Author Topic: Share your HTPC Setup (Read 343020 times)

Qman · « **Reply #480 on:** Dec 20, 2004 at 10:59 PM »

Quote from: jpadua on Dec 20, 2004 at 04:38 PM

QMAN,

Wala pa ngang official distributor and silverstone pero meron nagbebenta ng silverstone dito, sa GH Xtreme-Modz, they have different silverstone products like the LCO3 and LCO2 also some silverstone Accessories like the bay card reader and also their Silent PSU.

oonga kita ko na sya sa GH noon iyong tindahan na puro acrylic atx tower ang benta. Ganda sana rin noon kanya lang sa aking pananaw di pede sa htpc masyadong mailaw hehehe. LC03 lang ang ata nakita ko doon sabi 7K.

jpadua · « **Reply #481 on:** Dec 21, 2004 at 08:41 AM »

yung silverstone na case na nasa picture na pinost ni qman, meron sa greenhills... sa virramall. pangalang ng store is xtreme-modz. Yung LCO3, is 9,800 this case is the most ideal kasi full ATX and ATX PSU ang kasha dito. 2 5.25 at 2 3.5 na bay. Only draw back ng case is yung exhaust fan nya is 60mm lang.

nerveblocker · « **Reply #482 on:** Dec 21, 2004 at 06:39 PM »

I have an Athlon XP 2000 using ECS KT-600A as my motherboard which has a built in digital SPDIF output. I'm using the digital SPDIF out connected to the Coaxial input of my receiver to get a digital 5.1 surround output. AYUS!

v0elker · « **Reply #483 on:** Dec 22, 2004 at 12:43 PM »

ive been downloading the hidef clips from wmhd, natry nyo na ba? makes me want to setup an htpc!

boss_onie · « **Reply #484 on:** Dec 24, 2004 at 07:11 AM »

Merry Christmas po sa lahat

jpadua · « **Reply #485 on:** Dec 25, 2004 at 07:22 AM »

Quote from: v0elker on Dec 22, 2004 at 12:43 PM

ive been downloading the hidef clips from wmhd, natry nyo na ba? makes me want to setup an htpc!

yup! maganda talaga on a high definition display. its nice to see on a monitor, but better on a BIG TV or Projector

andaleon · « **Reply #486 on:** Dec 25, 2004 at 12:05 PM »

Meron pa ngang porno na WMHD. Kitang-kita talaga!

Most RPTV although they have DVI inputs specifically states that it is not designed as PC input. I found out the same thing among JVC LCD TV's and plasma's.

v0elker · « **Reply #487 on:** Dec 28, 2004 at 07:09 AM »

hehehe, where can we download sample clips o that?

hmmm, i think i read the same thing in a couple of reviews... the reviewers mistakenly assumed that the dvi input will allow them to connect a pc, but apparently for some hdtv displays this was not the case. it probably won't be too much of a prob if these same displays had vga input but few of them has 'em...

Qman · « **Reply #488 on:** Jan 02, 2005 at 10:23 PM »

Punta ko GH last 31 Dec at nagsasara na ang virra mall dahil due for renovation napala iyon hehehe
anyways bought that silverstone LC03 HTPC case kaso dina available ang psu nya na same brand.

then I didn't know na di pa available ang mga SLI Mobo sa pinas. Hinahanap ko specifically ang A8N SLI mobo ng asus.

My other option sana ang elektroniksdepot kaso sarado pa rin ang site nila hanggang ngayon.

Ill try my luck sa gilmore or maga order ako sa Villman kaso 30-45 days naman ang waiting period.

Sisi tuloy ako sana dumaan ako ng dubai bago ako umuwi.

jpadua · « **Reply #489 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 09:26 AM »

I just bought a new 27" LCD TV... My HTPC detected it right away as a plug and play monitor using VGA. DVI worked like a charm, just plugged it in and it was detected (even the chip was detected). The display is razor sharp at 1280x720! finally naka 720p na rin ako when upscaling my DVDs.

