Help by HTPC hardware selection needed (1 Viewer)

[Peter2]

Re: Imon/Soundgraph ... the remotes and displays are very buggy, if you search the forums there a lot of people having problems. Also as far as display goes, it's quite gimicy unless you get a large display. my VFD is just a novelty really... I own a silverstone LC16-MR and I would not buy any imon/soundgraph gear in the future.

Dunno about remotes but in some way you are right about the VFD. This is my 2nd system - had an Antec Pundit (booksize barebone) first which was to limited. With this build, I wanted to be sure to be able to use normal parts and have a design that fitted my amplifier/tuner. The version without VFD/soundknob was to dull so I went for this one but I discovered that those features are just unnecessary extra's.

Regarding MCE remotes: I bought a Philips SRM 5100 (isn't this a MCE [compatible] device?) for a friend and tested it here on my xp sp3 but could not get it working, even by trying different hacks but probably I did something wrong. Now it also gives me a headache on her pc: after it went into ?sleep/hibernate? it doesn't work respond anymore.

Getting your GF convinced can be easy or hard, depending on what you will use the system for and how that goes.
Back then when I jumped on the htpc wagon, the vcr was broken and I didn't want to go for some 'in between' solution and reduce the clutter around the tv.
Converting all my cd's so they could be removed was quite a task but definitely worth doing.
Having the possibility to handle all your media with just a remote, is REALLY a good argument.
If the system is reliable, that is free of crashes and always available because of not to much tinkering, I don't see any reason why someone has to be convinced.

You also might consider the fact that quite some 'long time' users are moving towards multiple systems - adding clients.
Currently, I'm also doing some tests with MP on a server because I have an older pc with linux which functions as a file server but has become to limited because of its hardware.
I'm thinking to combine my file server (has all my music, backups, movie collection, ....) with a dedicated MP server and might use the hardware of my current htpc and buy a small sized system for the living area.

Also think about your Raid 1: you cannot change that without breaking it down so what about the data that you have on it.

Just some brainwaves....

 

[kiwijunglist]

Additional 2c...

no point doing RAID for media, unless you are doing a RAID that supports backup, because you don't need a fast drive for media

I use HP compatible MCE remote + receiver/blaster it was very cheap on ebay. The blaster works with LM remote, but the blaster doesn't seem to like IRSS (although i didn't try hard bc I don't actually need an IR blaster)... the remote side of things was extrememly easy to setup, plug in the receiver, auto install driver in xp, then tick one box in mp config.

This looks like the exact remote I bought - $20 incl shipping on ebay
NEW HP MCE /REMOTE CONTROL /USB IR RECEIVER /IR Emitter - eBay (item 350343543087 end time Jul-19-10 07:54:32 PDT)

The above remote has replaced my imon remote & receiver that came with my case. The imon remote was good in that it had lots of buttons, but bad in that i had endless heartaches and problems with it intermittently working. This HP remote is not as good as the original MCE remote, because the original MCE remote had learning buttons so it could learn the IR signal for your TV on/off and I think it could learn the vol +/- for your receiver. Unfortunately you can't buy the original MCE remote.

Here is another MCE compatible remote, I havn't tried this one so I don't know if it is any good, however it does appear to be able to learn the power button for your TV which is quite useful.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-MCE-R...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b1262e43

Alternatively get an MCE compatible remote + receiver, then get a logitech remote and use it in MCE mode.

 

[ejtje]

Who what a lot of info!

The data "plan":

- Windows + MP will beinstalled on 1 small HDD
- Music, films, series pictures etc... on 2 big(2TB) HDD (raid 1 configured drives)
- Every thing that I copy to the HTPC will also be stored on my game PC.

Maybe it is a good idea to leave the remote dicussion for a other time. First i will work with my Logitech Dinovo desktop keyboard mouse and mediapad. I'm not planning to buy a Imon remote if it's to hard to get it working


I have searched the web for some time but I it's hard to find a good HTPC case. Can you give some comment on these cases?

I have found this cases that i like:
- Lian Li PC-C33
- Silverstone LC17B
- Silverstone LC20B (without the media bundle)

The LC17B is not that expensieve but I have no idea if its any good...

Tnx for you comments and tips

Greeting E

 

[Peter2]

- Music, films, series pictures etc... on 2 big(2TB) HDD (raid 1 configured drives)
- Every thing that I copy to the HTPC will also be stored on my game PC.

Maybe it is a good idea to leave the remote dicussion for a other time. First i will work with my Logitech Dinovo desktop keyboard mouse and mediapad. I'm not planning to buy a Imon remote if it's to hard to get it working

If you have a copy of your data on your game pc, what's the use then of having a raid1?
You get extra heat, pay for an extra HD, need more space in the case, ....

The remote might not be a big thing now, you need to sort out the rest first but in the end you will control your system with it

 

[ejtje]

Mmm you are right.

The reason that i want to go for raid 1 configuration is that the AMD system that i will use to make the HTPC system is in fact my crapy old game system. And when I use it there is no data back-up any more. Till a buy a new game pc this can couse a problem. But that's just a short period of time. I could temporaily place two drives in the HTPC, later when the game pc is up and running i can remove it and place it in the game PC.
Tnx for the tip (less heat is less noice )

But first I need to focus on the case, that fits my spec.

