HTPC... Why Did I Wait So Long

[SCOOTERDOG]

Well this weekend I finally had time to really get in and
play with my new HTPC. For the last week or so I have been getting everything
setup the way I wanted. Here are the things I wanted to be able to accomplish
with my new HTPC.



1. Complete PVR functions;

I installed a Vista View Dual Analog Tuner PCI E. This tuner is not only a dual
tuner but also has two svhs inputs. Since we do not get OVA HD here I did not
need to install an HD Tuner. I ran svhs from my HD satellite receiver into the
tuner which allows me to record the HD channels, although its not as good as
component or hdmi but for recording purposes it works excellent. I can now
record 2 programs while watching another (if I wanted)



2. DVD Playback;

Installed TheaterTek software into the system which gives me complete control
of aspect ratios, blanking and all interlacing. It also has the nvidia pure
video software built in. The pq is nothing short of awesome. In fact it comes
very close to what I get from Sat HD. This is one great piece of software. So
for my entire movie or concert DVD playback it runs through this.



3. Audio control

Installed the Creative Labs XFi Extreme Music sound card. This card along with
the software that comes with it allows for playback of 24/96 DVD Audio discs
via analog out and then for digital out via spdif 24 bit DD, DD EX, DTS,
DTS ES. I can let the card handle the decoding or my AV Receiver..The card does
a wonderful job by the way. For DVD Audio playback the software has complete
bass management and for both digital and analog out it has a full array of THX
controls.



Besides all of this it is a full blown pc for surfing and game playing.



What I did today;



utilized the PVR portion to see if all worked as it should, and it did...very
sweet!



Downloaded a DTS music bit torrent file and ripped it onto a cdr via Nero 7.
Playback was absolutely perfect via spdif out.



Recorded one of my laserdisc to a DVD. Laserdisc is connected to one of the
svhs inputs on the tuner card. The digital audio output from the
laserdisc was fed to the digital coax input on the I/O adaptor for the sound
card. Recording quality was excellent for both video and audio. Retained the
full AC3 digital soundtracks on the disc's that had this and digital 2 channel
for those that didn't.



At this point I see no use for a separate DVD player and I can finally burn all
of my laserdisc's onto DVDs and get rid of them. If you are asking well how
does the sound compared to a high end DVD player I would say I would not buy
another DVD player again. Keep in mind when I bought my DVD player it was very
very expensive and it my htpc blows all over it. A DVD player has all the
various elements in it for one to just...plug it in. The HTPC has all of the
elements as well but can be upgraded as needed with individual components.



Looks like once I burn all of my LD then I will get rid of the LD player and
the disc. As much as I love my DVD player I will keep it and put it up
stairs. It's a great machine but it can't touch the playback of the HTPC.



In conclusion....Why did I wait so long is the question.



scooter

[Guest " "]

The HTPC's are real nice. I have a HP z555 which I use daily.

[erickoegle]

What pc components did you use for your build?

[SCOOTERDOG]

Here is a list of the components used. I plan on upgrading the video card in the next couple of months as well as adding another gig of ram.

Thermaltake Bach HTPC VB8000 Case

Thermaltake A2331 VFD Media Lab (dispaly) with remote

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+

VistaView Saber 2020 Dual TV Tuner, NTSC, PCI Express

Nvidia 7300GT 256 meg PCI Express Video Card

1 gig DDR2 ram

250 gig HD & 60 gig HD (for OS & Programs)

DVD + - RW Dual Layer Burner

DVD/CDR Burner Player

Creative Labs XFi Extreme Music sound card

Windows Media Center 2005

TheaterTek Video Software w/ nvidia pure vidio

Logitech 3200 RF wireless keyboard and mouse

[erickoegle]

I was really thinking of building a HTPC and I will. I am just waiting until everyone has the full line of the Direct X 10 graphics cards out.

As for graphics cards for my regular comp which I was probably just going to use for the HTPC I have an EVGA 7900 GTX RoHS w/ HDCP. Its very nice plus I get great fps on games.

[J.4knee]

I gotta do this soon! Need to start saving some. If possible could you ballpark a figure for what it cost to do your set up. PM/e-mail me if you don't want to post it, or ignore the request entirely, I do not wish to put you on the spot regarding cost issues. Been considering a MAC for this role in my system as well.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[SCOOTERDOG]

As of now I have about a grand into it. Which considering if you buy one pre built with the components I used I probably saved about 500-700 bucks. So much for new theater seats.