This is the first time I tried DVI.. luckily this TV did not give me any headaches and was so simple to set up! and the price is unbeatable compared to other LCD TVs by major brand names.

here are some pics:

jojitv · « **Reply #490 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 10:16 AM »

WOW!!

Gandya nyan ah. Congrats.

jpadua · « **Reply #491 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 10:44 AM »

yeah im in love!

rubenpp · « **Reply #492 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 11:51 AM »

@Qman

pls check this post @ tpc

http://www.tipidpc.com/viewitem.php?iid=171508

Asus A8N-SLI mobo - In Stock Now!

jpadua · « **Reply #493 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 12:19 PM »

Quote from: rubenpp on Jan 03, 2005 at 11:51 AM

@Qman

pls check this post @ tpc

http://www.tipidpc.com/viewitem.php?iid=171508

Asus A8N-SLI mobo - In Stock Now!

Qman, si paren Woody pala yung nag bebenta eh!

v0elker · « **Reply #494 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 01:45 PM »

jpadua: nice! that's a syntax lcd tv right? i saw 'em at automatic centre's exhibit at glorietta back in dec... from what i recall, they're priced much lower than the competition... where you able to get a big discount from the srp?

jpadua · « **Reply #495 on:** Jan 03, 2005 at 01:50 PM »

yeah yun yung syntax

all I can say is wow.... I would think that those LCDs would sell like hot cakes. Its priced almost half of what the Big brand names cost. Anyway the performance is good... great picture.

Actually I got it at the same price. The only difference you get from the exhibit was 12-24 mos 0% interest

Its a very sharp monitor for PC, and of course great for DVDs! plug in a progressive scan DVD player ganda. I saw it hooked up to a d-vhs player during the exhibit, hayop sya mag HD.

i just had to get it...

v0elker · « **Reply #496 on:** Jan 04, 2005 at 03:00 AM »

jpadua: congrats! post ka ng thorough review ha hehehe

i also saw them last year in taiwan, if i had known then that they were good sana nakakuha ko... that time kasi i was not familiar with the brand and i dismissed them as cheap lcd tvs since they were priced so low!

jpadua · « **Reply #497 on:** Jan 04, 2005 at 07:24 AM »

Yeah that was true the first time I saw it, I didnt know the brand either, but I was so intrigued by it, ang ganda kasi ng picture compared to other LCDs but I didnt know the brand... ang alam ko lang it is distributed by Kolin, which is also relatively new in the AV arena. So I looked it up. Apparently they do sell like hot cakes... in the states under the Syntax Olevia brand. It's popular as the Cheap LCD alternative... performance wise its really good. The only bad thing Ive read in reviews about the Olevia is the remote. Based on what I've read, Kolin handle's the manufacturing, Syntax is the brand in the US, and they have one more buisness partner OEM (I forgot the name) who supplies LCDs to top Laptop and LCD Brands. Take a look at www.syntaxgroups.com.

Ton's of inputs, VGA and DVI, Faroudja scaler... its really good value for money... I think.

Jay

indie boi · « **Reply #498 on:** Jan 04, 2005 at 05:05 PM »

If it won't be a problem, can I ask how much you got the Syntax LCD tv?

Qman · « **Reply #499 on:** Jan 04, 2005 at 08:42 PM »

thanks ruben and jay

muntik muntikan ko ng bilhin kanina ang MSI K8 Neo2 platinum sa Gilmore hirap pa naman pumarada doon. PCI din ang video nya. sabi kasi sa lahat ng pinagtanungan ko March pa raw ang labas ng A8N sli ng asus. Buti na lang hehehe

Wow wow Jay galeng ng bago mong toy... congrats

jpadua · « **Reply #500 on:** Jan 05, 2005 at 08:55 AM »

Quote from: indie boi on Jan 04, 2005 at 05:05 PM

If it won't be a problem, can I ask how much you got the Syntax LCD tv?

