Monday, June 1, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Software
Two obvious options:
Windows Media Center
MythTV
I make a living off of Microsoft products, but man do they suck sometimes. I suspect MCE is pretty good, and all of the hardware would be far better supported under Windows. But still, it kinda offends me to use it. Also, will there be licensing issues when playing suspicious media? Standby and hibernate will probably work better in Windows, compared to Linux.
My Linux mosheen has been pretty solid since I installed Ubuntu. I have had some sound problems recently, and those kinda scare me. Linux sound is pretty kludgey, but I think I could keep it under control.
I think if I objectively compare MCE and MythTV, I'll end up with MCE. Subjectively, I like the idea of FOSS and don't mind some tinkering. I have some thinking to do....
Windows Media Center
MythTV
I make a living off of Microsoft products, but man do they suck sometimes. I suspect MCE is pretty good, and all of the hardware would be far better supported under Windows. But still, it kinda offends me to use it. Also, will there be licensing issues when playing suspicious media? Standby and hibernate will probably work better in Windows, compared to Linux.
My Linux mosheen has been pretty solid since I installed Ubuntu. I have had some sound problems recently, and those kinda scare me. Linux sound is pretty kludgey, but I think I could keep it under control.
I think if I objectively compare MCE and MythTV, I'll end up with MCE. Subjectively, I like the idea of FOSS and don't mind some tinkering. I have some thinking to do....
CPU, Video Card, Sound Card and Mobo
These components are all tightly linked in requirements, so let's consider them together.
CPU
It looks like a 1080p file takes some power to render. There's a few recommendations:
Video Card
The video card might make a big difference. I'm leery about hardware acceleration, as new formats may not be supported. I suppose it would help in the short-term, and maybe alot of the current formats will be used in the future. Maybe I should think about the video card being somewhat disposable.
Based on the MythTv.org site, it doesn't look like acceleration is much of an option. This is probably just as well.
Basically, I think I can pick one well supported by Linux with the proper outputs and I'll be good to go. I think I should be thinking about an HDMI output, since I want 1080p options. Maybe VGA instead? To be continued...
Sound Card
Integrated sound might be enough, since I only want digital output anyway. One thing to consider is Bit Perfect Digital Audio Playback. Check the forums to see if there's more info on that.
Motherboard
It needs to fit the case, and support the CPU I choose. An onboard NIC would be useful, and maybe integrated sound with digital SPDIF/Coax/Toslink. Don't buy an Asus, cause they blow up on you.
Check out the standby and/or low-power options. Also, fan control might be a good idea so it can automagically crank them up with required.
Power Supply
Quiet, powerful and high quality. The OCZ has spoiled me forever, but it's noisy. Look at the Zalman ones, or maybe one that matches the case. Check the efficiency too, since it'll be on alot.
CPU
It looks like a 1080p file takes some power to render. There's a few recommendations:
- 3GHz dual-core minimum
- Get a fast video card instead, and these guys agree
Video Card
The video card might make a big difference. I'm leery about hardware acceleration, as new formats may not be supported. I suppose it would help in the short-term, and maybe alot of the current formats will be used in the future. Maybe I should think about the video card being somewhat disposable.
Based on the MythTv.org site, it doesn't look like acceleration is much of an option. This is probably just as well.
Basically, I think I can pick one well supported by Linux with the proper outputs and I'll be good to go. I think I should be thinking about an HDMI output, since I want 1080p options. Maybe VGA instead? To be continued...
Sound Card
Integrated sound might be enough, since I only want digital output anyway. One thing to consider is Bit Perfect Digital Audio Playback. Check the forums to see if there's more info on that.
Motherboard
It needs to fit the case, and support the CPU I choose. An onboard NIC would be useful, and maybe integrated sound with digital SPDIF/Coax/Toslink. Don't buy an Asus, cause they blow up on you.
Check out the standby and/or low-power options. Also, fan control might be a good idea so it can automagically crank them up with required.
