[Ashaneil]

I am just looking for a HTPC (to replace my WDTV Live +) to stream from
(i) an attached or internal 2-3 TB USB 2.0/3.0 drive or
(ii) my main PC (used to encoding / gaming) or
(iii) from my unRAID server as soon as I can convince the wife to let me have all these toys.
I would like to put all the kids movie locally to make it easier for them. So an SSD for OS + XBMC and 2-3 TB local 5400 rpm drive. A local DVD/Blu-Ray ROM drive would be a plus.

(I have read Eskro's my first HTPC and Puffyhairguy's post.)

To questions:
1. 210 vs 430 - For whatever reason, I don't get the bitstream part. I have an Onkyo receiver that does not support Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. Most of the files I will be streaming are going to MKV or M4V if that makes a difference.

2. Remotes - If I go with eskro's case, I guess I can use Rii. If I go ano of the cases in his Your Very First HTPC thread, then what do I use for a remote? Will I still need to worry about IR receiver?

3. Since Rii has a touch pad, why do you still need the Gyration Mouse?

4. Since I mainly want to stream / watch movies from local storage, what is the best CPU - Celeron or Zacate or one of the others? Wife may decide to check her hotmail or facebook -- that may be my main selling point

5. Eskro, your case is no longer available from NewEgg while Amazon is selling it for $186 US. Any replacement suggestions?

I am very sorry for this huge laundry list of questions. Thank you for your time and patience. Cheers

[macer]

What OS you are planning to use?
Windows 7 or Linux?

[Ashaneil]

Windows 7 (ultimate if it matters)

[SpectreX]

A GT430 can bitstream HD audio (DTS-HD/TrueHD) to a compatible AVR, the GT210 can`t. Since your AVR can`t decode those formats, those bitstreaming capabilities are useless, unless you upgrade the AVR in the future.

[Ashaneil]

A GT430 can bitstream HD audio (DTS-HD/TrueHD) to a compatible AVR, the GT210 can`t. Since your AVR can`t decode those formats, those bitstreaming capabilities are useless, unless you upgrade the AVR in the future.

Since I have no idea what bitstreaming is, from your comment, I am summing that GT430 will send raw HD audio to my AVR (bitstreaming) whereas GT210 will send what

When I convert a DVD to MKV using Handbrake, I use "AAC passthru". So far, I have been only converting my regualr DVD. I will be working on Blu-Ray next. So will bitstreaming be an issue then?

Or am I thoroughly confused still ?

[SpectreX]

Yup, that`s exactly what bitstreaming is. Sending to untouched audio to the receiver so it can decode it.

If your AVR is not capable of decoding HD audio then it will only read the core DTS/Dolby Digital track inside the DTS-HD/TrueHD stream.

Blu Ray has lossless DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD and DVD only has DTS and Dolby Digital

Depending on the format your receiver gets, DTS-HD/TrueHD/DTS/DD should show up on your AVRs mini LCD screen.

For the record, XBMC doesn`t have HD audio bitstreaming capabilities, only DTS/DD. But the next version (11) will have it.

As for ripping, i don`t know about handbrake, but AAC is an inferior format, just a little better than MP3. Get MediaInfo and post a screenshot here of one of those rips if you can

[Ashaneil]

Media Info:
General
Unique ID : 265082202288840300428939350127819475721 (0xC76CF9A0E38C83B3B1AD920B6715CB09)
Complete name : C:\OutputFolder\ONG_BAK.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 1.26 GiB
Duration : 1h 45mn
Overall bit rate : 1 711 Kbps
Writing application : HandBrake 0.9.5
Writing library : libmkv 0.6.4.1

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : [email protected]
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 45mn
Bit rate : 1 485 Kbps
Width : 710 pixels
Height : 462 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Original display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.189
Stream size : 1.09 GiB (87%)
Writing library : x264 core 112
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English
Color primaries : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format profile : Dolby Digital
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 45mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 145 MiB (11%)
Language : English

[eskro]

Ok for a Windows HTPC, you can use any of my builds....
Now its just a matter of Form Factor and Price...

You need to choose if u want a miniITX or microATX build,,

If you go with miniITX, its because u dont care that with pretty much the same
money you could have had a stronger microATX CPU/GPU combination...
You prefer miniITX because it has Low Power Consumption and since it has a Small form factor, you get more flexibility specially on where to put it!

Both miniITX builds in my guides can do pretty much anything...
Great for internet Browsing and streaming Hi-Def Web Content!
Also they can both play 1080P movies Flawlessly...
the ZACATE build can also BitStream HD-Audio! but it wont play 3D movies...
As for the CELERON build, once u add a GT430 GPU to it, it'll both play
BitStream HD-Audio + play 3D movies!!!

Like i said, first, decide which form factor u want....

i bought a microATX form factor because beleive it or not,
all my life i had slow performance PC's...
so this time, i wanted to make sure that i could get the best Performance
possible with $450CAD as budget!
So for me it was logical to get a microATX build because of that!
I dont care about electricity bills has the HTPC wont be running 24/7...

