Author Topic: Share your HTPC Setup (Read 344927 times)

jpadua · « **Reply #270 on:** Apr 14, 2004 at 08:20 AM »

teka ADM708S, PM kita

Meridian-Audio · « **Reply #271 on:** Apr 14, 2004 at 09:02 PM »

Hey lads,

New on this Forum.
By the way here's my HTPC set up..

Pentium IV 2.0
Asus P4PE-X/TE Motherboard Max 800FSB
Geforce 4 64MB 8X AGPwith Video & S-video output
Vibra 128 Soundcard with SPDIF out (my old souncard but can output DD/DTS)
Sony DVD rom
128 MB DDR
17" Viewsonic G773 Graphics Series Monitor (Sometimes hook it on XG-135LC CRT Front PJ)

SOFTWARES

POWER DVD
WINDVD Platinum Series
Windows Media Player 9
Power Strip
YXY Aspect ratio Controller
myHTPC

* Im looking for remote control for my HTPC any selling locally?

jpadua · « **Reply #272 on:** Apr 16, 2004 at 09:09 AM »

Have you tried hooking it up to an HDTV? the picture will look awesome

The beauty of the HTPC is its power to upscale your Video, assuming you are using your front PJ, you can probably set your resolution to something like 960x540p. Try zoomplayer coupled with FFdshow to further enhance your picture quality.

Regarding the remote control, I dont think there are any being sold separately here. Your best bet would be to add a TV-Tuner that comes with a nice remote, then reprogram your remote with Girder. Too bad had I known earlier I could have ordered an HTPC remote control for you. I just ordered some remotes from the manufacturer, but they already have owners. I can probably add an order for you when we re-order parts from the manufacturer again.

Tons of guides at htpcnews.com you should check it out

You've got a nice setup, but thats only the beggining... wait till you start really getting into it

its addicting.

Next steps:

Upgrade your ram to 512DDR,
Upgrade your Video card to an ATI card (to be able to do 1080i on your PJ)
Go silent!
Silent PSU (Enermax)
Silent HSF (ThermalTake Silent Boost)
Silent VGA Cooler (a lot of brands out there, Id recommend the heatpipe)
Software
Upgrade your codecs (sonic is the best)
Theatertek ($69) or Zoomplayer ($20)
FFDshow video post processor (free)
PVR software (SageTV, Showshifter)
Aesthetics
HTPC Case, to blend your HTPC with your existing AV Equipment
(Accent, Dign, Silverstone, Antec Overture etc.)

jpadua · « **Reply #273 on:** Apr 29, 2004 at 08:54 AM »

Hi My HT-400S case finally arrived yesterday... took some snapshots click the link to check it out.

http://jaypadua.fotopic.net/c166539.html

dayday · « **Reply #274 on:** Apr 29, 2004 at 09:43 AM »

Jay,

I sent you an email.

Thanks

FaFa_RoLaNd · « **Reply #275 on:** May 01, 2004 at 12:26 AM »

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3654/myrig2.JPG

My XPC Rig:

SN41G2 V.2
Logitech MX duo keyboard and mouse
Samsung 15" LCD monitor ( soon to be replaced by MAG HD772V)
Belking wireless G base adapter
Liteon DVD drive ( soon to be replaced by Pioneer A07)
Athlon XP 2600 barton
CORSAIR TWINX1024-3200C2 (512MBX2)
Sapphire Radeon 9800XT
Silverstone 6 in 1 media reader

HT setup

Yamaha reciever
Philips TV
Mission M7C2
Mission M72
Mission M7d
Pioneer DVD for display purposed nalang! ahihihihihi!
Gamecube
Xbox (not in the pic.. connected wirelessly)

bote · « **Reply #276 on:** May 01, 2004 at 09:10 AM »

Hi JPadua. It seems you are the most advanced HTPC user here. I admire your knowledge. I am quite new with this and perhaps you can help me. I am using FP from Epson. It's EMP 30 which is an svga one. Could powerstrip do anything good with it in terms of enhancing picture quality, let alone fixing the resolution?

