Topic: Share your HTPC Setup

[chronic]

can anyone help me?where can i get a cyberlink for bd and hd dvd software?tia,because the one im using now is chopping doesnt play when i have hardware accelerate feature on my rig is p35 msi e6750,2gb ddr2 and hd2900xt i upgraded from a 6320 thingking it will solve the problem but it didnt i hope someone can help me tnx

[nerveblocker]

This might interest you to have a cheaper alternative playing HD-DVD on your PC:

Using the Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-on Drive in Windows

[voj]

Would be ripping DVD, HD DVD and BD into the external NAS drives with future expandability.  6 TB is only good for about 150 HD films.   Not for me but for an office colleague looking at high end high definition viewing.  Price is still an object so a reasonable quote is still welcome. TIA.

This got me thinking.  NAS are pretty expensive.  Why not just assemble a new PC solely for storage purposes.  Am I missing something.  The NAS is a simplified box with a small processor.  I remember Intel introducing one in one product launch I was fortunate to attend and it cost around 35k for one with 4 drive bays and the processor is one used for a pocketpc.  A PC on a tower will provide all the space for storage needs.  What do you think?

[av_phile1]

The problem is there is no internal IDE or SATA drive capacity that can allow you to scale up to 6 Terabytes and beyond at the moment.  What's the most you can go with maximized IDE and SATA slots?

[ericag_ph]

You can buy a board with 6 SATA ports (quite common).

Then buy the Hitachi 1TB SATA drives... each is $400.

[voj]

again, the question is which is the best way to go?

should one go NAS or build a new file server. what are the benefits of either options.  the main concern now is real estate of your original system. expanding to an outside box becomes the only option - which option.  NAS is easier to configure, I guess, but is also expensive than setting up a cheap file server.  But is there any other benefit in going NAS than a standalone file server? what am i missing?

disc size is just a matter of how much money you want to sink in.

[ericag_ph]

Well, I'm sort of in the same boat... need to archive DVDs...I need about 3TB... I now have 2.3TB of space.

I looked at NAS vs PC file server... cheapest NAS enclosure is about $200 for a 4-bay (hmmm, I think it was 8-bay) USB type (can't recall brand/model, and if it was ethernet capable... and I can't remember  how I found it on the net, and I've tried looking for it again so many times).      

Bottom line, I think a PC file server is better (economical, flexible, scalable)....so I scrapped the NAS idea.
If you're on a budget, try going at this in stages, rather than all-in-one go.   

again, the question is which is the best way to go?

should one go NAS or build a new file server. what are the benefits of either options.  the main concern now is real estate of your original system. expanding to an outside box becomes the only option - which option.  NAS is easier to configure, I guess, but is also expensive than setting up a cheap file server.  But is there any other benefit in going NAS than a standalone file server? what am i missing?

disc size is just a matter of how much money you want to sink in.

[av_phile1]

You can buy a board with 6 SATA ports (quite common).

Then buy the Hitachi 1TB SATA drives... each is $400.

Nice to know.  And then after that, how do I scale up beyond 6TB?  With an external NAS, you can just add another box with its HDD array and connect to a network switich, so on and so forth.  I think if storage is critical to your requirement, server or channel -attached storage has its limits. 

[ericag_ph]

Easy... add a PC card with more SATA ports
here's one with 4 SATA ports.
http://www.firewire-1394.com/4-port-serial-ata-pci-card.htm

That should give you 4TB per PC card added.

When you've loaded all the slots in the mother board, some boards have 4 PCI slots...just get another PC and network the two via switch or router. 

Depending on the board, sata controller, it should also support a form of RAID.

Naturally I have no first hand experience, if such a PC can actually access so many 1TB drives given the PC sata card approach.  Theoretically, it should work....

Then of course you have the physical limit of how many you can actually put inside the PC case.... larger cases can handle 9 to 12 devices....so you could have 9 to 12TB in once case...compare the final cost to a dedicated
NAS with 9 to 12 HDD bays... I think the PC approach will come out cheaper.

I should add that 500GB Seagate drives are $100, and comes with 5 yr international warranties.
These are the drives I got.


Another approach...buy external hdd enclosures...attach to a PC via USB...when you run out of USB ports, either buy a USB card ... or perhaps a USB hub/switch might work.

Some mother boards (costs about P10000) also support 8 SATA ports on the board.

Nice to know.  And then after that, how do I scale up beyond 6TB?  With an external NAS, you can just add another box with its HDD array and connect to a network switich, so on and so forth.  I think if storage is critical to your requirement, server or channel -attached storage has its limits. 