So what about you?
which form factor u want?
miniITX or microATX?

[Ashaneil]

Preferences:
-microATX build (if possible, I would like to minimize the power consumption and/or heat w/ this build)
- USB 3.0 ()
- add a Blu-Ray / DVD player (optional. not sure if it would be ever needed)

[eskro]

i suggest this


[mobo] MSI G41M-P25 LGA-775 Micro-ATX ($51 + $7)
[cpu] Intel Pentium E5700 3.0GHz Dual-Core LGA-775 65W ($66 + $0)
[gpu] MSI GeForce GT210 512MB DDR3 64-bit Low Profile ($39 + $0)
[case] SILVERSTONE ML03B Micro-ATX ($60 + $0)
[psu] CORSAIR Builder Series 430W 80+ ATX12V ($40 + $0)
TOTAL: ($263)

Powerful HTPC,
optional 5.25" bluray player,
will do anything u need flawlessly!!!

[Ashaneil]

So couple of follow up questions:

1. Why E5700 rather than Celeron? I am replacing my main PC's CPU - Core2 Duo E6750 with i7-2600k. Would it make sense to use the Core2 Duo or is it too power hungry?

2. What do you recommend for Remote besides Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad (RT-MWK01)?

3. Any suggestions for RAM? I will be running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate.

4. For SSD, I was thinking of OCZ Agility 2 or OCZ Vertex 2. Any preference between the two or are they overkill?

[Ashaneil]

Hey Eskro,
I noticed that the mobo you suggested does not have any USB 3.0. I did find 2 LGA 775 mobo at Newegg: Biostar and GigaByte

[eskro]

Both CELERON & PENTiUM are 65w...
i Just think that for $16 more than a CELERON,
you gain noticeable CPU Power!

celeron e3400 Average CPU Mark: 1730
pentium e5700 Average CPU Mark: 2043

About USB3, many of us dont think its really needed...
Many stream from NAS' or from Local Storage....
USB2.0 is even fast enough for 1080P....

that biostar & gigabyte mobo your referring to doesnt have PCI-Express 2.0 x 16...
the GT210 card will still work correctly on PCI-Express x 16 but
if you thinking in futur GPU upgrade, it'll be difficult...

Now for remotes, you know i have 2...
i use the Rii Mini to control XBMC & to type text in my browser' search engine....
its also great for renaming files on my hTPC and just casual lite-typing stuff...
i can now even chat with it since i got the hang of it now
i type pretty fast now...

However, you can indeed control the whole web with it, if you want,
track pad is like a laptop one, but the GYRATION AIR GO PLUS is a must for me!!
its works so so great i mean, web browsing is now lightning fast!!

Example, if you wanna copy a phrase and do a google search of it?
good luck with the rii mini, highlighting a phrase is not easy
but with Gyration Air Mouse, man, its perfect an Fast!!

im Not saying u absolutely need the Air Mouse, but i do
i just cant imagine myself doing all i do right now using the rii mini track pad...
I really need a ScroLL Wheel button for web browsing, cant live without that!!
and also for doing stuff on my c drive, where my OS is, moving stuff from my desktop
to anywhere else i want is super easy with the Air Mouse..

So for me, the Rii Mini is perfect for controlling XBMC & like i said,
its great also for typing text in search engines....

hope this helps

[Ashaneil]

Thanks. That helps a lot. Any choices on the SSD? I may start out with Rii and see how it goes. Then add the Air Mouse or another remote. Lot of people talk about Harmony but it is freaking expensive (unless I am missing something really obvious).

For SSD, I was thinking of OCZ Agility 2 or OCZ Vertex 2. Any preference between the two or are they overkill?

That should be the last of it, I swear

[eskro]

oh no dont worry, you can ask me stuff, i like to help

you'll see, rii mini controls XBMC like a CHamp!

those harmony remotes are indeed popular because they can control
all of your home theater equipment on that single remote!
so no more 3 or 4 remotes laying around on the table,,,
1 rules all...

now the SSD's.... win7 needs minimum 30GB... 16GB is wayy to short...
like suggested in my startup guide, any of these are great!
just choose one according to your budget...
check the read and write speeds too..
[SSD: 30GB] Kingston SSDNow 2.5" SATAII Trim Read:180MB/s Write:50MB/s ($76 + $0 - $20 rebate)
[SSD: 32GB] Corsair Nova 2.5" SATAII Trim Read:195MB/s Write:70MB/s ($65 + $0)
[SSD: 40GB] G.SKILL Phoenix Pro 2.5" SATAII Trim Read:280MB/s Write:270MB/s ($110 + $0)
[SSD: 60GB] Corsair Force 2.5" SATAII Trim Read:280MB/s Write:270MB/s ($125 + $0)