Topic: Unofficial HTPC users thread: Tips, Tricks, and everything HTPC

[rhodem24]

Mga sir, I'm currently using my HD4850 (HDMI > HDMI In sa receiver) sa HTPC ko.

I'm aware that HD4*** doesn't support DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD. Pag may source akong DTS-HD MA, DTS lang po ba yung ma decode nya?

Thanks.

[joko11]

Mga sir, I'm currently using my HD4850 (HDMI > HDMI In sa receiver) sa HTPC ko.

I'm aware that HD4*** doesn't support DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD. Pag may source akong DTS-HD MA, DTS lang po ba yung ma decode nya?

Thanks.

opo

[DTNS]

Mga sir, I'm currently using my HD4850 (HDMI > HDMI In sa receiver) sa HTPC ko.

I'm aware that HD4*** doesn't support DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD. Pag may source akong DTS-HD MA, DTS lang po ba yung ma decode nya?

Thanks.

ganun ba? I plan pa naman to use my i5-2500k for HTPC. 

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

ganun ba? I plan pa naman to use my i5-2500k for HTPC. 

Search google may issue nga sa audio ang HD3000 ng i5-2500K with HD3000 GPU.

[nerveblocker]

Is a laptop ok for 24/7 downloading?

[Clondalkin]

Hi Mel!
If it doesn't get too hot.  I cleaned the laptops of my family last March upon their arrival in Tokyo. First thing I noticed was that their laptops were getting unusually hotter than before.  Turned out na punong-puno ng accumulated dust yung cooling fans and exhaust kaya blocked yung hot air flow palabas.

Also, I would suggest that you store the torrents file directly to a more robust externally connected 3.5" HDD instead of the laptop's 2.5" HDD if you intend to operate 24/7.

Pero diba via seed box ka na?  Good system!  Hehehe

Regards!

Is a laptop ok for 24/7 downloading?

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

Is a laptop ok for 24/7 downloading?

Di ba di ka naman naka 24/7 kasi may seedbox ka na?

[nerveblocker]

Hi Mel!
If it doesn't get too hot.  I cleaned the laptops of my family last March upon their arrival in Tokyo. First thing I noticed was that their laptops were getting unusually hotter than before.  Turned out na punong-puno ng accumulated dust yung cooling fans and exhaust kaya blocked yung hot air flow palabas.

Also, I would suggest that you store the torrents file directly to a more robust externally connected 3.5" HDD instead of the laptop's 2.5" HDD if you intend to operate 24/7.

Pero diba via seed box ka na?  Good system!  Hehehe

Regards!

Thanks Alan-san for the reply. I'm just looking at my options.  Was just thinking of getting a 2nd hand atom based netbook for that purpose lang. My current desktop rates at 45watts baka pwede pa lower consumption.

[nerveblocker]

Di ba di ka naman naka 24/7 kasi may seedbox ka na?

Bro still need to transfer files from seedbox to home via http which is still limited by my isp plan. Good thing about having the seedbox aside from keeping a good ratio is that I can transfer my files from seedbox at the maximum speed that my ISP plan can handle i.e. 600-620 kb/s with my 5MBPS plan. Before throttled talaga ang speeds ko (250-300 kb/s) during the day and intermittent pa ang connection that's why I don't do 24/7 downloading.  Naiinis lang ako.

Sarap lang kasi ng seedbox sa bilis ng speed nya maski yung mga 1 seeder lang na files nadodownload parin.  Tapos transfer nalang kaagad.

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

Bro still need to transfer files from seedbox to home via http which is still limited by my isp plan. Good thing about having the seedbox aside from keeping a good ratio is that I can transfer my files from seedbox at the maximum speed that my ISP plan can handle i.e. 600-620 kb/s with my 5MBPS plan. Before throttled talaga ang speeds ko (250-300 kb/s) during the day and intermittent pa ang connection that's why I don't do 24/7 downloading.  Naiinis lang ako.

