Off lately, we've been witnessing a lot of 'Want-to-build-HTPC', 'Suggest-an-HTPC-rig' and 'HTPC-config-required' threads. With the price of components going low as the day progresses, building a Home Theatre PC [HTPC] from scratch for a very limited budget is now possible.
I've compiled a comprehensive guide on building an HTPC based on several inputs which'll churn out the best price-to-performance.
Building the best gaming rig is easy. For a specified budget, you can argue about what graphics card, CPU or motherboards are better/faster/cheaper, but the fundamental goal remains the same - best performance with the best eye-candy you can afford to create a smoother gaming experience.
However, building an HTPC could be a daunting task!!! Its an entirely different genre, wherein selection of each component is crucial as it determines the performance, functionality, ease of operation, silence, reliability and the expenses incurred.
Primary goals an HTPC should achieve:
* Stream HD content [upto 1080p] flawlessly.
* Run cool n quiet.
* A repository for all downloaded contents which includes music, movies and games.
* A PVR or a Personal Video Recorder by virtue of which time-shifted viewing of your favorite TV shows is possible.
* Double up as a download rig, a net-surfing rig and occasionally as a light gaming rig as well.
* Attain Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio pass through to reciever.
[BREAK=.latforms & Processors:.]
Both the platforms, viz. Intel and AMD have processors and motherboards suited for an HTPC build; Choose your pick based on the budget and the requirements.
PROCESSOR:
The most demanding task an HTPC has to do is playing (i.e. decoding) H.264 encoded movies. It primarily depends on:
* CPU processing power and the clock speed.
* GPU's assist on the decoding process.
* Playback software and the video card driver used.
For that matter, a Quad-core processor [like the Q6600 or the Phenom 9500] is an overkill. Why??? Since decoding does not utilize the extra 2 cores onboard the Quad-core processors [however the reverse, encoding does and hence for encoding applications a quad-core suits the best!!!]
Recommended:
1.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
[2.5GHz 1MB L2 cache] - Rs. 3550;
2. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e [2.5GHz 45W TDP ] - Rs. 3800 [Predicted approx price];
3. Intel Pentium Dual Core E 2160 [1.8 GHz 1MB L2 Cache] - Rs. 2700;
Note: The stock HSF for the processors performs decently well for an HTPC setup. Investing in an aftermarket cooler is not justified since the processor is not intended to be overclocked and this may result in excessive heat dissipation and noise [due to the aftermarket fan] and unwanted costs.
[BREAK=.:Motherboards:.]
MOTHERBOARD:
* While choosing a motherboard, ensure that it has an mATX form factor [even the mini-ITX form factor has made an appearance into the markets recently!!! read it here: http://www.techenclave.com/cpu-mobo-corner/j-w-has-mini-itx-780g-111680.html] ] so that it can be easily squeezed into an HTPC enclosure like the Antec Fusion series or the Zalman HD160; Moreover the additional PCI-E slots in the ATX boards're not justified for the usage of an HTPC;
* Onboard IGP is a no brainer since most of the motherboards for an HTPC will sport this feature. Henceforth, watch out for motherboards that has a DVI port and an HDMI port. This'll enable HDCP support and connecting your HTPC to an LCD or a Plasma TV much easier. Some of the manufacturers takes a step further by including the newer Display port although very few displays in the market has one!
* eSata port, optical & coaxial S/PDIF ports would certainly be added advantages;
Recommended:
1. Intel motherboards:
Intel accounts for some of the most stable motherboards and since the processors are not intended to be overclocked, these should be fine for an HTPC rig [an abit board is also included which features an HDMI header and onboard nvidia 7 series IGP]:
a. Intel DQ35JO [Intel Q35 chipset] - Rs. 6200
Intel® Desktop Board DQ35JO Overview
b. Intel DG33TL [Intel G33 chipset] - Rs. 5800 Intel® Desktop Board DG33TL Overview
c. Intel DG31PR [Intel G31 chipset] - Rs. 3750 Intel® Desktop Board DG31PR Overview
d. abit IN73-HD [nforce 630i chipset] - Rs. 4100 Universal abit > Motherboard, Digital Speakers, iDome, AirPace, Multimedia
e. Intel DG45ID [Intel G45 chipset] - Intel® Desktop Board DG45ID Overview
2. AMD motherboards:
a. Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H [AMD 780G chipset] - Rs. 4850
GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification - GA-MA78GM-S2H (rev.1.0)
b. Gigabyte GA-MA78SM-S2H [nVidia 8200 chipset] - Rs. 4750 GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification - GA-M78SM-S2H (rev. 1.0)
c. MSI K9A2GM-FD/FIH/FIH-S [AMD 780G chipset] - Rs. 4900 MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD.
d. M3A78-EMH HDMI [AMD 780G chipset] - Rs. 4900 ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
e. M3N78-EMH HDMI [nVidia 8200 chipset] -Rs. 4950 ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
[BREAK=.:Memory Requirements:.]