@Qman,

Thanks thanks! gamit na gamit sakin yan... everyday hehhe sulit for me.

@Indi boi

Got it for 89K sa Automatic Centre sa ATC. It may sound like a lot of money, pero considering how much other LCDs are (almost double the price) and you can use it as a real PC monitor for gaming and applications. My pixelplus kasi before pang movies lang and TV, hard to work with applications. This LCD works just as good as a standard monitor.. wide pa! so you can use it for apps talaga aside for using it as a high definition display and TV. Sulit!

hubes · « **Reply #501 on:** Jan 05, 2005 at 08:59 PM »

hi jpadua.

does this syntal lcd tv have smaller size screen like 20 or 17 in.?

rene_canlas · « **Reply #502 on:** Jan 06, 2005 at 03:26 AM »

My still messy HTPC Setup:

Intel P4 2.6c
2 x 256 MB DDR400
2 x 80Gb Seagate Harddisks
Samsung DVD-ROM Drive
Sony DRU-510ULX External DVD Writer
Inno3D GeForceFX 5600 128mb
1 x Jetway PCI-TV TV Tuner Card
Altec Lansing PowerCube 45.1 powered by onboard audio (I know, i know!!!)
Logitech RF wireless keyboard and mouse
Snapstream Firefly RF Remote
Driving a Samsung ST-50L2HX 50-inch DLP Widescreen TV via VGA port

Running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Watching WMV-HD content at 720p and 1080p is awesome!!! Doom 3 is also a sight to behold...

jpadua · « **Reply #503 on:** Jan 06, 2005 at 08:34 AM »

Quote from: rene_canlas on Jan 06, 2005 at 03:26 AM

My still messy HTPC Setup:

Intel P4 2.6c
2 x 256 MB DDR400
2 x 80Gb Seagate Harddisks
Samsung DVD-ROM Drive
Sony DRU-510ULX External DVD Writer
Inno3D GeForceFX 5600 128mb
1 x Jetway PCI-TV TV Tuner Card
Altec Lansing PowerCube 45.1 powered by onboard audio (I know, i know!!!)
Logitech RF wireless keyboard and mouse
Snapstream Firefly RF Remote
Driving a Samsung ST-50L2HX 50-inch DLP Widescreen TV via VGA port

Running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Watching WMV-HD content at 720p and 1080p is awesome!!! Doom 3 is also a sight to behold...

Nice Setup!

By the way, where did you get your MCE2005? and Firefly Remote?

rene_canlas · « **Reply #504 on:** Jan 06, 2005 at 04:58 PM »

jpadua,

Thanks! Ganda rin ng LCD mo pare!

I downloaded MCE 2005 courtesy of an MSDN Subscription. It's vastly improved and more stable than MCE 2004.

I bought the Firefly remote online and had it delivered to my co-workers at our staffhouse. The Firefly cost me $50, but it has a great range (I can control my setup from another room) and the button layout suits MCE 2005 very well.

I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive, horizontally oriented HTPC casing that will accept a full-sized ATX board and full-height expansion cards. Do you have any recommendations? My complete requirements are listed in this thread:

http://www.pinoypc.net/modules/ipboard/index.php?s=&showtopic=30501&st=0&#entry452196

I'm currently interested in the Silverstone LC03 and the Cooler Master Cavalier 4 which you recommended in this thread, but I don't know where to source these here. I saw the Silverstone sa Xtreme Modz Virra Mall before, kaya lang sarado na Virra Mall so I don't know where else to look. Baka may ideas ka?

Thanks!

Rene

jpadua · « **Reply #505 on:** Jan 06, 2005 at 05:12 PM »

I'm in negotiations with silverstone, we might get cases from them. Pero not sure yet... the problem is getting here, mahal kasi and duties and taxes pag mukhang malaki ang box. Maybe in the next month or two pa kami mag import a few cases.