Sarap lang kasi ng seedbox sa bilis ng speed nya maski yung mga 1 seeder lang na files nadodownload parin.  Tapos transfer nalang kaagad.

Tiantamad pa ako mag seedbox saka okay pa naman ang mga accts ko sa dami hahaha

[Clondalkin]

That's about 1.08kWH daily or 32kWH per month - perhaps between 400 to 500 Pesos depende sa Meralco charges on your consumption bracket.  Baka hindi mo pa mabawi ang acquisition cost ng netbook.  So mas cost effective if you just turn off your aircon for a few hours, or, reduce your dine-out expenses by 500 in a month (500 is practically just one nice meal for one person I believe), OR, just one additional Consultation Fee.  Hehehe.

I'd suggest that you keep your DL rig as is, and spend the netbook budget on blank HDDs.   

Thanks Alan-san for the reply. I'm just looking at my options.  Was just thinking of getting a 2nd hand atom based netbook for that purpose lang. My current desktop rates at 45watts baka pwede pa lower consumption.

[nerveblocker]

That's about 1.08kWH daily or 32kWH per month - perhaps between 400 to 500 Pesos depende sa Meralco charges on your consumption bracket.  Baka hindi mo pa mabawi ang acquisition cost ng netbook.  So mas cost effective if you just turn off your aircon for a few hours, or, reduce your dine-out expenses by 500 in a month (500 is practically just one nice meal for one person I believe), OR, just one additional Consultation Fee.  Hehehe.

I'd suggest that you keep your DL rig as is, and spend the netbook budget on blank HDDs.   

Galing mo bro in computing the electricity cost. I also computed it using the Meralco app and lumabas P450/month considering I will be downloading 24/7. Guess by next month I'll be minimizing my downloading hours kasi malamang wala nako madownload. Haha!

[Stagea]

Is a laptop ok for 24/7 downloading?

Set the PC to power saving then set cooling mode to passive. If you like tweaking, managing components manually will give you more granularity. Reducing the machine's power consumption also reduces system temp, fan speed/duty cycle, and current load on components, which in turn tend to prolong the life of components. Low fan speeds/duty cycles also minimize noise emission and dust deposits.

[nerveblocker]

Set the PC to power saving then set cooling mode to passive. If you like tweaking, managing components manually will give you more granularity. Reducing the machine's power consumption also reduces system temp, fan speed/duty cycle, and current load on components, which in turn tend to prolong the life of components. Low fan speeds/duty cycles also minimize noise emission and dust deposits.

Thanks master Ivan for the input.  I will take that into account. 

[Stagea]

Thanks master Ivan for the input.  I will take that into account. 

You're welcome, Master Doc Nerveblocker. I remember you have an e350-based machine. Some Brazos Tweaker magic may help that thing, if you have the time.

[nerveblocker]

I tried laptop power saving mode in my desktop and it reduced power consumption by 4-5watts. Not as significant as I expected. I'm now running at 40-41watts with the power saving mode.

Specs: AMD X2 proc, Nvidia GT520
OS: Linux Mint

Does the dedicated VC have an effect on the overall power consumption in downloading mode?

[nerveblocker]

Power Consumption in my E-350 machine w/ HD6450 GPU--
OS: Windows 7 64bit

Balanced Mode: 40-41watts
Powersaving Mode: 37-38watts

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

I tried laptop power saving mode in my desktop and it reduced power consumption by 4-5watts. Not as significant as I expected. I'm now running at 40-41watts with the power saving mode.

Specs: AMD X2 proc, Nvidia GT520
OS: Linux Mint

Does the dedicated VC have an effect on the overall power consumption in downloading mode?

yes may effect yan additional power consumption unless na gumamit ka ng AMD HD77xx and up series na VC with AMD Zerocore power feature.

More about the new technology of AMD support HD77xx series and up.

Available on select, high-performance AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series graphics products, the Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture is a radically new approach to the design of a consumer GPU.

