Completed HTPC Build - new "Antec Fusion Remote Black" with Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H (1 Viewer)

[kszabo]

I have just finished my new HTPC based on the above mentioned hardware.
The aim this thread is to share experiences and information about this "HTPC common" hardware.

Case: the new Antec Fusion Remote black with iMon LCD + iMon Pad Remote
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H with ATi HD3200 with 128 MB SidePort Memory
CPU: AMD X2 BE-2400 (2x2,3 GHz, TPD 45W)
RAM: 2x1GB DDR2 PC800
Software: Vista 32bit, MP RC2, Cyberlink PDVD8 codecs

Thoughts about the Case:
The big difference to the predecessor (Antec Fusion v2 430W) is that:
1. no power supply unit inside
2. iMon Pad remote controller included
PSU: now you can choose your favourite silent PSU to the case. But be careful! I suggest to buy a PSU with an 8 cm fan on the back. If you choose a 12cm fan model, you have to mount it upside down (fan on top) otherwise the air intake is blocked (I bought an Antec NeoPower HE 430W)
iMon Pad Remote and LCD-Display: the built-in IR receiver does not support my Microsoft MCE remote! The only buttons recognized are: volume up, down and mute. Nothimg else! I have already built a HTPC with an Antec Fusion v2 silver (VFD Display, no remote included), no problem at all with the MCE remote! The iMon Pad buttons are recognized, but only with the Antec driver shipped with (Version 6.2....). If I install the latest iMon 7.2.... the Pad (big rubber button in the middle) misfunctions (only mouse mode possible, no keyboard arrow mode).
As you see, no two iMon HW (and firmware) are the same. As I read on the Soundgraph iMon forum, they ship OEM products customly tailored for the Vendor (like Antec), removing support of this and that. Very sad, indeed. And I am still sweating to configure my iMon Pad for Mediaportal. Hard nut.
The LCD works great with CybrDisplay plugin, MP messages and Equalizer displayed correctly.

Thoughts about the Motherboard:
It is not really different to the predecessor without sideport memory. I have also the same problems as it have (see other threads):
1. flickering GUI of Mediaportal:
The GUI flickers if PDVD codec used with hardware acceleration (DXVA). Catalyst Driver 8.5 works the best (there are reports that in 8.6 or later the DXVA is broken).
2. deinterlacing:
Furthermore I am not satisfied at all with the hardware deinterlacing of 1080i 50Hz HDTV: the picture is not smooth. 1080p (or "fake" 1080i with twice the same halfframe in a row) is no problem. My experiences with Catalyst versions so far:
8.5: best so far. Only small flickering of GUI (still annoying). Deinterlacing with four options (weave, bob, adaptive, motion adaptive). Good black level (no 16-235 color expansion error)
8.8: big problem of flickering GUI (VMR or EVR is the same). Avivo deinterlacing with only two options: weave or bob, pulldown detection greyed out. Bad black level (black is grey) of videos. No go driver. ATi, what are you doing?
HDMI audio:
I loose audio through HDMI if HTPC started before TV or from resume. The newest Realtek HD Audio and ATI HDMI drivers (2.3) did nit help.
Firmware:
there is only 1, the F1.

Conclusion:
The onboard HD3200 does not satisfy me at all. Flickering GUI of MP, 1080i not smooth, broken color space expansion after Catalyst 8.5, HDMI audio loss problems.

My Questions:
- does someone have a "golden combination" of h.264 codec (PDVD Version+Build) and Catalyst driver for the HD3200?
- any idea how get rid of flickering GUI?

Edit: as I researched Catalyst 8.5, PDVD 7.3 with latest patch, and a Phenom CPU with HT3 is the best on this platform. I will test (except Phenom)

 

[pnyberg]

workaround for flickering GUI if you are satisified with only DXVA: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/mediaportal-1-talk-45/workaround-flickering-overlays-evr-ati-44423/#post298897

 

[kszabo]

I did some research about Avivo DXVA deinterlacing with the hd3200:

for good results a CPU with Hypertransport 3 (=Phenom) is necessary. The bandwidth of HT3 is needed for more than Bob deinterlacing at 1080 resolution.

So I am waiting for a cheaper Phenom X2 dual core (maybe beginning 2009).

Edit: thanx Flokel, corrected

 

[flokel]

for good results a CPU with Hyperthreading 3 (=Phenom) is necessary.

you probably mean Hypertransport
Hyperthreading is/was a feature of Intel cpus.

So I am waiting for a cheaper Phenom X2 dual core (maybe beginning 2009).

The first dual core seems to be available pretty soon:
AMD Athlon X2 6500 Black Edition, 2x 2.30GHz, 2x 512kB Cache, 2MB shared L3-Cache, boxed (AD6500WCGHBOX) Preisvergleich bei Geizhals.at Deutschland
Though not really cheap (for now).

 

[pilehave]

The best way I got my iMon remote working, was to use the newest software and use this, to map buttons on my remote, to keys in MP.

That way, when you press a key on your remote, the iMon program translates that into a keypress and sends it to MP. In MP you then use the plugin "KeyboardInputPlugin" to map commands as if it was just a normal remote

(My iMon was not part of a case or anything, but a normal iMon remote + VFD, so there may be differences from yours)

 

[kszabo]

The first dual core seems to be available pretty soon:
AMD Athlon X2 6500 Black Edition, 2x 2.30GHz, 2x 512kB Cache, 2MB shared L3-Cache, boxed (AD6500WCGHBOX) Preisvergleich bei Geizhals.at Deutschland
Though not really cheap (for now).

yes, I have already found that. I wish a smaller, 45W TPD version of that. Maybe we could downvolt and underclock it for less heat (it has open multiplier!). But it is still too pricey.

The reason for upgrade from my X2 BE-2400 is the better HT bandwith not the CPU performance, it is enough already.