Poofyhairguy's HTPC Recommendation Thread

nemek · 2011-06-13 09:44

GPU will play every full hd movie. Thing is about cpu's if they are fast enough to handle menu fluently (some skins request fast cpu).

Gunserotti · 2011-06-23 15:31

I'm not sure if I'm in group 2 or 3?

Here is my workflow----rip blu-ray with anydvdhd----transfer files to unraid server----XBMC on which HTPC? (this is what I'm trying to determine)------ output to Denon receiver (can HD audio decode everything)------to samsung HD tv.

Basically I want my htpc/media software to allow me to "hear" HD Audio via my Denon (I don't care if the HTPC or Denon does the HD Audio processing).

Before I found this thread I was thinking of getting the newest Mac Mini (hdmi) with XBMC, however it is still unclear to me that I will be able to "hear" HD Audio with this configuration ( am I in group 3?). Thanks

eskro · 2011-06-23 15:46

yes, GROUP 3 for you! http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199

poofyhairguy · 2011-06-24 12:42

Yep, a new Mac Mini won't cut it unless you are willing to tweak.

Gunserotti · 2011-06-29 08:03

Thanks. In the end I decided to go with the Boxee Box. It appears to meet all my requirements. I hope it works....

Superorb · 2011-06-29 08:10

Gunserotti Wrote:Thanks. In the end I decided to go with the Boxee Box. It appears to meet all my requirements. I hope it works....

I know Boxee is built on/around XBMC, but can the Boxee Box run XBMC natively?

poofyhairguy · 2011-06-29 08:46

No. Its locked down.

QLink · 2011-06-29 09:37

poofyhairguy Wrote:so if there is something missing please let me know.

really nice thread. congrats poofy! Nod

some suggestions of things you can probably add:

- WAF hardware (irda receiver, harmony, etc.)

- differentiate linux/windows hardware(which hw works under which OS best)
for example GT430 is true a winner and imho definitly the best HTPC GPU from NVIDIA. but if you use windows there are also some ATI GPUs worth to mention, which are cheaper, need half the power(energy efficiency) but can give you pretty the same features...

- energy efficiency/power usage information

what do you think about that ?

anyway keep up that good work. very informative !

best greetz

QLink · 2011-06-29 09:40

nemek Wrote:GPU will play every full hd movie. Thing is about cpu's if they are fast enough to handle menu fluently (some skins request fast cpu).

maybe things may change when dirty regions reaches final status Smile

Superorb · 2011-06-29 15:27

What about the built in GPU of the new i3 CPUs, will we be fine with using that or will we need a discreet video card?

nemek Senior Member Posts: 137 Joined: Feb 2011 Reputation: 0 Location: Poland	2011-06-13 09:44 Post: #141 GPU will play every full hd movie. Thing is about cpu's if they are fast enough to handle menu fluently (some skins request fast cpu).
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eskro Posting Freak Posts: 8,341 Joined: Nov 2010 Reputation: 162	2011-06-23 15:46 Post: #143 yes, GROUP 3 for you! http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199 My G7 HTPC // eSkRo's HTPC Guide // Poofy's HTPC Guide // unRAID Guide // SSD Optimization thx :)
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poofyhairguy Resident Hardware Guru Posts: 2,954 Joined: Apr 2010 Reputation: 49	2011-06-24 12:42 Post: #144 Yep, a new Mac Mini won't cut it unless you are willing to tweak. Mini/Micro ITX Frontend (with SSD) + Mediaserver/NAS + Logitech Harmony + LCD/LED/Plasma TV + Nice AV Receiver + XBMC + USENET + sabnzbd + sickbeard +couchpotato My Setup--HTPC Building Guide- Start Here--Advice on Hard Drives and SSDs--Mediaserver Guide--Harmony Guide
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Gunserotti Junior Member Posts: 40 Joined: Jun 2011 Reputation: 0	2011-06-29 08:03 Post: #145 Thanks. In the end I decided to go with the Boxee Box. It appears to meet all my requirements. I hope it works....
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Superorb Fan Posts: 458 Joined: Jun 2009 Reputation: 0	2011-06-29 08:10 Post: #146 Gunserotti Wrote:Thanks. In the end I decided to go with the Boxee Box. It appears to meet all my requirements. I hope it works.... I know Boxee is built on/around XBMC, but can the Boxee Box run XBMC natively?
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poofyhairguy Resident Hardware Guru Posts: 2,954 Joined: Apr 2010 Reputation: 49	2011-06-29 08:46 Post: #147 No. Its locked down. Mini/Micro ITX Frontend (with SSD) + Mediaserver/NAS + Logitech Harmony + LCD/LED/Plasma TV + Nice AV Receiver + XBMC + USENET + sabnzbd + sickbeard +couchpotato My Setup--HTPC Building Guide- Start Here--Advice on Hard Drives and SSDs--Mediaserver Guide--Harmony Guide
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QLink Senior Member Posts: 151 Joined: Jun 2011 Reputation: 4	2011-06-29 09:40 Post: #149 nemek Wrote:GPU will play every full hd movie. Thing is about cpu's if they are fast enough to handle menu fluently (some skins request fast cpu). maybe things may change when dirty regions reaches final status
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Superorb Fan Posts: 458 Joined: Jun 2009 Reputation: 0	2011-06-29 15:27 Post: #150 What about the built in GPU of the new i3 CPUs, will we be fine with using that or will we need a discreet video card?
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