much stable.

FSB: 244 Mhz (200=default + 44)
Multiplier: 11.5x (default)

I will take note of my system's stability during the next few days with these new settings. Sofar looks promising!

Result: 2x 2.8Ghz (~5600+)

23-04-2008: system still stable and temperatures are great

Performance (07-07-2008)

Bluray: smooth playback (hardware acceleration - DXVA)
x264 1080/720p @ 4.1 : smooth playback (hardware acceleration - DXVA)
x264 1080/720p @ 5.1 : smooth playback (software decoding - CoreAVC or PowerDVD HD codec)

Read more about why i also want to be able to use software decoding in this thread on the AVS forums: x264 Encoding Options for Hardware Compatibility & DXVA - AVS Forum

23-04-2008: Another reason to want to have software decoding support is the fact that currently if I want to use subtitles (DirectVobSub), DXVA get's disabled. I have read in another topic that Media Player Classic has a custom EVR method to use subtitles and DXVA so I think it's a matter of time before this will also be possible with other players (MP internal).

Cooling & Temperatures

The airflow "design" of the Antec case is quite nice as shown below and helps keep the temperature low.



using the supplied air guide extensions you can redirect the flow over your cpu. So i set this up also.
See image below



The northbridge on this motherboard becomes quite "hot" but this seems to be normal.
To be safe i have decided to buy a special northbridge cooler (see wishlist). Will update these results when i put it in the case.

Idle (Based on old hardware - CPU: BE-2400)

( AMD Cool&Quiet is enabled )

System: ~29
CPU: ~23
Northbridge: 81?

Full Load (15 minutes)

System: ~30
CPU: ~38
NorthBridge: 84?

Full Load (15 minutes) (27-05-2008)

Hot weather + a/v cabinet door closed (high room temperature)

System: ~40
CPU: ~50
NorthBridge: 87

TODO / Wishlist

Hardware and/or configuration i want to change or am planning to in the near future.

Configuration:

- Make the setup "Girlfriend-proof"
- Customize homescreen of MP skin

Planned additions/changes: (07-07-2008)

• Fresh Vista Ultima 32-bit installation
• CPU: Replace the Athlon x2 4850e with one of the HT 3.0 capable CPU's (Phenom x3 8450e or x4 9150e) for better 1080i deinterlacing
• Bluray drive (when the price is right)
• HDMI 1.3 (TrueHD, DTS-HD) Soundcard (ASUS Xonar HDAV, Auzentech HDMI X-Tension? when they are released)
• IMON IR connection with PWR ON/OFF connector (view)

Nice to have: (07-07-2008)

• Extra FloppyDTV + AlphaCrypt cam to fully support viewing/recording at the same time
• SmartWi (SmartWi® Multi Room Solution. Products) (if i get the extra tvcard)
• Better northbridge cooling (passive cooler or maybe stock cooling that comes with the latest revision of the motherboard)

Pictures

I attached some more pictures of my setup to the post:

- The keyboard (with broken scroll wheel that is, did not take a picture earlier) and the logitech remote.
- My current setup - which is gonna be changed really soon.. the case is on the floor for now because it didn't fit the cabinets (which i'm gonna replace by just one new, yet to discover, cabinet).
- a close-up of my MP start screen (not very interesting)

Blog

I have started a blog about my experiences on the following location: Project HoME.
The entries that were previously located here are now moved to the dedicated blog.

[BennieBoy]

Hi,

Just like to know.
How are the Temps doing with the passive cooling and therefore, little airflow over the mainboard?

Nice setup, success,
Ben

[funkstar]

Looks good. I'm surprised that monster cooler fints in there!

I've just built a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H based system with a BE-2450 in a Silverstone LC19 case.

I used a Akasa low profile cooler and it is completely silent as far as I can tell. I haven't had any heat issues although I haven't tried decoding HD footage yet.

[armandp]

Originally Posted by funkstar

Looks good. I'm surprised that monster cooler fints in there!

The antec case seems to be a perfect fit for the nijna. I think there's 5-10mm space left between the top of the cooler and the case-deck.

Well, the system stays pretty cool because my living room is well ventilated. But to be on the safe side i recently hooked up the two case fans (that come with the Antec Fusion) and put them on LOW to see what the noise would be and it's still very silent so i decided to keep them on. I will do some temperature tests when i have the time, putting some load on the cpu and mb with fans on/off.

currently occupied with making the htpc software "girlfriend"-friendly

[Swooosh]

I'm going to build about the same system (see Hd-htpc - 750€ - Forum de Luxx.
So what about the temperatures? How quiet is your system?