Thanks for any input.

Eddie

jpadua · « **Reply #277 on:** May 03, 2004 at 09:17 AM »

Quote from: bote on May 01, 2004 at 09:10 AM

Hi JPadua. It seems you are the most advanced HTPC user here. I admire your knowledge. I am quite new with this and perhaps you can help me. I am using FP from Epson. It's EMP 30 which is an svga one. Could powerstrip do anything good with it in terms of enhancing picture quality, let alone fixing the resolution?

Thanks for any input.

Eddie

Hi Eddie,

Yes! if your FP can accept 480p 540p and 1080i and has a VGA port, you can create resolutions like 1920x1080i

Picture quality depends on the type of DVD player you are using. Sonic codecs have the best PQ.

Jay

bote · « **Reply #278 on:** May 04, 2004 at 05:49 AM »

Hi Jpadua. thanks for the reply.
I am currently using an Asus 16x player and Power DVD v.5 plus Powerstrip. Can it do the job?

I also have some questions about SB soundcards. I noticed almost none of the stores at Cyberzone sell them and when I asked one owner why, he said too many problems with the card. Is it true? I am planning on getting the Audigy 2 ZS but now I am afraid to. And also where cn I buy and what kind of cable should I use to connect it to my Denon 3803 amp? Thanks again Jpadua.

Eddie

jpadua · « **Reply #279 on:** May 04, 2004 at 09:04 AM »

Actually any card will do as long as it has spdif output, so even the SBlive 5.1 card will work just fine

The audigy2 ZS I have not tried this yet. But I do know that the Audigy1 works becuase I have that on another HTPC.

bote · « **Reply #280 on:** May 04, 2004 at 11:57 AM »

Thanks Jay. Please allow me a newbie question. What is spdif and what kind of wire should I need to connect the card to my 3803?

Eddie

jpadua · « **Reply #281 on:** May 04, 2004 at 12:41 PM »

Spdif output is digital out, on common audio equipment you might see the labels Coaxial or Optical. This sends the raw unporcessed audio data to your Amplifier/Decoder.

Depending on what kind of digital output you have will determine the kind of connector you need. If your source uses Coaxial (looks like an RCA female plug) you can use a good RCA cable or if you are willing to splurge, a Digital Coaxial Cable (which is basically the same thing with more sheilding). If your source has optical outputs then you need to use a Toslink optical cable. Either or is good. Sound quality is not an issue since the source is sending digital data (1 and 0s) to you amplifier's audio decoder. Quality is now reliant on your decoder.

If you are using a SoundBlaster Card, this uses a mini-phono jack for spdif output. You can just buy any good mono-mini-phono jack to RCA converter, then plug your digital coax cable to it and the other end to your Digital Coax input on your amplifier/decoder.

Once you have done that, make sure that your windows mixer is set to use Digital Out. Then have your DVD software player's audio codec use spdif output.

jpadua · « **Reply #282 on:** May 04, 2004 at 12:55 PM »

I've got some new pics of my latest HTPC

bote · « **Reply #283 on:** May 05, 2004 at 07:07 AM »

Hello again Jay. Thank you very much for the great info. That's a nice HTPC setup you got there. But i saw in one of of your posts that it costs quite a bundle. But I really can't stop drooling over it. I noticed you seem to have a marantz amp. It sounds great too.

Eddie

jpadua · « **Reply #284 on:** May 05, 2004 at 08:58 AM »

Quote from: bote on May 05, 2004 at 07:07 AM

Hello again Jay. Thank you very much for the great info. That's a nice HTPC setup you got there. But i saw in one of of your posts that it costs quite a bundle. But I really can't stop drooling over it. I noticed you seem to have a marantz amp. It sounds great too.

