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<blockquote data-quote="mista_o" data-source="post: 839817" data-attributes="member: 110921"><p>Hi everyone,</p><p></p><p>Following a re-vitalised effort to nail the spectre of a "proper" htpc replacement for the Sky+ subscription (now cancelled), I am coming to the conclusion the MP *might* be the best fit for me. You can get some background here:</p><p><a href="http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-entertainment-pcs/1584703-more-than-just-another-htpc-software-thread.html" target="_blank">More than just another HTPC software thread.... | AVForums.com - UK Online</a></p><p>(and thanks again to Robbo100 for the guidance and feedback there)</p><p></p><p><strong>So, here's the setup I plan to run MP (or something) on:</strong></p><p>Antec Fusion Remote Case</p><p>Gigabyte H55M-S2 mobo</p><p>Intel i3 chipset</p><p>2Gb RAM</p><p>Seagate 500GB Hard Drive</p><p>TBS 9681 DVB-S2 card</p><p>Creative X-Fi audio</p><p>Logitech Hamony remote</p><p></p><p><strong>Here's the key things I am looking fr from a HTPC:</strong></p><p><strong>1 - Easy to use for partner and kids;</strong> as easy as sky+and that does everything Sky+ did (including series link) We canned the subscription and the pressure is on - the "come back for half price" leaflets are tempting the missus......</p><p><strong>2 - It has to be 100% reliable;</strong> press power on on the remote, it is on. wakes from sleep to record programs, goes off when idle (MP had a nasty habit of staying on under an older iteration)</p><p><strong>3 - plays media files from the NAS;</strong> without losing the network mappings on sleep/wake-up (am guessing a windows issue - as opposed to a HTPC software problem)</p><p><strong>4 - Audio;</strong> plays audio via HDMI lead into standard TV speakers for everday use, but can output via amp if needed (sometimes for TV, when watching blu-rays, or movies from the NAS)</p><p><strong>5 - Freesat;</strong> can pick up all of the Freesat (maybe freeview?) channels - including the HD ones. I might buy a DVB-T2 card if necessary to hedge my bets on the winning format.....</p><p><strong>6 - Nice to haves;</strong> netflix, iplayer, maybe lovefilm.</p><p></p><p>Above all, it has to be 100% reliable (did I say that already?) post installation. I want to avoid repeats of the head pecking when I return from business trips, because something didn't work (or rather, someone didn't listen). Therefore it has to be 100% user-friendly too</p><p></p><p>Getting to the point of this thread, my pre-installation guidance questions:</p><p><strong>a) Which Windows OS;</strong> 32-bit or 64-bit? 64-bit *should* give me some benefits on the one hand, but no point if MP is 32 bit and the recommended builds and configs are geared around 32-bit drivers</p><p><strong>b) Best TV tuner; </strong>Inbuilt MP or 4TR? I previously followed an install guide by bushbrother, but found issues with the tuner. It could be the TV card I was running? Irrespevctive, assuming I want to run 1.2.2 then which is best (given requirements 1 & 2 above)?</p><p><strong>c) backend db;</strong> MSSQL or MySQL? I read of issues with the latter, so what is the one most used by people - especially taking into account the answer to b)</p><p><strong>d) Range of channels for UK;</strong> I've got the Freesat HD card (DVB s2) - should I go with freeview HD?</p><p><strong>e) Remote mapping;</strong> I bought the Harmony as it was receoomended everywhere, but it was never 100%. posssibly my poor installation and config - what do you guys recommend?</p><p></p><p>Basically, I want to take my time and get this right to achieve the "it just works" situation once installed. All feedback and guidance gratefully received.</p><p></p><p>thanks for reading!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mista_o, post: 839817, member: 110921"] Hi everyone, Following a re-vitalised effort to nail the spectre of a "proper" htpc replacement for the Sky+ subscription (now cancelled), I am coming to the conclusion the MP *might* be the best fit for me. You can get some background here: [url=http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-entertainment-pcs/1584703-more-than-just-another-htpc-software-thread.html]More than just another HTPC software thread.... | AVForums.com - UK Online[/url] (and thanks again to Robbo100 for the guidance and feedback there) [B]So, here's the setup I plan to run MP (or something) on:[/B] Antec Fusion Remote Case Gigabyte H55M-S2 mobo Intel i3 chipset 2Gb RAM Seagate 500GB Hard Drive TBS 9681 DVB-S2 card Creative X-Fi audio Logitech Hamony remote [B]Here's the key things I am looking fr from a HTPC:[/B] [B]1 - Easy to use for partner and kids;[/B] as easy as sky+and that does everything Sky+ did (including series link) We canned the subscription and the pressure is on - the "come back for half price" leaflets are tempting the missus...... [B]2 - It has to be 100% reliable;[/B] press power on on the remote, it is on. wakes from sleep to record programs, goes off when idle (MP had a nasty habit of staying on under an older iteration) [B]3 - plays media files from the NAS;[/B] without losing the network mappings on sleep/wake-up (am guessing a windows issue - as opposed to a HTPC software problem) [B]4 - Audio;[/B] plays audio via HDMI lead into standard TV speakers for everday use, but can output via amp if needed (sometimes for TV, when watching blu-rays, or movies from the NAS) [B]5 - Freesat;[/B] can pick up all of the Freesat (maybe freeview?) channels - including the HD ones. I might buy a DVB-T2 card if necessary to hedge my bets on the winning format..... [B]6 - Nice to haves;[/B] netflix, iplayer, maybe lovefilm. Above all, it has to be 100% reliable (did I say that already?) post installation. I want to avoid repeats of the head pecking when I return from business trips, because something didn't work (or rather, someone didn't listen). Therefore it has to be 100% user-friendly too Getting to the point of this thread, my pre-installation guidance questions: [B]a) Which Windows OS;[/B] 32-bit or 64-bit? 64-bit *should* give me some benefits on the one hand, but no point if MP is 32 bit and the recommended builds and configs are geared around 32-bit drivers [B]b) Best TV tuner; [/B]Inbuilt MP or 4TR? I previously followed an install guide by bushbrother, but found issues with the tuner. It could be the TV card I was running? Irrespevctive, assuming I want to run 1.2.2 then which is best (given requirements 1 & 2 above)? [B]c) backend db;[/B] MSSQL or MySQL? I read of issues with the latter, so what is the one most used by people - especially taking into account the answer to b) [B]d) Range of channels for UK;[/B] I've got the Freesat HD card (DVB s2) - should I go with freeview HD? [B]e) Remote mapping;[/B] I bought the Harmony as it was receoomended everywhere, but it was never 100%. posssibly my poor installation and config - what do you guys recommend? Basically, I want to take my time and get this right to achieve the "it just works" situation once installed. All feedback and guidance gratefully received. thanks for reading! [/QUOTE]
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