[armandp]

With the two case fans off you don't hear a thing (the only fan running then is the psu that comes with the case and it's very very quite). If i put the two case fans on and set them to LOW it's still quiet and only audible if you focus on it.
I decided to let these case fans on to create some "active" airflow and keep my cpu/mb cool, the summer is coming and my living room tends to warm up quite a bit then and i don't want to fry my components although they seem to cope quite nice without the case fans.. better safe than sorry right I will do some HD or 3D tests to stress the system to see what the temperature does (with fans on/off)

Oke first simple report about the temperatures. System has been running pretty much all day (for 8 hours). MediaPortal with TVServer running and watching tv. (Case fans on LOW)

System: 34 degrees celcius
CPU: 27 degrees celcius

[Ur[s]uS]

interesting, just had a very similar setup made for me

the two main differences, for ref:
- 9600 gpu, with zalman cooling, for light gaming and HD movies
- pioneer 202-bk brd, for blu-ray playback

antec case is alot bigger than i imagined (i could have measured, i know) - but does look very well in living room
the volume knob is nice looking, but wasted space with spdif out to sound system
the mini ninja and (for me, zalman on the gpu) are very effective, it's whisper quiet
i'm vista home premium and getting comfortable with the changes from xp and my old mce setup

having moved plugins around on mp and using xface (my current favourite skin), including changing the picture inset for the mypictures logo to a pic of my wife and i, the setup is starting to take shape for wife acceptance
but am not too pleased with the out-of-the-box ir experience, have not yet setup my harmony to work nice with it
using accuratus toughball for keyboard, it's pretty nice with the red trackball in top right, so far am happy
but that's not as wife friendly

will sub this thread and keep an eye on your next move for ideas !!

[armandp]

I agree on the IR experience. Still waiting for the IR Server Suite and/or CybrDisplay plugin to fully get along with the IMON hardware (LCD/IR) but i can use the Harmony (in combination with a custom imon manager setting) for the most basic stuff (no full MCE remote button mapping yet though, but Cybr is close).

Also i have to "rewire" the LCD to the mainboard to use power on/off with the remote but there for i need to open the lcd unit as decribed here.

Dunno how the IMON plugins turn out but i would like to map the volume knob to NEXT/PREVIOUS in a audio/video playlist or something (prev/next in slidehow for pictures and prev/next channel when watching tv). Also using SPDIF so volume control is pretty useless.

[Ur[s]uS]

Originally Posted by armandp

I agree on the IR experience. Still waiting for the IR Server Suite and/or CybrDisplay plugin to fully get along with the IMON hardware (LCD/IR) but i can use the Harmony (in combination with a custom imon manager setting) for the most basic stuff (no full MCE remote button mapping yet though, but Cybr is close).

Also i have to "rewire" the LCD to the mainboard to use power on/off with the remote but there for i need to open the lcd unit as decribed here.

Dunno how the IMON plugins turn out but i would like to map the volume knob to NEXT/PREVIOUS in a audio/video playlist or something (prev/next in slidehow for pictures and prev/next channel when watching tv). Also using SPDIF so volume control is pretty useless.

yes - cybrdisplay has me ok so far, but it's something i'll be looing into when i get time
like, i want Prev to act like escape key not backspace key
i want play, fwd, rew etc. to do what i expect ... if you figure all that out, please do share in this post !

[cybrmage]

Originally Posted by armandp

Still waiting for the IR Server Suite and/or CybrDisplay plugin to fully get along with the IMON hardware

Rather than WAITING.... why don't you HELP OUT!!!

The more feedback I get, the faster the support will be completed.... I've had 3 people provide feedback for the test versions I have provided...

Originally Posted by armandp

i would like to map the volume knob

Originally Posted by Ur[s]uS

i want Prev to act like ....

Originally Posted by Ur[s]uS

if you figure all that out, please do share in this post !

If you want specific features, then you nedd to PARTICIPATE!!!

I'm not a mind reader.... without feedback, you get the feature that I think are important.....

I'm glad that the CybrDisplay plugin works for you.... If you appreciate the work that has gone into making it, show your appreciation by helping to make it better....