HTPC Show us your HTPC setup!

Here we go again. Another one of those threads.
It seems like this is a neglected area of the Bit forums. So I thought I'd put up a picture thread. I'd also like to see hardware lists and possible screenshots as well.
Basically I'd really like to build an HTPC, but I'm torn between some of the available solutions like Xbox + xbmc or an iTV.

So this can be a discussion thread as well I suppose. Mainly just want to get people's ideas for media PCs as well as the best/cheapest way to get HD content onto a TV.

Cheers!

 

xbox wont get HD content on ur tv fella so its a media center or iTV for you

 

XBOX will. Get a component cable to output 720p.

 

A 360 is, iirc, the most full-fledged 'extender' option for HTPCs in that it outputs at far higher options than the PS3 and Apple TV (the latter of which doesn't support HD content at all thus far). I'd personally search for a cheap Xbox premium setup, or even just a core if you don't need the local storage.

<A88>

 

yeh it does alow xbmc to run at 720p, but try to play any HD content and it really struggles

 

I used a modded Xbox for a while it was pretty handy and you could setting it up via component as Dougedgy mentioned end of the day it was pretty limited and struggled with some things, as I wanted a PVR I moved to a proper HTPC and have not looked back, its quieter, consumes less power if built well and is much more Powerful machine useful for DVD upscaling via ffdshow etc.

My current setup which I have just built is as follows, no point showing photos as you'll get enough from just a photo of the case.

Silverstone LC19 in black
AMD X2 3600 (1.9Ghz Dual core, mildly overclocked to 2.2Ghz but undervolted to 1.0v)
Asus AM2-VM mobo
1Gb DDR2
500Gb HD
3 tuners ( 1 PCI, 2USB )
DVDRW.

Power usage 40-65w, only noise is the HD.

Downside of this setup is theres no real upgradeability options beyond the one slot and CPU/MEM but I don't need it, what this has is all I need, the old setup allowed me access to numerous slots for expansion as I actually had it geared up for gaming but never used the functionality what with X360 and PS3.

My old setup that I have just replaced was built around the following.

Antec Aria
S754 A64 2800
1Gb RAM
Nforce 430 mobo
400Gb HD
Nvidia 6200TC (good enough for SD gaming at the time)
3 Tuners.
DVDRW

Power usage 70-110w

In terms of Media extenders the 360 (160w) and PS3 (175w) have the same abilities these days but for them to work you need a media server which consumes power as well as having the consoles which consume 2-3 times more power than the above HTPC setups.

 

Hey everybody, thanks for the replies.

I hadn't even thought of the 360 before. That could be an option, though how does it handle DivX/Xvid or H.264 video?

As for an HTPC, my thoughts were leaning towards something that would look at home in a HiFi rack. Of course I had also considered Mini ITX. Basically thinking of a media frontend for something like MythTV.
PVR functionality might be nice, but I haven't actually watched TV in a few years other than trying to catch a few shows *cough*

Keep up the discussion. I'm interested in opinions on what hardware is necessary for HD output.

 

i think this thread needs a renaming . not one picture yet

 

Specs:

• Silverstone LC03
• Intel Pentium M 725 1.6Ghz
• Zalman CNPS8000-Cu @ 5v
• Aopen i855GMEm-LFS
• 1GB Crucial PC3200 RAM
• 200GB Seagate SATA HDD
• Scythe Quiet Drive Internal HDD Silencer
• SB Audigy 2 ZS
• Seasonic S12 350W PSU
• 2 x Avermedia AV-771 DVB-T Tuner
• XFX Nvidia GeForce FX5200

It's running MythTV on Debian unstable. It's really nice and quiet, can barely hear it from 3 foot away.

edit: Pics are a bit old, so you can't see the second tuner or the quiet drive thing.

 

Details
-------
32" LCD TV with dvb-t and analogue tuner
Virgin Media cable set top box.
stock xbox

HTPC:
duron 1.6Ghz
1GB Ram
250+160GB Hard drives
3xDVB-T Tuners
Hauppauge USB PVR2 tuner for cable recording
mce remote and ir blaster to control cable set top box
Antec case with seasonic psu

Running on windows xp with gbpvr as media centre software.

I also have a another htpc in the bedroom connected to a 17" crt monitor this one has 4 dvb-t tuners.

 

Thanks for the Pics. Keep them coming.

Looking at those specs, maybe my thoughts on what is necessary were way off.
Though I've been more focused on MiniITX and sff rather than ATX boards.
I think my definition of an HTPC may be off as well. Looking around I guess what I'm looking for is a "media server".