Power Supply
Quiet, powerful and high quality. The OCZ has spoiled me forever, but it's noisy. Look at the Zalman ones, or maybe one that matches the case. Check the efficiency too, since it'll be on alot.
Tuner cards
Since this thing is going to be my PVR, I need to have at least two tuners. Maybe three, just to one up my R*gers PVR.
Things to find out:
Things to find out:
- Should I get a single card with multiple tuners?
- What kind of signal does an OTA antenna bring in? Ie. What do I need to be decoding in the tuner?
- Is there different output resolutions involved? Do they all output 1080i?
- Are some cards more easily supported by Mythbuntu?
- Are some tuners more sensitive than others? Are amps required?
- What about sound outputs? I want 5.1 at least.
- What else don't I know?
Monday, March 16, 2009
On the case
Let's start with the obvious, I need a case to hold this HTPC.
Want - 3U to 4U, good cooling, almost silent, at least two harddrives, standard mobo size, enough room to hold various cards (in case of upgrade), remote controllable with the Harmony 890, and good looking
Don't Want - complicated displays on the front of the case, as seems to be fashionable these days. I won't see them inside the cabinet, and I might be tempted to waste time trying to get them to work (especially if I end up with Mythbuntu or something). Actually, any controls on the front of the case would be a waste.
Zalman HD135 - This seems to fit the bill. There are more expensive Zalman's, with more complicated displays and front panel controls. All aluminum, 3U, looks good, seems to have a good cooling plan (check the reviews later), comes with an IR remote, microATX mobo, 5 drive bays! Zalman is known for quiet, so I don't think that will be a problem. Can it hold enough components? Check that later.
Antec makes some interesting cases. There's a few HTPC cases, under the Veris name, and there's some rack mountable ones as well.
Fusion Remote Black - Just over 3U (is that due to feet?), steel case with aluminum front bezel, 2 drive bays, good cooling mechanism (separate chambers for power, drives and mobo), includes remote. There's some extra controls on the front panel and a display, but it's unknown whether any of them will work under MythTV or whatever software I use.
Fusion Remote Max - It's 4U, and it has four drive bays. 7 expansion slots - do I need that many? Same features as the smaller one.
Take 3 + 650 - It's not a HTPC, but a rack mount case. 3U with ears, good looks. 3 drive bays, cooling plan. No remote control, but no front panel extra stuff either - very promising. Note - there are some other, more industrial rack mount cases on the Antec site, but this is the best looking one. There's also a 4U model as well.
Thermaltake has some nice looking HTPC cases, but they have alot of crap on the front of them. Touchscreens, pushbuttons, knobs, etc. Too much hassle to just be hidden behind a cabinet door. Also, any case that has a 'gorgeous led light' is not in the running...
Silverstone can be found at TigerDirect, and they could be complete crap - never heard of them, but their website makes them look awesome.
The CW01 looks great and has all of the features needed, except for remote. The card-reader might end up being useless, if I can't get appropriate drivers.
The GD01 is pretty nice, too. The GD01MX includes a remote as well.
The LC10E is beautiful. Not sure what it's made of, but if it's aluminum it's probably the nicest on this list so far. It's just short of 4U.
The LC17 is very nice as well. It says it's "rackmount ready", whatever that means.
There's a bunch of slimmer ones as well, but I'm concerned that I couldn't fit full size card into them. Revisit this later, if they might work.
Want - 3U to 4U, good cooling, almost silent, at least two harddrives, standard mobo size, enough room to hold various cards (in case of upgrade), remote controllable with the Harmony 890, and good looking
Don't Want - complicated displays on the front of the case, as seems to be fashionable these days. I won't see them inside the cabinet, and I might be tempted to waste time trying to get them to work (especially if I end up with Mythbuntu or something). Actually, any controls on the front of the case would be a waste.