Eddie

yeah.... I drooled for months until I couldnt take it anymore =)

getafix · « **Reply #285 on:** May 05, 2004 at 09:04 AM »

I got into thinking about HTPC due to the restrictions of where I live... very small home.

I just started this when I got my computer a month ago, currently my set-up:

Athlon XP 2600+
inno3d GFX5200
on board sound card
LG Colin DVD-rom

My future upgardes are:
Gainclone amp
M-Audio Revolution 7.1 soundcard (hopefully within month

)
TV-tuner card (any recommendations?)
21" or larger computer monitor (hmm... this one will take some time, plan on selling my TV, Monitor, VHS and Radio for this

)

jpadua · « **Reply #286 on:** May 05, 2004 at 09:36 AM »

Quote from: getafix on May 05, 2004 at 09:04 AM

I got into thinking about HTPC due to the restrictions of where I live... very small home.

I just started this when I got my computer a month ago, currently my set-up:

Athlon XP 2600+
inno3d GFX5200
on board sound card
LG Colin DVD-rom

My future upgardes are:
Gainclone amp
M-Audio Revolution 7.1 soundcard (hopefully within month )
TV-tuner card (any recommendations?)
21" or larger computer monitor (hmm... this one will take some time, plan on selling my TV, Monitor, VHS and Radio for this )

For your TV-tuner card... this may not be the best... but I think its one of the most compatible cards in the market... Winfast XP tv-tuner by Leadtek.
An HTPC enthusiast recommendation for a TV-card would be a Hauppage PVR250 or 350 but I have yet to see one here...

The rest of your set-up is fine at the moment. If you plan to use a big TV for DVD viewing, I highly suggest you download TV-tool... this GREATLY enhances tv-output for Nvidia cards other cards dont apply.

maybe if you already have a 21" or bigger you can already connect this to your PC via s-video. Keep your monitor for your computing needs and only use the TV for DVD and PC Games

getafix · « **Reply #287 on:** May 05, 2004 at 09:53 AM »

Quote from: jpadua on May 05, 2004 at 09:36 AM

For your TV-tuner card... this may not be the best... but I think its one of the most compatible cards in the market... Winfast XP tv-tuner by Leadtek.
An HTPC enthusiast recommendation for a TV-card would be a Hauppage PVR250 or 350 but I have yet to see one here...

The rest of your set-up is fine at the moment. If you plan to use a big TV for DVD viewing, I highly suggest you download TV-tool... this GREATLY enhances tv-output for Nvidia cards other cards dont apply.

maybe if you already have a 21" or bigger you can already connect this to your PC via s-video. Keep your monitor for your computing needs and only use the TV for DVD and PC Games

I actually have my computer connected to my 21" TV at the moment (they are side by side anyway due to space restrictions) and my sound card is connected to my mini component... not yet surround but at least at stereo.

is there such a thing as an S-Video to RCA connector cable?

jpadua · « **Reply #288 on:** May 05, 2004 at 09:56 AM »

yes there is, (s-video to RCA) but its just as bad as using a regular RCA.. s-video signal is converted back to RCA... RCA has the least best video connection you can use... if your TV has an S-video input, I suggest you use a good s-video cable to connect to your PC.

getafix · « **Reply #289 on:** May 05, 2004 at 10:02 AM »

well... my TV doesn't have a S-Video input... I just used the RCA output of my video card and connected it to the RCA input on my TV.