Cheers fellas. Let's keep this going.

 

Epia 1.5ghz eaden
1gig of pc 2700
160gb hd
pico-psu and other little goodies

 

while i don't really have a need for HD content right now (i only have SD cable tv)

Here is my HTPC / Home Theatre Setup

HTPC

A64 3000+
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1 GB Corsair XMS C2
Geforce fx5200
Hauppage PVR350
4x 250GB HD for Storage
1x 8gb EIDE for OS
Auzentech x-mystique
Windows XP
Sage TV 4.1

Sound System

Yamaha HDMI Reciever
JBL Venue Stadium Floor Standers
JBL Venue Voice Centre Channel
JBL Venue Monitor Rears
Athena 4100 Sub
Home Built Cables

Display System

Epson Powerlite S3 Projector (maxes out at 720p)
84.3" Screen

Media Playback

Sony Upconverting DVD Player
JVC 5 disc cd player
JVC VCR
Apoogee Tape Deck
Technics Turntable (Yes i have LP's and 45's)

Since it is basically in my very messy room, and i didn't want to cause peoples eyes to burn out of their sockets i will refrain from posting pics until i have it setup in a better room.

Future Upgrades

Either a 1080p Projector or TV i haven't decided how much crying i want my wallet to make

Switch to HDMI cabling for as much as possible

Add HD tuner to my HTPC

 

I just have my main PC with a DVI link to my TV, and TOSLink to my home theatre amp providing 5.1. Only thing I need now is a blu-ray or HD drive and im HD ready

PC in sig

TV = Samsung 27" TFT 720p TV

Sound = JVC RX-E5S Control Center with 5.1 JVC Speakers

 

I have the following setup:

Lian-Li PC-C30IB (IMON)
Core2Duo E6750
Gigabyte GA P35C-DS3R
Zalman 9500
2GB Corsair PC6400
2 x 250GB Samsung Spinpoint T SATA II HDs
XFX 7600GS HDMI
Hauppauge Nova 500 T
Seasonic S12II 430W
MCE Remote + Keyboard
Vista Ultimate x86
Sony KDL-32S2530

 

Gigabyte P35C-DS3R - 2Gb PC6400 - E6600 -Zalman 9500 in Silverstone case (with VFD)
2 x 40Gb 2.5" HD's in RAID 0 (They are VERY quiet)
XFX 7600GS HDMI
Nesteq PSU (No fan to silent)
Samsung 46" LCD and Monitor Audio 5.1 surround with Denon amp via HDMI
I use my logitec programmable remote... Very sweet.
Systems plays 1080p movies like a dream.

 

Meanmotion's HTPC (I live with him, so I get to use it )

AMD X2 3800+ w/c
1GB memory
Windows MCE + MCE Remote and KB
Some Leadtek mobo
Hiper 700w modular PSU
Zalman Reserator
ATI X1300 w/c
Zalman HTPC case

It's soooo quiettt ZzzzzZzz

and some crappy 32" 720p TV and Creative DT2200 5.1s

We wanted a proper sound card but there is no space for the spare X-Fi PCIe x1 card we have, however it looks awesome even though the VFD isn't working, yet. Plays back 1080p (downscaled) h264 perfectly.

 

Updated:





Everything works for us - it's not the best in the world but it's the best I've ever had - we've got Wii, 360, HTPC and a decent pair of Stereo 2.0s from a proper AMP.. oh and a screen that's over 100" big The wall is an off-white so it works quite well.

The green light is the ambient backlighting from a random cathode - it also helps us know the thing is on because it's so quiet.

HTPC: Gigabyte 780G mobo
AMD 4850e 45W
Corsair VX550W PSU
2GB OCZ Cl5 800MHz memory
Enermax Pandora case (meh, only thing we had spare)
250GB Spinpoint hard drive
EMU sound (once we fix the drivers in Vista).

 

I hate you Bindi!
I don't watch enough TV/Films to warrant an HTPC but when I have more money and my own place I may just build one ... it's a conversation starter at least.

 

Well, I only paid for the memory most of it is loaned, borrowed or old kit re-used.

Case - Was gonna be thrown out anyway
Mobo - Engineering sample
PSU - Actually I think it's the TT 650W QFan. No one will use it in work and it actually saves space to use it.
CPU - I will swap it out for a spare 5200+ or something when we come to review/use the 4850e.
HDD/DVD drive/EMU - our own.

Aye, perks of the job indeed It's still "bit-tech property" so we don't sell it or anything, but we'd rather it be used than just have office space used up. Also - if work needs it, obviously it has priority.