HTPC Build Guide

Discussion in 'Feedback & Suggestions' started by jezmck, 22 Jun 2008.

  1. jezmck

    jezmck Minimodder

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    I've now got the cash to build a HTPC (or can pre-built be cheaper?) so would love to start choosing components.

    I don't know though which parts are important, and how much to spend on each.

    Is there anyway bit-tech could do a guide to this?
     
    jezmck, 22 Jun 2008
    #1
  2. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    I could do. We already did a short one in the AMD 780G article here, but I'd like to go into detail of how to get full HD output, or just how to improve DVD quality as well, network sharing, mkv/mp4/avi playback tweaking (where it can or cant be GPU accelerated) - there's so much potential to it, where do you start?
     
    Guest-16, 22 Jun 2008
    #2
  3. DougEdey

    DougEdey I pwn all your storage

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    The beginnings, a hardware accelerated bang for buck, quiet HTPC.

    Then, as that machine slows with stuff like blu-ray or Free-to-air Satellite, have more info about it.
     
    DougEdey, 22 Jun 2008
    #3
  4. fathazza

    fathazza Freed on Probation

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    the hardware side is pretty much the same an normal pcs tbh...
    Bit would also have a problem reviewing american tv cards im guessing?

    i think a comparision on the software side of things could be interesting tbh, windows media center, mythtv, sagetv, mediaportal, gbpvr (gbgpvr gets my vote having tried most of them to varying degrees)

    bindi - the mkv/mp4 acceleration article would be appreaciated, as well as the upscaling one (im guessing thats tweaking ffdshow)
     
    fathazza, 22 Jun 2008
    #4
  5. jezmck

    jezmck Minimodder

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    am very glad to read that you're considering the idea.
    the important thing for me would be knowing what hardware you need for video decoding (watching), and keeping it all silent if possible.
     
    jezmck, 22 Jun 2008
    #5
  6. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    Oooo ok I'll put it on the list but some of it sounds seriously time intensive >_< The hardware side is no problem, but stuff like tweaking FFDshow isn't really my field.
     
    Guest-16, 23 Jun 2008
    #6
  7. koola

    koola Minimodder

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    Maybe two separate articles, one for the hardware and the other for the OS/software?

    With the separation you could do the hardware and farm out the other to someone who knows more about HTPC software.
     
    koola, 23 Jun 2008
    #7
  8. jezmck

    jezmck Minimodder

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    bindi, thanks muchly!
    koola, sounds sensible to me!
     
    jezmck, 23 Jun 2008
    #8
  9. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    Well if you know anyone who wants to put a software side article together, I'll happily edit it/work with them editorially.

    Hardware - It's down on my feature list, but at the bottom of the queue sorry :$
     
    Guest-16, 23 Jun 2008
    #9
  10. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    Nexxo, 23 Jun 2008
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