now that i have a 60" LCD projection for my living room, its time to adorn that thing with a pimp looking HTPC system. the system will be used to play games, MP3 server and TV Tuner/Recorder (FreeVo).
i am going to be getting this case - Ahanix D3 and transferring over my Desktop parts to this HTPC setup; i am then going to be getting an Nforce 4 Ultra Motherboard with a 3000/3200+ Winchester Athlon 64 and 6600GT Video card for the desktop!
will probably get a seagate 200GB SATA hard drive for the HTPC since the 'cudas are the most silent drives.
IA, I've just finished setting up my Shuttle system as HTPC system and it's now hooked up to my 28" Widescreen TV, only differences is that I'm using it for media only, not games e.t.c
I'm using a piece of software called Meedio (http://www.meedio.com), they've got a $25 discount going on until 31st of Dec so if your going to use it, then get it now. Here's a few pics of the system I've almost finished setting up. Haven't done music yet.
Main Menu
Movies menu
Movie details
TV Shows
TV Show details
Weather screen, raining in manchester? Surley not
News Headlines
News Details
I'm using the ATi BOB remote control to navigate this from my bed, very nice. Hope this gives you some ideas.
Looks good Furton. Tho alot of those shots look like the
ones I saw on freevo, so I would give that a shot first, cause you gots nothing to loose!
I was just thinkin of doing the same, mostly for the "tivo" like part of it. Unfortunately, for the cost of assembling a decent system, even cramming it all in a cheapo case, I could byt a tivo, and pay the subscription for about 5 years!
I'm lookin to get rid of the vcr my wife uses dailt cause they keep wearin out and breakin, and only need to record a few ahours a day. But I'll follow the thread along to see how it progresses, as this is still an interesting project.
I'm looking at one of these types of machines which would fit my needs nicely:http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...odel=DMR-E85HS
__________________ VODKA : IT'S NOT JUST A BREAKFAST DRINK!
9-11.......... ALL GAVE SOME..............SOME GAVE ALL ................NEVER FORGET !!
yup I think that was the link.
with any of these, I think you can only record 1 channel at a time, unless you have multiple tuner cards, and setting that up is too scary to even think about. tho I believe you can watch 1 and record another, and I have seen them with 3 channle pic in pic, so with a better card, I could be wrong.
__________________ VODKA : IT'S NOT JUST A BREAKFAST DRINK!
9-11.......... ALL GAVE SOME..............SOME GAVE ALL ................NEVER FORGET !!
you can record as many channels simultaneously as you have TV Tuners. that Meedio program looks pretty slick. i havent decided if i am going with SageTV or Windows MCE 2005 just yet.
i have ordered the HTPC case already since this style has been discontinued and www.pcalchemy.com has the remaining stock from Ahanix.
my system is looking to shape up as:
HTPC System
Ahnix D.vine 3 HTPC Case
Ahanix (SilenX OEM) 350W PSU
2 SilenX 60mm Fans
Soltek Nforce 2 Ultra Motherboard
Athlon XP Mobile, OC'd to 2.4GHz
Swiftech Cooler with 92mm Enermax Thermo Controlled Fan
512MB Mushkin Level One PC3200 Ram
Seagate 200GB 7200.7 SATA HardDrive
BFG 5900, OC'd to 5950 Ultra Video Card
Toshiba 16X DVD-ROM
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Sound Card
Hauppage PVR150-MCE Tuner/Capture Card
Logitech MX Cordless Duo Keyboard/Mouse
Windows MCE 2005 or Sage TV
The desktop rig will become:
Desktop System
Lian Li PC-65 Case
Tagan 480W PSU
Nforce4 Ultra Motherboard (will wait for the reviews and board options before deciding..maybe SLI Version)
Athlon 64 3200+ (hope to OC this 2.6)
Zalman 7700-Cu Cooler
1 GB Mushkin Level One PC3200 Ram
IBM Deskstar 120 GB, 30 GB Hard Drive
Nvidia 6600GT Video card (haven't decided which brand yet)
Benq 1620 Dual Layer DVD Burner
On-board Audio
Windows XP Pro
I will install the TV Tuner at a later stage as I first want to get this rig up and running as an MP3 Server and Game Machine.
The desktop system is looking good DJ, the only thing I would personally question is the 6600 card unless you go with a pair in SLI, but by the time the new mobos are ironed out, a 6800 PCI express should be available also.