RAM:
* The more the RAM, [the merrier!!!] the better it is for encoding applications. For running a media centre OS like the Windows XP MCE or the Vista Home 32bit editon, at least 2 GB of dual channel DDR II RAM is recommended;
* If a 64bit OS [certainly an overkill for an htpc but nothing like it!!!] say the Vista Ultimate 64-bit is used, 4GB of RAM is advisable.
* Here, the brand-tag and the chips used do not account for a significant performance improvement as these systems are not going to be overclocked as mentioned before.
Recommended:
1. Transcend JetRam 2x1GB DDR II 800MHz - Rs. 1250
2. G.Skill 2x1GB DDR II 800MHz GBNQ - Rs. 2100 F2-6400CL5D-NQ (DDR2-800)
3. Transcend JetRam 2x2GB DDR II 800MHz - Rs. 2500
[BREAK=.:Hard Drives:.]
INTERNAL HARD DRIVE:
* Factors to consider when selecting a HDD, besides capacity, are performance (sustained read/write speeds), noise and heat dissipation, reliability and the warranty period.
* I've quoted some of the recent models in each drive capacity, in particular from the viewpoint of low noise and heat dissipation and high sustained data transfer rates.
* The capacity of the hard drives for an HTPC is purely based on user requirement as some may prefer storing more contents in an external hard drive or creating a backup of the same on an optical media [which've been covered in the forthcoming pages!!!]
* Although there may be identical hard drives, setting them up in RAID is totally left to the user's discretion. But please do note that setups like the RAID 0 (striping) leads to faster data transfer rates but very low reliability! RAID's generally not recommended on HTPC systems.
* Buffer or cache memory onboard these hard drives need not be given much importance although a minimum of 16MB is advisable. 32MB cache drives comes at an extra expense!
Recommended:
1. Seagate 7200.11 series ST3500320AS [with SD15 f/w] 500GB - Rs. 3250
Seagate Technology - Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3Gb/s 500-GB Hard Drive
2. Seagate 7200.11 series ST3750330AS [with SD15 f/w] 750GB - Rs. 5100 Seagate Technology - Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3Gb/s 750-GB Hard Drive
3. WD Caviar 640AAKS 640GB - Rs. 3800 WD Caviar SE16 640 GB SATA Hard Drives ( WD6400AAKS )
4. WD Caviar 750AAKS 750GB - Rs. 5000 WD Caviar SE16 750 GB SATA Hard Drives ( WD7500AAKS )
[BREAK=.:External Storage Media:.]
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE:
* For those who'd like to carry the contents around and lacks space for additional hard drives inside the enclosure, the external hard drives prove to be a no brainer.
* Their ease of functionality, instant backup feature, less (or almost no) installation hassles, portability, aesthetics etc. makes it a worthy contender in comparison to their internal counterparts.
* Moreover HTPCs do not require higher sustained data transfer rates, the primary usage being media and entertainment.
* Firewire has become the de facto standard in most external hard drives; eSATA though still in its grace period is gradually becoming popular since most enthusiasts prefer a motherboard with an eSata port and eSata cables're becoming pretty inexpensive by the day! But most external hard drives do not ship with an eSATA cable.
Recommended:
1. WD MyBook Home Edition 500GB [eSATA, 2xIEEE 1394a, USB 2.0] - Rs. 4800
My Book Home Edition 500 GB Hard Drives ( WDH1CS5000 )
2. WD MyBook Home Edition 750GB [eSATA, 2xIEEE 1394a, USB 2.0] - Rs. 6400 My Book Home Edition 750 GB Hard Drives ( WDH1CS7500 )
3. WD MyBook Home Edition 1TB [eSATA, 2xIEEE 1394a, USB] - Rs. 8000 My Book Home Edition 1 TB Hard Drives ( WDH1CS10000 )
4. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 500GB [USB 2.0, eSATA, IEEE1394] - Rs. 5000 Seagate Technology - FreeAgentâ„¢ Pro 500-GB USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire External Hard Drive
5. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750GB [USB 2.0, eSATA, IEEE1394] - Rs. 7000 Seagate Technology - FreeAgentâ„¢ Pro 750-GB USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire External Hard Drive
6. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 1TB [USB 2.0, eSATA, IEEE1394] - Rs. 8500 Seagate Technology - FreeAgentâ„¢ Pro External Hard Drive 1TB - USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire
[BREAK=.:Optical Storage Drive:.]
OPTICAL DRIVES:
* Some of the users may want to burn the content in an optical media [such as a DVD-R or a DVD-RW] for preserving it as a backup or in case they run out of space in the hard disks.
* The current price of the Blu-Ray burners [thanks to the never ending format wars!!!] makes it prohibitive enough for most users to stay out of reach of one.