Greeting E

 

[kiwijunglist]

Also don't forget the passive video cards are not always quiter than cards with a fan.

The reason being that you need a lot of air travelling over the gfx card heatsink in order to transfer the heat from the gfx card to the air inside the case, so in order to do this you need good case ventilation which might involve more system fans or running your fans slighter faster. So therefore sometimes its nice to get a gfx card with a good heatsink and a very slow or very quiet fan rather than a passive card. Not saying that a non passive heatsink card is going to be quiter, it is just something you should bare in mind. Also the passive heatsinks are often quite large and may take up additional pci slots and wont fit in same slim htpc cases.

 

[ejtje]

Your are right, but I'm hoping that sapphire has done a good job making the Ultimate HD 5550. I just readed some reviews of the LC17 case. The case is not super quiet so maybe that will be a issue when i replace the old hardware by silent PSU, CPU cooler. It's likely that the case fans will the provide more noice then other hardware in the case...

Greeting E

 

[ejtje]

So after a lot of info, the hardware list has some changes.

Old hardware:
- PSU: from: Aopen
- CPU: from: AMD type: Athlon 64 3500+ (socket 939)
- MB: from MSI type: K8 Neo4 form factor: Full-ATX
- RAM: type: DDR-SDRAM 1024mb
- Logitech dinovo (keyboard, mouse and numpad)
- Soundblaster live 24bit

New hardware:
- Case: Silverstone LC17
- GPU from Sapphire type: Ultimate HD5550
- 1x HDD from: Western Digital type: WD20EARS

Because of the reduced hardware cost (No new RAM and 1 HDD less) it is maybe a good idea to start the remote discusion again also I can also buy a TV card.
So things are getting a bit more complicated Because i have absolute no experiance with PC remotes or TV-cards

First the remote:
My idea is to have a remote that can be used to turn on my PC, TV and if possible Home wall plugs from the brand: Klik Aan Klik Uit (i have to google this).
The reason I want to control some home wall plugs is that my audio gear hasn't got a remote or even a IR-sensor. (I have a Phonix power amplifier and a Numark mixer. Yes indeed, No remote means -> no volume adjustment from the bench. And the power amplifier means no surround sound. But is also means that more power for the music...Mostly dance music)

I have hearded about the versatile Harmony serie from logitech, but is at any good when I buy it and mainly use it for my HTPC?
An other option : Hauppauge mce remote Home electronics - Hauppauge MCE Remote Control Kit But i realy don't now if it going to work with Xp Pro Sp3 ???

The TV card:
At the moment I have analog cable tv, but i realy want to upgrade that to HDTV But there is so much commerical articels, that i can't find the technical articel that describe the communication medium used to bring the HDTV to my front door.
I do know that TV-tuner card come with hardware that is designed for a specific communication medium. Maybe you could just give me some general tips about TV-tuner cards in combination with HDTV and of course Media portal.

Hopefully you people can give me some advice/tips about the remotes and TV-card

Greeting E

 

[kiwijunglist]

The logitech remotes don't come with an IR receiver, so if your case doesn't come with an IR receiver then you still need to buy an IR receiver or IR receiver/remote bundle. My HP MCE compatible receiver works fine with XP Pro SP3 (auto installs drivers, even though its listed as only for media centre editions of windows) you can buy this on ebay incl postage for about NZ$20 receiver only or about $25 for receiver/remote. Since the receiver you listed is mce clone it should hopefully work ok with XP Pro SP3 (Wont work with non Pro XP). If you use the hauppague setup it only controls the TV via an IR blaster which is actually no where near as good as using a direct IR signal (eg. the logitech). If you have the money to spend I would buy the logitech remote and the HP MCE compatible receiver/remote combo. you might as well pay a tiny bit extra and get the remote as well.

Your question regarding the TV tuner card is a bit wierd, because the TV tuner doesn't connect directly to the TV.

Outside Aerial -> TV Tuner -> PCI/PCI-E slot -> HTPC -> Graphics Card -> cable (S-Video/VGA/Component/DVI/HDMI) -> Display (TV/Monitor)

Of course if you want to run HDTV you will use an HDMI cable or a DVI->HDMI cable to connect your graphics card to your TV.

 

[ejtje]

If you have the money to spend I would buy the logitech remote and the HP MCE compatible receiver/remote combo. you might as well pay a tiny bit extra and get the remote as well.

Your question regarding the TV tuner card is a bit wierd, because the TV tuner doesn't connect directly to the TV.

Outside Aerial -> TV Tuner -> PCI/PCI-E slot -> HTPC -> Graphics Card -> cable (S-Video/VGA/Component/DVI/HDMI) -> Display (TV/Monitor)

Of course if you want to run HDTV you will use an HDMI cable or a DVI->HDMI cable to connect your graphics card to your TV.

So the logitech harmony it is, only now i have to decide with type. Why should i also buy the HP MCE compatible remote? (receiver/remote combo) For the IR Receiver only?

Sorry for my wird question...
I did know the way the signal go's. But at the moment i have cable television so I should need a DVB-C compatible tv card, but what if i get digital HDTV by other communication "way's" than cable? I think that there are hybrid card that are compatible with analog and digital signals. I think i have to compare the HDTV providers to see have the will bring the HDTV to my front door (DVB-T or DVB-C) first to beable to reduce the nummer of possible tv-card options.

Greeting E