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6800 aint that much better then the 6600 GT...the 6800 GT is the one to get but unfortunately that is still about $400! I'll be fine with the 6600 GT for awhile and then I can either get the 6800 GT when prices come down or look for a cheap 6600 GT for SLI.
now its just wait and see time for the nforce 4 mobo's...the MSI K8N Diamond and DFI Ultra-D have caught my interest for SLI. but the wise thing is to wait for the offerings to increase and the reviews to pour in...
Originally posted by Digital Junkie 6800 aint that much better then the 6600 GT...the 6800 GT is the one to get but unfortunately that is still about $400! I'll be fine with the 6600 GT for awhile and then I can either get the 6800 GT when prices come down or look for a cheap 6600 GT for SLI.
...
I.A., people have often said that you talk alot of poo poo but it aint ever seen it till now.
The 6800nu totally owns the 6600gt, because there is so much headroom to overclock & possibility to softmod the card.
say wha - every review ive read says the 6600GT is not the far off from a 6800. im not talkin about the 6800GT or the 6800 Ultra. the 6800 is a crippled version of the 6800 GT/Ultra just like the 6600GT. true the 6800 can probably OC better but its still a crippled 6800 GT/Ultra. not to mention $100 more then a 6600 GT!
haven't heard about soft moddin the 6800 though -- interesting...
besides if im going SLI Mobo, then i im definately buying the 6600GT. if i don't go SLI, i may consider a 6800GT but $400 is just crazy for a video card.
Originally posted by Digital Junkie
......besides if I'm going SLI Mobo, then i im definately buying the 6600GT. if i don't go SLI, i may consider a 6800GT but $400 is just crazy for a video card.
DJ's got ya there. 2 6600's in sli mode easily beat the 6800 in a number of tests, and it seems it is cheaper to pop for the 2 over the one. Sometimes you have to make some choices based on the overall costs.
Spending more on a vidcard than the cost of the rest of the system is insane, especially when there are viable alternatives.
__________________ VODKA : IT'S NOT JUST A BREAKFAST DRINK!
9-11.......... ALL GAVE SOME..............SOME GAVE ALL ................NEVER FORGET !!
Still, 6600GT in SLi doesn't offer much, if anything over a 6800GT or Ultra, and you'll end up spending more on two cards. I would save up for the 6800GT, be good to yourself
That is with a 6800 non ultra, the so called crippled version!!
As for cost, well I can't comment on things in the states but in the UK a 6600GT is about the same price as 6800nu (i.e. Ł150-Ł170) . Therefore its a no brainer 6800 nu all the way, much cheaper than a pair or 6600GT in sli mode & about the same performance.
Sometimes you have to make some choices based on the overall costs & performance.
A good reivew on 6600GT and 6800GT in SLi mode. As you'll see, the 6600GT in SLi is not really that good, especially at high resolutiions, hell, it only has 4 real pixel pipelines.
what does the softmod unlock the 6800nu to? that is a good score 3dmark score indeed. my concern is if i can't sofmod it, then im stuck with a crippled 6800 that can't do sli...ever right?. besides, do they offer the 6800 in PCI-E?
assuming i go SLI, i also wont be buying two video cards now anyway. buy one now, wait (for a long time ) and buy the twin when the price is much lower. hell i may just buy a 6800GT and pair it up down the road...that is of course the ideal solution.
i also think SLI performance will improve as the driver matures just like any other new technology.
edit: thought more about this and buying a softmod 6800nu could work if i did not go with an SLI motherboard. if i get an SLI, this option wouldn't work for me.
Softmodding unlocks 4 extra pipelines & 1 vertex shader. so you go from 12x5 (6800nu) to 16x6 (6800GT & 6800U).
As always there is no guarantee that it will work & if sli is your ultimate goal then a 6800nu certainly is not right for you now as there is no pci-e version yet.
I just wanted to point out the speed issue is all.
