Custom XBMC Zacate Setup allrounder questions bag
#1
Lightbulb 
Hello guy and gals ( if any ),

Just wanna ask some questions concerning a HTPC setup that I plan to put together.
I have come to the conclusion that all I really need is basic to moderate SD an HD ( 720/1080 ) playback whitout DTS or HD audio bitstreaming capability ( even dough the setup ill present can do bitstreaming ) or that blatant 3D video playback. The machine will be data served over a gigabit network trough a mini server probably runing unraid software. So this is my custom setup:

CASE: LC POWER 1320MI, HTPC, mini ITX, crno, 75W
http://www.lc-power.de/index.php?id=122&L=1
MBO: ASROCK E350M1, CPU AMD E350 (1.6GHz), DDR3, zvuk, AMD Radeon HD 6310, S-ATA, G-LAN, PCI-E, HDMI, eSATA, mini ITX
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=E350M1
RAM: PC-10666, 2 GB, MUSHKIN SilverLine FrostByte, 991585, DDR3 1333MHz
http://www.mushkin.com/Memory/Silverline/991585.aspx
TV TUNER: USB, AverMedia AVerTV Volar HD Nano, DVB-T, Windows Media Center remote, antena
http://www.avermedia.com/avertv/product/...spx?Id=516
HDD: 320.0 GB, WESTERN DIGITAL Scorpio Black, 2.5, SATA, 16 MB c., 7200
OR: SSD 64.0 GB KINGSTON V series Desktop Bundle, SATA, 2.5", SNV425-S2BD/64GB, MLC-Chip, max. 180/50 MB/s

The overall cost is =245Euros with all my personal discount that I can get or about 35Euros more if I go alone with SSD solution. So thats about 300/341$ Any suggestions are more then welcome :-D

Now for the questions:

-will SSD really make that kind of a difference in boot time ( k, Im certan about that ) and overall responsiveness on heavy skins ( plan on using Aeon ) and Video/Movies/TV shows library ( trough prepered .nfo files and .jpgs etc on network drives ), meaning less time to render thumbs, fan art, DVD cover etc. I just dont wanna slugghis UI due to poor data bandwith---or will WD Black be sufficiant
-Ill go with Windows 7/x64 installation and my bigest concern is about using that MCE remote that Ill get with USB TV tuner, will it work out of the box or Ill have to fidlle around, and as I plan on using TV tuner to watch my TV channel listing Ill have to be able to call for a external app ( think luncher add-on can set me off ).
-Im not on planning to turn off the machine but rather put it on low power standby, so will Ill be able to wake it up using remote or network, and can this little machine do realtime "heavy" 24/7 duty cycle?
-what about SD content and upscaling it to HD
-Im hearing alot of talk about how good 60p HD content really is especally in moving scenes, that is more natural and eye pleasing removing tension from eye retina, so can xbmc/my setup handle that kind of content?

So basically all I want is seamingly straightforward setup with as much as possible responsive UI.
Thank you for your answers!
...Kaiser Neron will Fall...
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#2
your chosen ram is 1333MHZ...
that ASROCK motherboard takes only 1066MHZ...

all i can say is if you plan on using Aeon skin
and dont want a sluggish UI, then look no further,
get an SSD as it rocks!

a 32GB SSD is enough for windows7 x64 + XBMC + extra apps ...
i still have 15GB left after all of those on my Corsair Nova 32GB SSD!

about MCE remote i dont know sorry,
i use the Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard + Gyration Air Mouse Go Plus
to control everything on my HTPC...
so no remote for me per say...

again, the wake up from sleep using MCE Remote i cant tell....
personally tho, i think it would work, but then again,
better wait for an actual owner to confirm this..
my PC case came with an IR Remote which can PowerON&OFF the HTPC
and it can wake it up from sleep too!

XBMC is a great media player!
i wouldnt worry at all about playing any type of media files!
just make sure to enable Hardware Acceleration (DXVA2)
in its video settings and set Audio Output to HDMI too
and enjoy the rest!!
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#3
Quote:your chosen ram is 1333MHZ...
that ASROCK motherboard takes only 1066MHZ...
It doesn't matter this in his case:
1. faster ram will just work as slower (ie 1067)
2. bios update allow 1333
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#4
i also have 1333mhz ram on the MSI board E350 without bios update ... what difference is it ?

I have the slightly bigger case 1360Mi LOVE IT !
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#5
was not saying it matters, was saying he'd might be able to save money
by getting a 1066 ram kit....
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#6
oh ic , in my case there was no price difference Smile
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#7
yes, they all are dirt cheap. I still have to buy 2gb of RAM. Without knowing the impact, I will choose 1333 Mhz memory. Even, CAS 7.

I still wonder if dual channels gains performance?
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#8
Quote:I still wonder if dual channels gains performance?
on e350 its not cuz it support single channel only
Quote:i also have 1333mhz ram on the MSI board E350 without bios update ... what difference is it ?
13333 is faster - bios update may speed up your system a bit.
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#9
nemek Wrote:13333 is faster - bios update may speed up your system a bit.

Since GPU also uses this bus, I expect a fair ammount of extra GUI performance.
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#10
[QUOTE=Robotica;75631I expect a fair ammount of extra GUI performance.[/quote]

It won't make a really noticeable difference unless you start gaming on the box.

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#11
eskro Wrote:your chosen ram is 1333MHZ...
that ASROCK motherboard takes only 1066MHZ...

all i can say is if you plan on using Aeon skin
and dont want a sluggish UI, then look no further,
get an SSD as it rocks!

a 32GB SSD is enough for windows7 x64 + XBMC + extra apps ...
i still have 15GB left after all of those on my Corsair Nova 32GB SSD!

about MCE remote i dont know sorry,
i use the Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard + Gyration Air Mouse Go Plus
to control everything on my HTPC...
so no remote for me per say...

again, the wake up from sleep using MCE Remote i cant tell....
personally tho, i think it would work, but then again,
better wait for an actual owner to confirm this..
my PC case came with an IR Remote which can PowerON&OFF the HTPC
and it can wake it up from sleep too!

XBMC is a great media player!
i wouldnt worry at all about playing any type of media files!
just make sure to enable Hardware Acceleration (DXVA2)
in its video settings and set Audio Output to HDMI too
and enjoy the rest!!
Thx for your response. Ill definitely go with SSD Smile That mini keyboard of yours looks cool, but I was thinking something more like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2af7BwH...re=related
as a companion to the remote. Only disadvantage I see is no backlight, and that its operating in 2.4GHz band so it can interfere with wireless connections or other devices. If theres a owner(s) and can confirm that AverMedia MCE remote is working properly that would be great. Faster RAM is a no concern for me, cuz it will lower frequency to match MBO, and speed between 1066 and 13333 can be ignored. Prize wise theres no real noticeable differences. I try to suspend or hibernate my PC system trough XBMC and it just pops me back to win logon screen. BIOS is setup correctly and hibernation is enabled. Any suggestion on that!?
...Kaiser Neron will Fall...
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Custom XBMC Zacate Setup allrounder questions bag0