Most importantly, it is the world's first 28nm GPU architecture, which enables AMD to fit up to 4.3 billion transistors-the most basic building blocks of a GPU-into approximately the same space once needed to fit 2.6 billion. Increasing transistor density by greater than 60% is more than just a feat of engineering-it's responsible for the world's most powerful and advanced GPU.1

Designed to push not only the boundaries of DirectX® 11 gaming, the GCN Architecture is also AMD's first design specifically engineered for general computing. Equipped with up to 32 compute units (2048 stream processors), each containing a scalar coprocessor, AMD's 28nm GPUs are more than capable of handling workloads-and programming languages-traditionally exclusive to the processor. Coupled with the dramatic rise of GPU-aware programming languages like C++ AMP and OpenCL™, the GCN Architecture is truly the right architecture for the right time.

Efficiency

Click to enlarge
Finally, it's important that great performance and great image quality doesn't come at the expense of a high power bill. Compared to the AMD Radeon™ HD 6000 Series, products with the GCN Architecture feature reduced power consumption in the "idle state," better known as the time when you're doing desktop work. But there's more, too.

AMD ZeroCore Power Technology
AMD ZeroCore Power Technology leverages AMD's leadership in notebook power efficiency to grant our desktop GPUs the ability to power down when your monitor is off, also known as the "long idle state."3


Click to enlarge This is great for those times when you've stepped away from your PC to take a call, watch TV, or pop down to the store. Furthermore, AMD ZeroCore Power allows additional GPUs in an AMD CrossFire™ technology configuration to shut off when they're not in use-even the fan stops spinning!
An AMD-exclusive technology, AMD ZeroCore Power ensures that unused or idle GPUs are as efficient as possible.

Even the most hardcore gamer with an AMD CrossFire™ multi-gpu configuration benefits from AMD ZeroCore Power. Unused or idle GPUs are shut down until needed to conserve power.

Source: http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/gcn/Pages/gcn-architecture.aspx

AMD has been working on getting the long idle power down for years and it looks like ZeroCore Power Technology is about as good as it gets.  AMD says the Radeon HD 7970 uses less than 3 Watts in this long idle power state. It has to use some power in order to detect when you go to use the PC again.

Source: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1805/13/

[Stagea]

Power Consumption in my E-350 machine w/ HD6450 GPU--
OS: Windows 7 64bit

Balanced Mode: 40-41watts
Powersaving Mode: 37-38watts

Aside from the video adapter taking 10 or so watts at idle, you might want to try reducing the APU's consumption by using phctool. Other components can also be undervolted, clock-gated or taken to deeper states depending on the tools that you have.

[hatcherista]

Good pm guys! patulong lang sana

currently im using my laptop as an htpc connected to samsung plasma via hdmi (just trying out xbmc and htpc feel before i invest on a rig).

I was enjoying myself for quite sometime na kaso recently i encountered a nuisance. Nagsstutter ng konti yung video (every 30 sec) pag nagplay ako ng HD movies and series. At first bearable pa, pero ngayon, mejo nakakahilo na.

Ang changes lang naman na ginawa ko, I updated the NVIDIA driver to 320.18 tapos nakastore na files ko sa 3TB Seagate. Ever since nagpalit ako ng external at nagupgrade ng driver, nagsstutter na.. related kaya sa HDD yung problem? kasi nagrevert back ako sa previous versions ng driver ko, ganun pa din yung stutter. I also tried playing the files through VLC, DIVX and XBMC, meron pa rin stutter. TIA

[nerveblocker]

Baka naka disable ang hardware acceleration.

