HTPC Questions

[kevbeck122]

I'm thinking about building an HTPC this coming summer, probably using MCE 2005 so I can use the XBOX 360 as an extender. As of now I'll probably use a 2.66GHz Pentium 4 system (533 FSB.. Intel 865 board), FusionHDTV 5 Gold and ATI eHome Wonder (for SD cable and MPEG encoding). I'm just wondering if 512MB of RAM is good enough, do I need a decent video card if I'm just going to watch everything on the XBOX, and is that a good enough system to be running MCE2005 and HD?

[waterhead]

If you're using an existing system, I'd try it out and see how it works, before spending any more money.

It is a bit on the low end range for DTV. If your capture card does hardware encoding, it will take the load off of the processor. Still, I'd double the RAM just to be sure. You may eventually want to use it independently of the X-Box, so a good video card would be needed.

Also, I needed to replace my sound card. I'm upgrading from a Turtle Beach Santa-Cruz to a Turtle Beach Montego.
Turtle Beach Montego (http://www.jr.com/JRSectionView.process?Ns=Mfr_Name&N=11167+402147&Ne=400000#Brand)

I am feeding a Sony Surround Sound system. My old card only had a coaxial mini-jack output for 5.1 audio, my receiver has mostly optical inputs.

[Doug Mohr]

Bump it up to 1GB memory.

I wouldn't get two cards, I'd just get a MyHD card that does HD and SD in one.

One word of caution. MCE uses the OS and processor to do all the content processing. You may want to use something else that offloads that to the hardware.

I'm not making suggestions, just putting up my specs for you see what someone else uses.

My setup:
Abit IC7-G
Pentium 4 3.0
1GB RAM
80GB SATA
DVD r/w
ATI Radion 9600
MyHD MDP-120
Windows XP Pro with Meedio as the interface.

[kevbeck122]

It is a bit on the low end range for DTV. If your capture card does hardware encoding, it will take the load off of the processor. Still, I'd double the RAM just to be sure. You may eventually want to use it independently of the X-Box, so a good video card would be needed.

I'll probably be able to get my hands on a 2.66GHz machine fairly cheap this summer so that's why I'm asking about that system.

I know all of DVICO's cards are software based. I was also looking at the AverTVHD A180 and the PVR 150 for the analog card. I don't know of any other cards that work with MCE.. other than ATI's HDTV Wonder.

I probably will only use the media center functions with the extender. I'd rather keep this as cheap as possible.. so the video card won't be necessary; right away at least.

I wouldn't get two cards, I'd just get a MyHD card that does HD and SD in one.

One word of caution. MCE uses the OS and processor to do all the content processing. You may want to use something else that offloads that to the hardware.

I'm not sure if the MyHD card will work with MCE.. but it looks like a nice card. Also I believe MCE requires an analog card with hardware encoding in order to use an HD card. There's a hack so that you only have to have the HD card, but it's not recommended.


Thanks for the advice.

[Doug Mohr]

I'm not sure if the MyHD card will work with MCE.. but it looks like a nice card. Also I believe MCE requires an analog card with hardware encoding in order to use an HD card. There's a hack so that you only have to have the HD card, but it's not recommended.


Thanks for the advice.

The MyHD card will not work with MCE.

[waterhead]

I wouldn't get two cards, I'd just get a MyHD card that does HD and SD in one.

In WMCE 2005 you need to have BOTH analog and digital tuners, in separate cards, if you want the digital tuner to work. I have a WinTV 250 installed, and don't even use it. Who watches analog TV anymore?

[Doug Mohr]

In WMCE 2005 you need to have BOTH analog and digital tuners, in separate cards, if you want the digital tuner to work. I have a WinTV 250 installed, and don't even use it. Who watches analog TV anymore?

One more reason I won't be using MCE anytime soon...

[waterhead]

One more reason I won't be using MCE anytime soon...

It's your loss. WMCE 2005 is excellent for viewing and recording HDTV.

If you didn't know that WMCE needs both analog and digital tuners, how do you know that the MyHD card won't work? Do you even have Windows Media center Edition 2005?

[Doug Mohr]

It's your loss. WMCE 2005 is excellent for viewing and recording HDTV.