Where did you get your case? is it available locally? how much?

jpadua · « **Reply #290 on:** May 05, 2004 at 11:12 AM »

My cases are not locally available... I imported them myself... its expensive You'll say i'm crazy paying that amount for a case

so I wont mention it here heheh PM me nalang if you want to know..

ganyan talaga pag naadict ka na...

getafix · « **Reply #291 on:** May 05, 2004 at 12:47 PM »

dang... addict ka nga

buti na lang wala pa ako sa stage mo...

how are you going to put a dvd drive on that case?

jpadua · « **Reply #292 on:** May 05, 2004 at 12:57 PM »

nagsimula sa pag tikim tikim... hahaha

yeah... you put the DVD drive behind the Aluminum Faceplate, theres drive cage for it to line it up to the DVD tray slot. You then just replace the plastic front bezel with the included aluminum bezel

getafix · « **Reply #293 on:** May 05, 2004 at 02:37 PM »

not to be OT but are you still interested in the revolution 7.1? I tracked down its local distributor a month ago.

jpadua · « **Reply #294 on:** May 05, 2004 at 03:00 PM »

Quote from: getafix on May 05, 2004 at 02:37 PM

not to be OT but are you still interested in the revolution 7.1? I tracked down its local distributor a month ago.

Not at the moment

My Marantz can only take up to 6.1 and I primarily use spdif. The 7.1 is actually good for Recording Studio PCs becuase they can us 8 line outputs from the PC, not to mention the 96/24bit DACs. I'll maybe think about M-audio if I start setting up a personal mini digital recording studio.

getafix · « **Reply #295 on:** May 05, 2004 at 04:20 PM »

that's what I was planning

bote · « **Reply #296 on:** May 05, 2004 at 08:29 PM »

Hi Jay. I got another question for you if you don't mind. My pc conked out last night. No signal but was able to boot. Don't know why. I tried my laptop to view dvd with my FP and I noticed that the card was ATI Radeon mobile 7500. Is it any good as compared with GEForce 440? Thanks again for the time.

Eddie

zerone_null · « **Reply #297 on:** May 06, 2004 at 05:05 AM »

modded all the way. earn bucks and spend the right way.

this was my setup HTPC.. still doing some upgrading to make it a real HTPC.

i hard modified the LCD to the front of the case so that while playing a movie in main screen i can do some stuff like ques, burning, lol even surfing net. Most of the time LCD is just for temp and stuff monitoring.

AMD 2500+ Barton (OC 3200+) for that extra juice when burning and DVDing @ same time.

EPOx 8rda+ rev2.1 --> with 1394 "firewire" (wishin for an iPOD...maybe soon)
Thermaltake volcano 7+ -> changed to Zalman 7000Cu (silent cooling for the movies)
Kingston 2x256MB PC2700
HEC 475W PSU -> one of the most neglected parts of an HTPC.. it must have enough amps to power your system.. not enough and it'll still run but it's like killing it slowly.
GeForce 4MX440 -> upgraded to Radeon 9800PRO (whole lot more power plus it's got DVI out)
Asus DVDrom 16x
Asus CDRW 52/24/52
40GB HD -> added another 120GB for all those movies and MP3s
displays: 1 17" monitor -> changed to 21" NEC --> then finally a SAMSUNG ST61L2HX 61" DLP
display2: hard modded lcd in case

sound: right now it's currently using built-in soundstorm audio (optical cable to) logitech z680 THX certified 5.1 speakers. might migrate to A/V receiver soon. ( got an old pioneer VSX-D510 and 5.1 pioneer speakers... the z680s sound a whole lot better @ P18,600)

updates soon.

jpadua · « **Reply #298 on:** May 06, 2004 at 08:21 AM »

Zerone, really cool modz!!! by the way.. how did you connect your LCD to your video card? is it just by s-video? cause the LCD looks sharp! Cool.

jpadua · « **Reply #299 on:** May 06, 2004 at 08:25 AM »

Hi Eddie,

Yep the mobility radeon is better!

(is it too obvious? I'm an ATI guy?)
Anyway here's my take on it though...

If you are focused on video applications like, watching DVDs, encoding and stuff like that.. ATI is the way to go... If you are more of a gamer and Video is 2nd priority then Nvidia is usually the option.... but watch out though for the new ATI x800... its the newest card from ATI and it kicked Nvidia's booty big time. In performance, power consumption, size... over all value compared to Nvidias latest and greatest.

Jay