[J.4knee]

oooooh my wife ain't gonna like hearing it is that cheap to get/build one![][<)]

[ScorpsFan]

Now I know what to ask Santa for...lots of little presents and a big box to hold them all![]

Glad to hear yours is working out well, hope to do the same in the near future. Nice seeing what works well, keep us updated, thx.

[easylistener]

I have a question are you using media center for play back of dvd's? I know you said you use theatertek, how well does it work with media center? I am in the process of finishing my build now and am looking for the best software for it. I will get this thing up and running by next weekend.

[SCOOTERDOG]

For DVD playback I only use Theaterek. My sysem came with powerdvd6 but it can't hold a candle to theatertek. Theathertek also uses nvidia's pure video. All I do is open up theatertek pop in a disc and away I go. Theatertek has some many things you can do to improve your pic its really the only way to go IMO.

scooter

[j-malotky]

Scotter

I knew you would love your HTPC.

I would also recomend TheaterTek to anyone who is interested. TT give so many options. It lets you plug in software processors like FFDshow as a snap in codec.

Good stuff.

JM

[SCOOTERDOG]

Scotter

I knew you would love your HTPC.

I would also recomend TheaterTek to anyone who is interested. TT give so many options. It lets you plug in software processors like FFDshow as a snap in codec.

Good stuff.

JM

JM,

funny you mentioned FFDshow. I just got finished plugging that into TT tonight. Man what a cool add on this is and I have not even scratched the surface. I know I will be tweaking that puppy.

You know technology moves along so fast anymore. Just 5 years ago I spent big bucks on just my DVD player and now it will hardly get used, and I really like it too! But the pq from my htpc is just awesome. I was using my superbit version of spiderman 2 and going between it and and Monday night football in HD and dang that dvd was standing tall next to the HD signal. Now if they would just come down on the HD DVD & BR drives for the pc I would be in heaven.

My goal is to get to one piece of equipment not counting amplification and still be Hi End. I see this happening very soon as technology keeps jumping in our beloved HT.

scooter

[wheelman]

Scooter that sounds great. I havent' built a pc on my own yet, but my brother is thinking of having me do one for him. I'm now thinking of taking this approach instead. I just hope I don't mess it up for him. Thanks for the info.

Bill

[DrWho]

so is this HTPC in your equipment rack or a seperate computer in an adjacent room?

[SCOOTERDOG]

Its in the equipment rack Doc, you can see a pic at the top of the thread. The case fans are very quite but the power supply fans are bugging me some when on at low volumes. When listening to music or watching a movie you can't hear it at all [] But if I am just using it to surf around it is lounder than I would like. I need to look into a silent power supply. Other than that I love this thing

[J.4knee]

We have a few Mac Evangelists in my Schutzhund club and one of the guys is going to set his MAC up to stream video via his "airport" to his HT in a separate room. MY understanding is this is still technology in its infancy stage for home use but I like the idea.

[j-malotky]

To quiet my HTPC, I put it in the basement storage room that is behind my rack. I took a regular old DVD drive and mounted it in an external USB2 drive.

So the only thing in my rack is my PC power button, and the external DVD drive. The fans are in the back room making noise.

I also programmed in the shutdown command into my remote control so I can shut it down at the end of the movie from my easy chair.

I love my HTPC.....

JM

[jwc]

I have an HTPC and I don't utilize it as much as I should.

I am intherested in this this TheaterTek.

http://www.theatertek.com/Products/products.html

Are you using shareware or some purchased version?

Also, are you using the Tuner card to recieve broadcasts? Elaborate on that please.

Do you have a remote? If so what is it and how does it function?

jc

[SCOOTERDOG]

Hi JC,

I bought the Theatertek with advanced audio pack. I also paid an additional 10 bucks for the backup disc just incase I ever whipe my HD. $95.00

The TT software also has the nvidia pure video software built in...awesome pic

I use the VistaView Saber 2020 Dual Analog tuner for analog cable. We don't have OTA HD programming here so I did not buy an HD Tuner card. But the Saber 2020 has 2 SVHS inputs so I do run an SVHS out from my HD satellite receiver so I can record satellite tv. I here in the next year or so we will start to see both digital cable and satellite cards for our htpc []

The remote I use came with my VFD for my ThermalTake Bach HTPC Case. It uses the IMON software which is compatible with Window Media Edition. It does everything! You can even hit a button and it turns into a hand held mouse/keyboard. The only drawback to any of the remotes for HTPC is they are IR. So if your HTPC is not in front of you like mine I have to get up to point at it. But if you had it in front then Viola its like any other but with a whole lot of functions. I actually just use my mouse since both it and my keyboard are wireless.

Hope that helps.