Ngayon since wala yun Xtreme Modz, I dont know where to find them. Mag tanong tanong tayo sa pinoypc.net... malamang alam nila kung saan sila lumipat.

rene_canlas · « **Reply #506 on:** Jan 06, 2005 at 07:52 PM »

Quote from: jpadua on Dec 08, 2004 at 09:20 AM

Yeah, MCE can do all of those which is cool... I just feel sad that we dont have EPG data here to take advantage of a TIVO like system here. Another drawback I have about MCE is that its not that flexible when it comes to decoders and post processing. You are basically stuck with what MS recommends.

While the lack of EPGs here in the Philippines is frustrating, It's not really a showstopper for me. I download the TV Shows that I like to watch from the web in DivX format using Bittorrent. The advantage here is that I get to watch my favorite shows in HDTV format. Using a remote with MCE 2005 makes navigating through my downloaded video collection a breeze. I do not even have an MCE compatible tuner (I tried to buy several AverTV cards last month, but cancelled it when the retailer ran out of stock) so I cannot use the TV tuner, TV Recorder and EPG functions of MCE 2005. There are many individuals hacking the MCE platform. One group has managed to create an application that will convert the MS-DVR format used by MCE 2005 to MPEG2 for DVD burning.

Another thing I like about MCE is the way it does photo slideshows using panning and zooming techniques pioneered by Ray Burns. Blew me and my friends away when we first saw it in action.

jpadua · « **Reply #507 on:** Jan 07, 2005 at 08:31 AM »

I have a Prolink PlayTV@7000 MPEG-2 Card... I think this is compatible with MCE2K5. I've been wanting to test this card with MCE for a long time

Have you tried Meedio? Its an alternative to MCE but it has a kinda steep learning curve to configure. I bought a copy last yr. Although the thing that sucks is that you have to buy the TV component of Meedio which is another cost.... why didnt they just bundled that thing together!

I'm experimenting now with DivX HD. The new DivX 5.2.1 codec has a new HD profile. I downloaded this free software called XMPEG, its pretty good! anyway I tried to direct convert a DVD to DivX HD and the picture looks great! DivX HD automatically converts the material to 1280x720p and does some of its own resize sharpening. I only managed to test a few seconds of Attack of the Clones... it looks really sharp! Anyway I left my computer on today at home. Converting the whole DVD now to HD I want to see if there really is a major difference, but it sure looks super clean based on my test conversion of a few seconds. Will post back my results. My only problem now is encoding AC-3 5.1 into the DivX file... I can't seem to find the setting, so far it will process AC-3 and convert it to stereo and encode it on the DivX file, I guess that will have to do for the time being until I figure it out.

rene_canlas · « **Reply #508 on:** Jan 07, 2005 at 09:07 AM »

One great feature of MCE 2005 is its ability to support 2 tuners. You can now watch TV while recording in the background!

I've tried Meedio before and found that the UI borrows heaviliy from MCE 2004. Unlike MCE, it's highly configurable though, which lends to the steep learning curve you mentioned. My FireFly also came with similar software called Beyond Media Basic, which has MCE's basic features except for TV viewing, which requires purchasing BeyondTV.

Good luck with the AC-3 encoding. I may need to ask you how you did it later on when I evolve to 5.1

Qman · « **Reply #509 on:** Jan 07, 2005 at 10:36 AM »

Quote from: jpadua on Jan 06, 2005 at 05:12 PM

I'm in negotiations with silverstone, we might get cases from them. Pero not sure yet... the problem is getting here, mahal kasi and duties and taxes pag mukhang malaki ang box. Maybe in the next month or two pa kami mag import a few cases.

Ngayon since wala yun Xtreme Modz, I dont know where to find them. Mag tanong tanong tayo sa pinoypc.net... malamang alam nila kung saan sila lumipat.

Jpadua
wow good luck bro. its about time na me official distributor ang silverstone dito.

rene
Ang extreme modz walang nilipatan eh by online ordering lang daw sila sa ngayon.

doon sa pricelist na binigay nila ang xm-online.com ang website pero parang patay ata ang site na iyon.