[slashercha]

mga masters help needed po... here's my setup

1) Desktop PC - integrated AVL, ati 6670, 4gb RAM, win7ult 64-bit, 3tb storage (3 hdds)
       a. display port - none connected
       b. DVI-i - LG W2252TQ (my primary monitor but labeled as 2 by windows)
                     res: 1680 x 1050
       c. HDMI - Samsung 51d450
                     res: 1360 x 768
2) TV connects to LG 5.1 htib via optical cable for sound

3)Player: XBMC Frodo
 

so i have two issues:

1) i can't get the best resolution on my tv as compared to the tv's built in media player
        - i tried to play with the resolution in XBMC pero the picture is either stretched on high res (not filling the whole screen most of the time) or if it occupies the screen, di ganun kaganda quality)

2) i can't get the sound to be on either DTS or dolby
       - although i can whenever the movie is played using the built in MP

notes: on the htib, only hdmi out is available; audio and video drivers are all up to date



your inputs are highly appreciated..thanks in advance

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

- i tried to play with the resolution in XBMC pero the picture is either stretched on high res (not filling the whole screen most of the time) or if it occupies the screen, di ganun kaganda quality)

Panong strecth? Most of the movie na HD is not full screen like the sample below. Ano ba ang play mo na HD movies baka naman sa source ang may issue.



Your TV should support DTS para DTS ang output sa LG HTIB mo why not connect your HTIB to your pc directly with optical out that way it will iut DTS audio.

[Wildfire™]

meron bang app for android that can be use as a keyboard and mouse for windows 7?

[nerveblocker]

meron bang app for android that can be use as a keyboard and mouse for windows 7?

Gpad PRO

[slashercha]

thanks sa reply sir 

Panong strecth? Most of the movie na HD is not full screen like the sample below. Ano ba ang play mo na HD movies baka naman sa source ang may issue.

ung sa akin hindi full screen if i opt for the quality, pag size naman hinabol ko, di na sya clear...all of my 720p and 1080p (mkv movies) ganito nangyayari if played on my pc using xbmc..i don't have this issue pag internal player ginagamit ko.  it's with the resolution setting kasi the proportion changes everytime i change the resolution setting in xbmc. i just can't find the right one that will match the quality and proportion like when using the internal player. i'll try to post some pics.

btw, i checked the specs nung tv, 1365x768 ung resolution nya pero walang ganitong setting either in xbmc, amd catalyst or windows display properties 

Your TV should support DTS para DTS ang output sa LG HTIB mo why not connect your HTIB to your pc directly with optical out that way it will iut DTS audio.

i can have dts and dolby using the built-in player then optical cable to my htib. pero pag pc>hdmi>tv>optical cable>htib, stereo lang.  mukhang sound card na nga lang solution ko nito - video na lang sa tv using hdmi then pc to htib via optical cable. 

[≧◉◡◉≦xrampage≧◉◡◉≦]

thanks sa reply sir 

ung sa akin hindi full screen if i opt for the quality, pag size naman hinabol ko, di na sya clear...all of my 720p and 1080p (mkv movies) ganito nangyayari if played on my pc using xbmc..i don't have this issue pag internal player ginagamit ko.  it's with the resolution setting kasi the proportion changes everytime i change the resolution setting in xbmc. i just can't find the right one that will match the quality and proportion like when using the internal player. i'll try to post some pics.

btw, i checked the specs nung tv, 1365x768 ung resolution nya pero walang ganitong setting either in xbmc, amd catalyst or windows display properties 


i can have dts and dolby using the built-in player then optical cable to my htib. pero pag pc>hdmi>tv>optical cable>htib, stereo lang.  mukhang sound card na nga lang solution ko nito - video na lang sa tv using hdmi then pc to htib via optical cable. 

Wla bang optical out yung mobo mo? Most new mobo kasi meron na.

[ninjababez®]

Wla bang optical out yung mobo mo? Most new mobo kasi meron na.

minsan kasi pag may digital coax, walang optical out. 

[slashercha]

eto lang audio nya sir, so need ko ng sound card

1 X Audio port (Line Out/Line In/Mic In)

[ninjababez®]

eto lang audio nya sir, so need ko ng sound card

1 X Audio port (Line Out/Line In/Mic In)

patingin nga ng back panel ng mobo mo bro