System up and runnig, now for the tweaking

[Dansta]

Well at long last I have completed my HTPC system. Well building it, anyway. I suspect a DIY HTPC is like the kit-cars I have built - can always find something to tweak. General features all work but I think there's quite a road to go until its all working top notch.

System:
Foxconn 945G7MD-8EKRS2H M/B
Samsung 4x512MB PC4200
Pentium D QCSE
Nvidia 7300LE 128MB Gfx
2X160GB Maxtor +1 x160GB Hitachi SATA HDD (Intel Matrix RAID: 20GB Raid 0 for page file + file processing + 291GB Raid 5 on ICH7R)
Liteon DVD RW (18x D/L)
Terratec 2400iDT (full edition)
PCI B/G wireless
XP Home
Toshiba 27WL55 LCD
On board audio using COAX S/PDIF out to Sherwod 6095 RDS Amp + 5.1 surround speakers.

All worked fundamentally OK and first time after OS installation and MP setup - impressed.

Recorded 2 movies simultaneously and also recorded 1 and watched 1 so no Dual Tuner issues here - phewee. Curious problem that there seems to be a audio-video sync problem and stuttering/hanging/tearing when watching TV live, but if I timeshift by as little as 2 seconds its all fine. Initally Thought PSU not butch enough (250W SFX but should be getting a 300W 80+ soon) or temp issue until I tried timeshifting.

Also TV card disapears on a restart from hibernation or standby (fine from cold/warm boot) but that might be a BIOS setting issue.

Not quiet enough yet but hardly suprprising given the case (bog standard Chenbro Full height desktop case and perhaps overkill on some specs), etc. Not attempted TV Server - still learning to walk! Fortunately it looks like the remote software that came with the TV card can work with MP, just needs setting up. Patience needed there me thinks.

Oh yes unfortunately the DVD drive came pre-set to region 2. Can't play the DVDs I buy on my visits to China anymore. Bit of googling needed there.

Overall - chuffed. Dan.