[nerveblocker]

Anybody who has tried running a Bluray drive already on their PC? What are the minimum specs you can use to view Bluray movies flawlessly?

[av_phile1]

Easy... add a PC card with more SATA ports
here's one with 4 SATA ports.
http://www.firewire-1394.com/4-port-serial-ata-pci-card.htm

That should give you 4TB per PC card added.

When you've loaded all the slots in the mother board, some boards have 4 PCI slots...just get another PC and network the two via switch or router. 

Depending on the board, sata controller, it should also support a form of RAID.

Naturally I have no first hand experience, if such a PC can actually access so many 1TB drives given the PC sata card approach.  Theoretically, it should work....

Then of course you have the physical limit of how many you can actually put inside the PC case.... larger cases can handle 9 to 12 devices....so you could have 9 to 12TB in once case...compare the final cost to a dedicated
NAS with 9 to 12 HDD bays... I think the PC approach will come out cheaper.

I should add that 500GB Seagate drives are $100, and comes with 5 yr international warranties.
These are the drives I got.


Another approach...buy external hdd enclosures...attach to a PC via USB...when you run out of USB ports, either buy a USB card ... or perhaps a USB hub/switch might work.

Some mother boards (costs about P10000) also support 8 SATA ports on the board.

If using SATA drives via USB, how about power supply?  And housing?  I can't imagine using 4 -6 individual SATA drives stacked up on top of each other as the risk of falling gets high. And I have to spend on individual external housing.   I think a NAS housing would take care of better organization and powering.  A NAS is really just another PC with stripped down OS and NOS just dedicated to storage management.  The consumer NAS on the net starts at around $200 for a 6-bay config.  I could get a stripped down PC ofcourse with more PCI slots for SATA drives and that's also a viable option.  Storage capacity can be addressed by both.  But there must be some advantage using NAS, rather than another PC.

[voj]

But there must be some advantage using NAS, rather than another PC.

which is my original question    what am I missing.

oh, and can you post the link where you found 6 sata drives NAS enclosures for $200?

[av_phile1]

Sorry , can't recall, that was months ago.  Just google search "consumer NAS."  I could have sworn the $200 I saw had 6 bays, but could be wrong.

[ericag_ph]

That's exactly how I imagine them...but side by side...like books 
There's too much clutter for external enclosures....
You could put all of them in one large empty PC case...use all the existing power supplies, plug them all in one powerstrip and put that powerstip inside the PC case  so only its cable goes out.  Assuming the USB hub/switch works, put that inside the PC case too...and only one USB cable goes out.

I'd probably avoid the USB path...too slow for file transfers.


NAS housing at $200 is almost attractive...neat, tidy, almost no maintenance required, and in all likely it's plug and play....but $200 for an empty case??
I think I saw one...but 8 bay...and I can't seem to find it again...no matter what keywords I use..

I almost bought it...but economics convinced me otherwise 

For the same amount, you could get a cheap PC...that could do a whole lot more than an empty $200 NAS case.

P3000-P5000 mother board with onboard VGA, LAN, sound, 4-6 USB ports, 3-6 SATA ports, 2-4 IDE ports
P1800 CPU (Celeron)
P1500 case,keyb,generic power
P500 RAM
P0 Linux 
Total = $150 - $200

If it's just a file server, you won't need a monitor...and assuming you have 3-4 file servers, you can get a cheap KVM switch (P2K-P3K) to share one keyboard, mouse, monitor.

If using SATA drives via USB, how about power supply?  And housing?  I can't imagine using 4 -6 individual SATA drives stacked up on top of each other as the risk of falling gets high. And I have to spend on individual external housing.   I think a NAS housing would take care of better organization and powering.  A NAS is really just another PC with stripped down OS and NOS just dedicated to storage management.  The consumer NAS on the net starts at around $200 for a 6-bay config.  I could get a stripped down PC ofcourse with more PCI slots for SATA drives and that's also a viable option.  Storage capacity can be addressed by both.  But there must be some advantage using NAS, rather than another PC.

[ericag_ph]

NAS ...seemingly cheap - but not really once you realize its an empty case you are getting, but its neat looking...less clutter...little or no maintenance (OS concerns), plug and play, and if it's USB, then it's slooow transfers....if its ethernet, fibre channel, raid, hot swap, fast...but expensive...can cost $2000-$5000 just for the 8-12 bay housing.

I can't recall where I found the $200 NAS..can't seem to find it no matter what keywords I use...

PC - cheaper, but there are "hidden maintenance" costs...aka...upgrades, software, security.