Zalman HD135 - This seems to fit the bill. There are more expensive Zalman's, with more complicated displays and front panel controls. All aluminum, 3U, looks good, seems to have a good cooling plan (check the reviews later), comes with an IR remote, microATX mobo, 5 drive bays! Zalman is known for quiet, so I don't think that will be a problem. Can it hold enough components? Check that later.
Antec makes some interesting cases. There's a few HTPC cases, under the Veris name, and there's some rack mountable ones as well.
Fusion Remote Black - Just over 3U (is that due to feet?), steel case with aluminum front bezel, 2 drive bays, good cooling mechanism (separate chambers for power, drives and mobo), includes remote. There's some extra controls on the front panel and a display, but it's unknown whether any of them will work under MythTV or whatever software I use.
Fusion Remote Max - It's 4U, and it has four drive bays. 7 expansion slots - do I need that many? Same features as the smaller one.
Take 3 + 650 - It's not a HTPC, but a rack mount case. 3U with ears, good looks. 3 drive bays, cooling plan. No remote control, but no front panel extra stuff either - very promising. Note - there are some other, more industrial rack mount cases on the Antec site, but this is the best looking one. There's also a 4U model as well.
Thermaltake has some nice looking HTPC cases, but they have alot of crap on the front of them. Touchscreens, pushbuttons, knobs, etc. Too much hassle to just be hidden behind a cabinet door. Also, any case that has a 'gorgeous led light' is not in the running...
Silverstone can be found at TigerDirect, and they could be complete crap - never heard of them, but their website makes them look awesome.
The CW01 looks great and has all of the features needed, except for remote. The card-reader might end up being useless, if I can't get appropriate drivers.
The GD01 is pretty nice, too. The GD01MX includes a remote as well.
The LC10E is beautiful. Not sure what it's made of, but if it's aluminum it's probably the nicest on this list so far. It's just short of 4U.
The LC17 is very nice as well. It says it's "rackmount ready", whatever that means.
There's a bunch of slimmer ones as well, but I'm concerned that I couldn't fit full size card into them. Revisit this later, if they might work.
Welcome to Wha?
I created this blog to keep track of my research into building a HTPC for my home theater. I'm starting with a few requirements, and I'll be putting links and info here to keep track of my research.
This list of requirements will be updated over time as more information is found. I've also got a project underway called F*ck R*gers, which will add requirements to the HTPC as well.
Requirements
Nice to have
This list of requirements will be updated over time as more information is found. I've also got a project underway called F*ck R*gers, which will add requirements to the HTPC as well.
Requirements
- Must be able to play all or almost all video formats found on the internet, including standalone files and flash video.
- Must be able to feed my TV at 1080p when appropriate
- Must be able to feed my amp with Dolby 5.1 when appropriate, through either a coax or TOSlink cable
- Must be able to be fully controllable through my Harmony 890
- Must look high quality and fit into a standard rack (up to 4U max, 3U if I can fit all the components in 3U). Rack ears are a bonus, but not required.
- Must have case with good cooling plan
- Must have way to view important temperature readouts
- Must be almost silent. PUT A DBA goal here
- Must be upgradable in the future - second harddrive, different mobo and CPU, different video in/out cards
- Must fit into my F*ck R*gers plan (put link to other blog here). Additional requirements from that plan will be copied here (such as PVR capabilities, OTA tuner, perhaps some auto-bittorrent functions).
Nice to have
- Ability to browse the internet through a handy mechanism (mouse/keyboard? Something lap-based?)
- A low-power mode for when it's idling, such as a standby or hibernate mechanism. HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO THE F*ck R*gers plan? Does it need to be always on?
- Based on Linux or other open source. MythTv looks promising.
- No need to play games
- No need to capture output from existing PVR
- No need to play Blu-ray or DVD through PC (can use PS3 for that)
- No need for a case display, such as an LCD or touchscreen. Possible exception - temperature readouts, but I'd prefer those to be on the TV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)