New HTPC up and running, described below the installation process and problems encountered
Hardware Components:
ORIGEN AE S10V HTPC Case
Silverstone Nitrogon NT06-Lite Heatsink
Kingston ValueR. DDR2 PC6400 4096MB CL5, Kit w/two matched ValueRAM 2048MB DDR2
Corsair Powersupply 400W, 120mm Fans 6xSATA, ATX/EPS, 1xPCI-E, 20/24pin
Gigabyte GA-EG45M-DS2H, G45, Socket-775, m-ATX, GbLAN, DDR2, VGA, PCI-Ex(2.0)x16
Intel Core™ 2 Duo E7300 2,66GHz, Socket 775, 3MB, 1066MHz, Boxed w/Fan
Sony NEC Optiarc DVD±RW burner AD-7633A, Slimline, Slot-in, Black, LabelFlash, PATA
2X HDD SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.11 1.5TB
LOGITECH DINOVO EDGE MEDIA DESKTOP
=======================
Hardware Installation Notes:
ORIGEN AE S10V HTPC Case:
Begin with installing the CDROM first, difficult to reach the screws with other components in the way
Install the PSU last, because the cables get in the way otherwise
Silverstone Nitrogon NT06-Lite Heatsink
The heatsink is massive but will fit in the chassi with only millimeters to spare if you remove the Heatsink Fan.
The heatsink is large enough to passively cool modern Core 2 Duo 45nmm CPU's
PSU:
Should have bought one with modular removable cables
Noise:
The system is whisper quiet, the Seagate harddrives barely make any noise, the chassi fans are quiet, and the CPU is passively cooled.
=======================
BIOS:
- BIOS Settings, disable USB mouse wakeup events (fixes unable to sleep)
- Enable USB keyboard/Mouse emulation
- Update to latest BIOS, fixes memory compatibility with Kingston (fixes bluescreen during wakeup)
=========================
Windows & Driver Installation:
- Install Gigabyte Driver CD, All drivers
- Download all windows updates
- Update with latest Intel GFX driver (fixes HDMI handshaking issue)
- Disable Dynamic Energy Saver (fixes bluescreens during wakeup)
control panel>administrative tools>services
Disable "GEST Service for program management"
- Enable Auto-Logon in Windows Vista
1. Click on the Start button and type in ‘netplwiz‘. This will open the Advanced User Accounts menu
2. In the Users tab, highlight the account you want to login to Vista automatically with, and then ‘must enter a username and password to use this computer’
3. Click on ‘Apply’. A new window will now popup asking you to enter the password of the account you’ve just highlighted. Do this, and then click ‘Ok’
4. Click ‘Ok’ on the Advanced User Accounts menu to finish
5. Now, whenever you boot up, Vista will login automatically to your chosen account
======================
Software Installation:
- Install AVG Free
- Install Daemon Tools
- Install Community Codec Pack with full features, select preload VSFILTER
- Install IRTrans
- Install Media Portal
- Install MPTray4irtrans (same directory as MP, put shortcut in Autostart)
Windows Configuration:
- Set all Windows Power Settings to SLEEP
- Disable all Autostart options for Removable Media.
- Disable "Keep the Taskbar on top of other windows" (fixes problem with taskbar appearing when auto-mounting ISO)
Daemon tools config:
Enable Automount
Disable Secure mode
IRTrans config:
- install as a service (solves problem with MPTray4irtrans and IRTRANS not detected during boot unless MP start delayed)
- As per Origens FAQ Instructions add "SKPOWER" to IRTRANS to enable remote powerbutton functionality
- Delete everything in apps.cfg (not needed for MP, fixes double button presses)
Media Portal config:
- Enable MCE Remote
- Process priority Highest
- General: Deamon, Automount via deamon tools (select same drive as in Deamon Tools config).
- Remote: select IRTrans and MCE Remote.
- Weather: select your city.