Personally, I was going to get a NAS - a lot less to worry about (OS, software,etc..)
If money is not a concern, I'd go with NAS...looks a lot neater than a PC.
...But due to economics...went with the PC approach 

which is my original question    what am I missing.

oh, and can you post the link where you found 6 sata drives NAS enclosures for $200?

[av_phile1]

NAS ...seemingly cheap - but not really once you realize its an empty case you are getting,

It isn't really empty is it?  You have a case and a power supply and a also some circuit with built-in OS and NOS plus your connectivity options.  It's really a stripped down PC dedicated for storage management only. 

[ericag_ph]

No, of course not   

It isn't really empty is it?  You have a case and a power supply and a also some circuit with built-in OS and NOS plus your connectivity options.  It's really a stripped down PC dedicated for storage management only. 

[Akong_man]

Pre! ano ibig sabihin ng HTPC? hehehhe!!! bago lang ako eh!


eto nga pla pc ko! panget eh!


Pentium 4 2.26gb
80gb HD
512mb ram
Lg cdr
samsung cdrw
Geforce4 4400
Altec Atp3
17"inch AOC semi flat monitors!



tnx! akongman

[MAtZTER]

In using HTPC as a processor vs receiver:

Since I have power amps (and will always use one for HT... forever), I have always wondered if its worth abandoning a good receiver (popular for HT) in the $1,000 class to change to  HTPC for processor for HT.

I have always wanted to do HTPC but I am afraid that the HTPC's processor wont beat the receiver's processor, therefore my planned change to a HTPC would result to a "downgrade" in SQ.

Or are there HTPC soundcards out there that match mid end receiver processing? Sorry if that sounded like I am "eye-poor" to PC soundcards cuz I am a HTPC noob & no idea on these HTPC's.

[dimple_guy0619]

Here's my PC Setup, will post the photos soon

Intel Dual Core 2 E6600 2.4Ghz 4Mb L2 Cache
1GB PC800 DDR2 Corsair Extreme 2 Memory
MSI 975X Platinum Edition V2 Motherboard
PowerColor ATI 1950XT 256Mb DDR3  PCIE VGA Card
1.44Mb Floppy disk Drive
1pc. 250GB Seagate SATA Hard Disk
2pcs. 160GB Seagate SATA Hard Disk
2pcs. 200GB Seagate SATA Hard Disk
Asus CDRW CD Rom Drive  52x32x52
Asus 1604P DVDRW Drive
Asus DRW-1814BL DVDRW with Lightscribe Technology
Altec Lansing VS4121 Speaker
Gigabyte 3D Rocket II CPU Cooling System
17 Inch Viewsonic Ultrabrite E70F+  SVGA Monitor

Intel Dual Core 2 E6600 2.4Ghz 4Mb L2 Cache




MSI 975 x Platinum V.2 Motherboard


Powercolor 1950 pro 256MB DDR3 PCIE VGA Card


Gigabyte 3D Rocket II CPU Cooling System


1GB PC800 DDR2 Corsair Extreme 2 Memory


Altec Lansing VS4121 Speaker

[Dowals]

killer set up 

[danrd]

Choosing between this kinda setup vs. ps3. 

[CocoBoy]

Here's my PC Setup, will post the photos soon

Intel Dual Core 2 E6600 2.4Ghz 4Mb L2 Cache
1GB PC800 DDR2 Corsair Extreme 2 Memory
MSI 975X Platinum Edition V2 Motherboard
PowerColor ATI 1950XT 256Mb DDR3  PCIE VGA Card
1.44Mb Floppy disk Drive
1pc. 250GB Seagate SATA Hard Disk
2pcs. 160GB Seagate SATA Hard Disk
2pcs. 200GB Seagate SATA Hard Disk
Asus CDRW CD Rom Drive  52x32x52
Asus 1604P DVDRW Drive
Asus DRW-1814BL DVDRW with Lightscribe Technology
Altec Lansing VS4121 Speaker
Gigabyte 3D Rocket II CPU Cooling System
17 Inch Viewsonic Ultrabrite E70F+  SVGA Monitor

Wow bro, almost a Terabyte of storage space, lufet!