Edit : I've just checked newegg's prices for a 6600gt. $186 that like Ł100 In that case I.A. your reasoning begins to make more sense. Although I'd still try and go for a 6800GT pci-e if you can afford it . Purely for the ability to run high frame rates at higher resolutions + AA +AS
thanks for making me aware of another option jimb. i certainly did consider it after you brought it up and was starting my research about the softmod. it may appear i may be SOL though if the 6800nu doesn't come in PCI-E. i doubt nvidia will reoffer it in this interface since they are positioing the 6600GT as the replacement for the 6800nu + SLI capability.
hey maybe someone will figure out how to softmod the 6600GT
edit: also keeping my eye on gigabyte's dual GPU solution in one, the Gigabyte GV-3D1. that is a very interesting and innovative product.
hehe yeah those suckers are real cheap...about $200 here in the states. i do intend to run at 1600x1200x32 on my Viewsonic 20" LCD Panel. like you said, the 6800GT will allow me to run at this setting with full AA + AS....decisions, decisions
Whoa good find I.A., in that case I'd wait till more examples come to market & pick the best of the bunch. I had no idea they gonna release one of these, just a shame its using 3.0ns memory instead of 2.6 or 2.8ns.
it'll be interesting to see if more 6800nu PCI-E offerings are coming. based upon the poor review of the MSI offering, i think Nvidia is pushing hard for the manufacturers to emphasize the 6600GT as the replacement.
i found a great deal on a 300GB Maxtor 7200rpm, 16MB Cache drive....only $150! reviews have it only 2 dB louder then the seagate (29 dbA vs 27 dbA) and i gain 50GB in for the same price. performance is outstanding too, it can get a little toasty but no fear, im gonna strap on a Slim HD Cooler onto the drive to solve that problem.
this drive makes a perfect PVR/MP3/Games Server...knock one more item of the list!
Personally, I love my TiVo ^-^; Wouldn't trade it for any home-built rig. Can record 2 different channels at the same time while watching a 3rd show from HD. With a lil bit of hacking, it's possible to network em on your LAN, transfering media back & forth from PC to TiVo also Although don't go on any TiVo form and ask how. That's kinda considered 'black art hacking' to them folks.
My next project will be to modify my XBox Once modified, running XBMedia Center, it'll play any file format Windows mediaplayer will handle, as well as news streams & video streams from the net. All for pretty darn cheap ($149 for the XBox, $40 or so for the chip) Plus it's great for games ^_^:
YOu might also want to take a look at House Bot. Haven't really checked into it but you can basically control your whole system from any computer in your house.
"Z"
i currently have time warner cable and they offer digital HDTV service. however, i will be getting the DISH HDTV Satellite package for my system.
rider, i fixed it wif my crayons
was thinkin about a TiVO but considering what i wanted to do with the HTPC it made more sense for me to do the PVR portion myself....besides 60" PC Gaming baby
also my research for a video card has also turned up the ATI X800 XL as a candidate. apparently this thing owns or is equal to the 6800GT in everything but DOOM3 where the 6800GT has about 30% speed margin. however, ATI is gonna offer this card at $299 which is $100 cheaper then the 6800GT!
I'd be wary of the Maxtor drive. only 1 year warranty, and alot of folks having probs with them dieing early, tho a cooler would really
help prolong the life, I would still think long before I'd go for the cheaper disk, after all you get what you pay for.
__________________ VODKA : IT'S NOT JUST A BREAKFAST DRINK!
9-11.......... ALL GAVE SOME..............SOME GAVE ALL ................NEVER FORGET !!
Digital the only draw back to the HTPC is that from what I understand thus far you need a card for each channel you want to record. Thoughts?
THis could get expensive with the x800 card.
Originally posted by Zemuss Digital the only draw back to the HTPC is that from what I understand thus far you need a card for each channel you want to record. Thoughts?
THis could get expensive with the x800 card.
"Z"
Surley he would use a TV card, not a gfx card for video input?
I wouldn't touch the Maxtor drives, many people have complaining about the noise they make, I personally always try and use Seagate, quiet and 5 year warranty. Can't beet it.
I've bought several Maxtors in the past few years. Only problem I had w/ one was when I dropped it (external USB enclosure). RMA'd it and they replaced my 160 for a 250
Originally posted by Digital Junkie i found a great deal on a 300GB Maxtor 7200rpm, 16MB Cache drive....only $150! reviews have it only 2 dB louder then the seagate (29 dbA vs 27 dbA) and i gain 50GB in for the same price. performance is outstanding too, it can get a little toasty but no fear, im gonna strap on a Slim HD Cooler onto the drive to solve that problem.
this drive makes a perfect PVR/MP3/Games Server...knock one more item of the list!
Ive got that drive and as a word of caution to you all it runs HOT.
HTPC Project Commencing!
In that case I.A. your reasoning begins to make more sense. Although I'd still try and go for a 6800GT pci-e if you can afford it . Purely for the ability to run high frame rates at higher resolutions + AA +AS
Although don't go on any TiVo form and ask how. That's kinda considered 'black art hacking' to them folks.
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