- Video:
Delete Daemon Tools drive
Enable Subtitles
DVD Force Subtitles
Media Portal Plugins:
Thumbnailer - tv, Shorter initial scan, install in Process DIRECTORY, not plugin
180/300/500 seconds
FFDSHOW Video config:
Enable quality upscaling of low bitrate/resolution videos
enable postprocessing
check accurate deblocking
strength 100%
enable Resize & Aspect
Resize if < 1280 or 720
Resize to screen resolution
Resize Settings: Luma Sinc, Luma Gaus 0.60, Luma Sharp 2.0 , Chroma Gaus 0.80, Chroma Sharp 2.00
===================
Hardware Components:
ORIGEN AE S10V HTPC Case
Silverstone Nitrogon NT06-Lite Heatsink
Kingston ValueR. DDR2 PC6400 4096MB CL5, Kit w/two matched ValueRAM 2048MB DDR2
Corsair Powersupply 400W, 120mm Fans 6xSATA, ATX/EPS, 1xPCI-E, 20/24pin
Gigabyte GA-EG45M-DS2H, G45, Socket-775, m-ATX, GbLAN, DDR2, VGA, PCI-Ex(2.0)x16
Intel Core™ 2 Duo E7300 2,66GHz, Socket 775, 3MB, 1066MHz, Boxed w/Fan
Sony NEC Optiarc DVD±RW burner AD-7633A, Slimline, Slot-in, Black, LabelFlash, PATA
2X HDD SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.11 1.5TB
LOGITECH DINOVO EDGE MEDIA DESKTOP
=======================
Hardware Installation Notes:
ORIGEN AE S10V HTPC Case:
Begin with installing the CDROM first, difficult to reach the screws with other components in the way
Install the PSU last, because the cables get in the way otherwise
Silverstone Nitrogon NT06-Lite Heatsink
The heatsink is massive but will fit in the chassi with only millimeters to spare if you remove the Heatsink Fan.
The heatsink is large enough to passively cool modern Core 2 Duo 45nmm CPU's
PSU:
Should have bought one with modular removable cables
Noise:
The system is whisper quiet, the Seagate harddrives barely make any noise, the chassi fans are quiet, and the CPU is passively cooled.
=======================
BIOS:
- BIOS Settings, disable USB mouse wakeup events (fixes unable to sleep)
- Enable USB keyboard/Mouse emulation
- Update to latest BIOS, fixes memory compatibility with Kingston (fixes bluescreen during wakeup)
=========================
Windows & Driver Installation:
- Install Gigabyte Driver CD, All drivers
- Download all windows updates
- Update with latest Intel GFX driver (fixes HDMI handshaking issue)
- Disable Dynamic Energy Saver (fixes bluescreens during wakeup)
control panel>administrative tools>services
Disable "GEST Service for program management"
- Enable Auto-Logon in Windows Vista
1. Click on the Start button and type in ‘netplwiz‘. This will open the Advanced User Accounts menu
2. In the Users tab, highlight the account you want to login to Vista automatically with, and then ‘must enter a username and password to use this computer’
3. Click on ‘Apply’. A new window will now popup asking you to enter the password of the account you’ve just highlighted. Do this, and then click ‘Ok’
4. Click ‘Ok’ on the Advanced User Accounts menu to finish
5. Now, whenever you boot up, Vista will login automatically to your chosen account
======================
Software Installation:
- Install AVG Free
- Install Daemon Tools
- Install Community Codec Pack with full features, select preload VSFILTER
- Install IRTrans
- Install Media Portal
- Install MPTray4irtrans (same directory as MP, put shortcut in Autostart)
Windows Configuration:
- Set all Windows Power Settings to SLEEP
- Disable all Autostart options for Removable Media.
- Disable "Keep the Taskbar on top of other windows" (fixes problem with taskbar appearing when auto-mounting ISO)
Daemon tools config:
Enable Automount
Disable Secure mode
IRTrans config:
- install as a service (solves problem with MPTray4irtrans and IRTRANS not detected during boot unless MP start delayed)
- As per Origens FAQ Instructions add "SKPOWER" to IRTRANS to enable remote powerbutton functionality
- Delete everything in apps.cfg (not needed for MP, fixes double button presses)
Media Portal config:
- Enable MCE Remote
- Process priority Highest
- General: Deamon, Automount via deamon tools (select same drive as in Deamon Tools config).
- Remote: select IRTrans and MCE Remote.
- Weather: select your city.
- Video:
Delete Daemon Tools drive
Enable Subtitles
DVD Force Subtitles
Media Portal Plugins:
Thumbnailer - tv, Shorter initial scan, install in Process DIRECTORY, not plugin
180/300/500 seconds
FFDSHOW Video config:
Enable quality upscaling of low bitrate/resolution videos
enable postprocessing
check accurate deblocking
strength 100%
enable Resize & Aspect
Resize if < 1280 or 720
Resize to screen resolution
Resize Settings: Luma Sinc, Luma Gaus 0.60, Luma Sharp 2.0 , Chroma Gaus 0.80, Chroma Sharp 2.00
===================