Ongoing Asrock VisionX 420D (Haswell) based build (1 Viewer)

[BillyTheFish]

The Plan:
Main MePo HTPC + MePo Server based on Asrock VisionX 420D (Haswell): http://www.asrock.com/nettop/Intel/VisionX Series (Haswell)/#Specifications
in the sitting room.

Audio in Sitting Room
Once it's up and running, probably run it through a Yamaha RX-V1065 amp and Q-Acoustics satellite speakers plus BK Electronics XXLS400-DF subwoofer, which I have knocking around. Or via in-ceiling systemline speakers or both if possible.

Maybe try and find an adapter to make the satellite speakers wireless if possible.

NAS running FreeNas or Nas4Free in office/study serving music and films.
http://www.freenas.org/
http://www.nas4free.org/

MePo Client in bedroom.

IPTV / Baby Monitor either running off a PC in the study or either the HTPC in the sitting room or in the bedroom (running off one of the HTPCs is probably preferable as they are lower-powered)

AND try and work out a way to interface it all with an existing Systemline/Sonos music system.

MUST all be relatively WAG-friendly

 

[BillyTheFish]

Main MePo HTPC + MePo Server
First up, the main MePo HTPC / Server.

It needs to be easy to use, have PVR functions, capable of playing music and capable of streaming films.

Specs:
TV - Existing Samsung Flatscreen, early LED TV. Note to self - persuade wife that 3D is the future.

Main System
Asrock VisionX 420D (Haswell)
http://www.asrock.com/nettop/Intel/VisionX Series (Haswell)/#Specifications

Why? It's small, is power-efficient, has an optical drive, is 3D Capable and looks great. Yes, I could have put something together in a small form factor case but I don't have much time free at the moment and so needed the system to be relatively off-the-shelf. Yes, it is relatively over-specc'd for a MePo HTPC but that means it's future-proof and means I can run the IPTV PVR software on it as well. I might also use it to push backups of various PCs/devices on the network to the NAS (not sure yet).

TV Cards:
2 x PCTV nanonStick 292e DVB-T2
http://www.pctvsystems.com/Products...leStick/tabid/308/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
2 x PCTV DVB-S2
http://www.pctvsystems.com/Products...S2Stick/tabid/236/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
Startech 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub
http://www.dabs.com/products/startech-com-4-port-usb-3-0-hub-7B7P.html

Why? The PCTV sounds reliable as far as I can tell, 4 tuners for multi-recording/viewing/serving Freesat/Freeview. Hub because it means USB sticks are less likely to get knocked out of the back of the VisionX and all the 4 aerial cables can be hidden away behind the TV.

HDDs:
I think I can fit two 2.5" SATA drives in the VisionX plus an mSATA if necessary. It comes with a 1TB HDD that I will take out and re-use.

SSD, Crucial MX100 512GB = System, MePo, Applications, Recordings(?)
http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/ssd/ct512mx100ssd1

SSD, recycled SSD from old HTPC (I think it's a 40GB Samsung) = Pagefile, Timeshifting, Temporary Files, Recordings(?)

Why? The SSDs are more power-efficient, quieter and faster than the mechanical drive that came with the VisionX. I am recycling my old HTPC bits to be a study PC for web-browsing/word processing/etc and can use the mechanical HDD from the VisionX for that box and re-use the SSD in the Vision X. Putting the pagefile and timeshifting files onto the old SSD should (theoretically) speed things up a little and reduce wear on the newer SSD. I am not sure where to put recordings yet - I am leaning towards the new (higher capacity) SSD.

Remote:
I will try the one that came with the VisionX, use an old Logitech Harmony I have laying around or just use a small BT Keyboard.

Why? I have them already and think I will actually prefer a keyboard as I might use the HTPC for occasional web browsing.

System Software:
Windows 8.1

Why? It's newer and faster than Windows 7 and (as far as I can gather from the MePo forums) now works well with MePo.

MePo Software:
MePo 1.8
https://www.team-mediaportal.com/

Why? Do you need to ask? 1.8 until 1.9 final is released.

MePo Plugins:
To be added.

Other Software:
IPTV PVR software - not looked into yet.

 

[Peter2]

Hi,

If persuading your wife that 3D is the future to be able to buy a new TV set; I would like advice you not to use this as an argument.
I have watched quite some people pay extra money for 3D features on new TV's and since:
1) 3D was a commercial hype
2) there is no standard for 3D
3) the extra cost to create/transport 3D content will not make it mainstream (yet)
4) the effect of 3D is mainly with back-front movements which is mainly suited for movies

I have bought a 'basic' TV without paying any attention to the 3D capabilities because when/if it will become more mainstream, most likely this will be in some other way.

Just my 2c.