If you didn't know that WMCE needs both analog and digital tuners, how do you know that the MyHD card won't work? Do you even have Windows Media center Edition 2005?

I know that MCE only supports software-based, processor intensive BDA drivers. No hardware mpeg encoders/decoders are supported. That was the only way that MS could ensure that the OS handles all DRM and allows for cross-marketing support from media conglomerates.

Yes I have used MCE 2005. I didn't like it. There are no BDA drivers for MyHD because it is a hardware decoder, not a software decoder.

Until you see a Janus hardware decoder (MyHD card) reproduce blacks, you won't know what you are missing using other HD cards.

I have nothing against anyone that uses MCE, I just don't see the point of being tied into what it wants to allow you to use.

Doug

[waterhead]

I apologize, I can't find any support for the MyHD card in WMCE 2005 either.

Since the MyHD card does hardware encoding/decoding, it would be a good choice for a low-end machine. But, as Doug said, it is not supported in WMCE 2005. The manufacturer does not have WMCE drivers available for download.

The list of approved cards is pretty slim. Make sure the manufacturer has WMCE drivers before you purchase a card. Otherwise, make Doug happy and don't even consider using WMCE.

The DVICO Fusion is pretty popular, but it's probably not WMCE complient either. It's also supported under a free program called Media Portal. The HDTV Wonder card is listed, but I couldn't make mine work.
Media Portal (http://www.team-mediaportal.com/content/view/33/41/)

[Doug Mohr]

Otherwise, make Doug happy and don't even consider using WMCE.


:D :D :D

[waterhead]

I thought you might enjoy that.

[kevbeck122]

Reason I want to go MCE is because of the extender capability of the XBOX. Otherwise I would just build a Linux box with MythTV... and connect it directly to the TV (or hope that Myth will someday have a UPnP server that can use the XBOX as an extender :D). The newest Fusion is MCE capable.. at least DVICO says so. The AverTV route is cheaper though, so I'll probably get those cards. I don't mind the analog requirement since I'll probably do some recording of the analog cable channels.

[kevbeck122]

Where's the best place to buy MCE?

[waterhead]

I've looked it up at two places that I buy alot of stuff from, newegg.com and mwave.com (Microwave).
Microwave was cheaper, but you needed to buy a hard drive or something, to show that your a system builder. I think newegg will sell it without any strings.

I heard that there will be a new version out later this year, based on the new Vista OS.

[waterhead]

I just saw this link on Vista and a new ATI OCUR card:

Cable HDTV and Vista (http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2662)

[kevbeck122]

That's pretty cool, though I don't know if I'll have enough money when Vista comes out to build a new system. I also don't plan on having cable after college unless there's some major boost in HD channels on TWC and more choices as far as channel packages go.

Thanks for the store suggestions.. it's about $10 cheaper at mwave, plus I can buy the tuner cards to meet the requirement.

[Doug Mohr]

Where's the best place to buy MCE?

http://www.directdeals.com/category-windows-xp-media-center.aspx

Today, they only have a 3-pack, but check back and you'll see some great deals come through.

[kevbeck122]

I decided to try it on my spare 2GHz machine.... works fine on the extender, so I won't have to buy a 2.66 in the summer. It's a bit slow sometimes especially if I go in the online showcase thing.. but I can live with that. As long as I get a good non jittery picture for TV, I'm fine with that. I like MCE a lot better than TWC's DVR.. plus it seems more reliable.

[waterhead]

I decided to follow my own advice. I'm completely redoing my Windows PVR. I was trying to run Beyond TV4 on WinXP, but the HD video was jerky. Following advice on their forum, I went to Mwave and bought the following:

ATI Radeon X850 XT Platinum video card (AGP)
2 Seagate 300GB Serial ATA hard drives
Windows Media Center Edition 2005

I was using a "borrowed" copy of media center, and Microsoft recently tightened their update page. It checks if your windows version is legit or not. I test drove it enough to know that I wanted my own copy.

Also, I found out that I can run Beyond TV4 on WMCE. I have to disable WMCE's access to the capture cards first. I didn't like the program guide in WMCE, BTV4 is much better. But WMCE gave me a good HDTV picture. Either way, I think that I have it covered.

I know, the money I spent on this would be a good down payment on a decent HD monitor. I need to record shows first, the plasma screen I want will have to wait.