[ericag_ph]

I now have two HTPCs properly setup 

PC1 (For main HTPC viewing connected to a Samsung 40" LCD)
Processor:  E4400 Core 2 Duo Intel running at 2.7 GHz stock fan, default voltages 
Motherboard:  MSI P965 NeoF V2
Ram:  2GB DDR2 PC800 Transcend
Video:  512MB DDR3 256bit X1950 Pro GeCube
Storage:  4 pcs 500GB NL.2 Seagate (Nearline Enterprise class) SATA2     
Storage:  1 pc 80GB IDE for boot.
Storage:  1 pc LG DVDrw
Power:    Antec 500W
Monitor 2:  AOC 17" LCD (can be tilted 90 degrees - great for reading online comic books)
OS:  Windows XP
Codec:  K-lite
Player:  Media Player Classic, Power DVD 6

PC2 (For downloads and previews connected to an LG 19" LCD)
Processor:  E6300 Core 2 Duo Intel
Motherboard:  Asus
Video:  ATI X700 128MB
Ram:  1GB DDR2
Storage:  1 pc 250GB SATA Western Digital
Storage:  1 pc 80GB IDE for boot.
Storage:  1 pc Asus DVDrom
Power:    Enermax 465W
Monitor:  LG 19" LCD widescreen
OS:  Windows Vista
Codec:  K-lite
Player:  Media Player Classic

PC3 (doesn't really count but what the heck)
Notebook:  L5800 Asus Pentium4-2.7GHz, 512MB, 40GB Storage, DVD-CDrw, sVideo
OS:  Windows XP
Codec:  K-lite
Player:  Media Player Classic, Power DVD 6


Router:  Acer with Firewall 
DSL:  PLDT 995 (getting 100KBps = 800kbps download)
Mobile Storage:  1pc 80GB Samsung IDE

TOTAL storage: 2530GB == 2.53 TB!!!     

[CocoBoy]

Wow bro, puro mga "Tera" na pala kayo Congrats.  Galeng ng mga set-up nyo!!

[Dunedain]

Nothing really fancy. Hooked up a PC to the HDTV not too long ago using a 15-foot VGA cable. PC specs as follows: 3GHz P4, Asus P4P800 mobo with built-in 5.1-ch onboard audio card with S/PDIF and optical audio output, 2GB RAM, 512MB GeForce 7600GS (picked this up from Newegg for less than US$100), and just two 120GB HDDs. Click here for specs shown on desktop. Here's the outcome...





Then I configured the audio output to Digital Only.




Stress test result: Video is good (but desktop can only be maximized up to 1360x768 and fills up roughly 80-85% of the HDTV's screen. Audio works well. Best if set at Dolby Digital Plus IIx. So now I started browsing online. Then I went to check DIVX Stage 6 videos from TV Links at full screen. Results below.




Pro: Multimedia items can be downloaded directly, saved, and viewed on HDTV. Digital audio sounds much better than I expected.
Con: Picture's a little bit fuzzy and cannot be increased to fill the SXRD's HDTV screen. I'm wondering if I should get a DVI-to-HDMI cable. But then again, the 15-foot VGA cable purchase will be such a waste.

In the end, I just use this to view videos found online rather than watching videos that I have on discs (or back-ups in the HDD). PC Games sound better but the video doesn't match up to "up-close-and-personal" like the basic monitor. However, with the PC around the entertainment center, I'm making use of the XBox-360 to stream in videos from the PC. The concept is pretty much no different from hooking up an iPod or a Zune onto a XBox-360, with the exception that it's going through the home network.

[Alfie]

Changing the cable is not the answer, rather, look for the appropriate resolution setting and you can fill up your screen.

It's easy, just go directly to the taskbar of NVDIA and look for the appropriate screen resolution.

[Dunedain]

Changing the cable is not the answer, rather, look for the appropriate resolution setting and you can fill up your screen.

It's easy, just go directly to the taskbar of NVDIA and look for the appropriate screen resolution.

Done that. The SXRD's manual also states that the PC screen resolution is fixed at 1360x768. It can't go any higher than that.

[ericag_ph]

In my TV's menu there's an option to resize/reset the screen.
After selecting it, I was able to occupy the entire landscape of the screen.
You can also try a different software for playback.

Done that. The SXRD's manual also states that the PC screen resolution is fixed at 1360x768. It can't go any higher than that.

[dulber32]

When using a VGA cable you will be limited by the ability of your video card or software player in display screen size.
If you use component video, HMDI or S-Video you can then use the TV hardware to scale the image appropriately.

I've been trying to perform the same "entire screen occupation" thing for some time on a 42" Toshiba Regza.
I only have a laptop with VGA out to play with (even s-video wont cut it since the laptop is using built-in video).
I discovered The KMPlayer and has been happy ever since in recorded source playback.
It has the ability to play video in Full Screen stretch mode although there can be some aspect ratio issues