* The new medium of the optical drive interface is Serial ATA [SATA in short!!!]. Although there's not much performance upgrade from the older IDE interface, the usage of a slimmer and a thinner SATA cable is justified and hence much less of an issue as far as cable management is concerned. Unlike most IDE based DVD writers that have a maximum bus transfer rate of 33MB/s to 66MB/s, the SATA drive features 150MB/s, 300MB/s and 600MB/s transfer rates for a much improved burst performance.
* Price of SATA DVD-Burners are diminishing by the day and a decent burner from Samsung/Sony/Lite-on costs not more than Rs. 1200. And the top-of-the-line models from NEC/Pioneer/Optiarc [Eg. Optiarc AD-7200A/Pioneer DVR-215/Pioneer DVR-115D etc.] are hard to fetch in the local Indian markets due to their very limited popularity [hence the non availability!!!] among Indian users.
* Nowadays most of the burners sport 22x burning speed but there is not a single medium available which enables burning at 22x speeds!!! [Heck!! not even 20x for that matter] And as a rule of thumb, the lower the speed with which the media're burnt, the better is the reliability and so is the life of the disc in the long run.
* Blu-ray burners are gradually making its presence felt in the optical media industry and among enthusiasts! Playstation 3 anyone? It can read Blu-ray discs and is sometimes referred to as the cheapest stand-alone BD player and yet the most successful gaming console ever sold with the almighty Cell processor within it! But the million dollar question is would everyone want to spend 24 grand just for the heck of reading BDs? For peeps who build such a system for their grandpas and grandmas would certainly want ease of use more than anything else and hence BD burners are recommended. One which stole the limelight recently was the LG GGWH20L which could read HD-DVDs in addition to burning BDs! This should make it into the shopping-list for those who're willing to splurge on a grand HTPC system!
Recommended:
1. Samsung SH203D - Rs. 1000 SAMSUNG ODD SERVICE
2. Samsung SH223F - Rs. 1100 SAMSUNG ODD SERVICE
3. LG GGWH20L - Rs. 8900 (special price at the Croma outlets!)
Details
Recommended Optical Burning Media:
1. Verbatim DVD+R 16x MII
2. Taiyo Yuden DVD+R 8X 4.7GB
3. TraxDATA DVD+R 4.7 GB
4. Samsung Pleomax DVD+R 4.7 GB[BREAK=.:Graphics card:.]
GRAPHICS CARD:
* The most important criteria for choosing a video card for HTPC are:
* Hardware assist for decoding HD contents (of all three formats MPEG-2, H.264, and VC-1)
* HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) support
* Picture quality
* HDMI support
* Single slot passive cooling
* No additional power requirement from the PSU
* HDMI video is compatible with the existing digital standard DVI and in fact one form can be converted to the other via a simple adapter. So there is nothing new. In contrast, HDMI audio completely takes over the aged digital standard S/PDIF which supports only stereo PCM and 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS. A graphics card with onboard HDMI eliminates the need of an additional DVI-to-HDMI converter and hence is a purchase worthwhile. Having told that, there are fewer cards in the nvidia segment that offers native HDMI support.
* HTPCs do not require high end graphics processing units [GPU] since most of the H264 decoding can be easily handled by most of the entry level graphics card segment. The 780G IGP onboard the ATI 780G based motherboards can easily handle 1080p HD with ease and eliminates the requirement of an additional graphics card.
* A single slot passive cooling is advisable since the 2-slot cooling renders most of the PCI and PCI-E 1x slots useless in mATX form factor motherboards; Passive cooling adds to the silence of the entire system.
* An ATI card with an onboard ATI 780G IGP can help the user enable ATI Hybrid Crossfire by virtue of which both the graphics processors [the IGP and the external GPU] can be utilized improving the quality of the output.
Recommended:
1. ASUS EAH3450/DI/256M [ATI 3450 with native HDMI output] - Rs. 2700
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
2. PowerColor HD 3450 256MB HDMI [ATI 3450 with native HDMI output] - Rs. 2750 |- Welcome to the PowerColor World -|
3. GeCube Radeon HD3450 256MB [ATI 3450 with native HDMI output] - Rs. 2650 GECUBE Internet, 3D Gaming&Entertainment
[BREAK=.ower Supply Unit:.]
POWER SUPPLY:
* An HTPC does not consume much power compared to a mid-end gaming PC. Practically speaking, it may consume a maximum of 300W if the HTPC runs at peak load with an X2 4800+ overclocked to 3G, 4 hard drives, 1 DVD burner, An ATI 3450 graphics card and a couple of fans.
* The most neglected component in any computer is its PSU!! A PSU should be given due importance as much as to any other component in the system since the PSU is the powerhouse of the system and is vital in the survival of the rest of the components.
* Although a generic PSU of 400W is sufficient enough to handle an HTPC rig, its advisable to go for an aftermarket PSU considering the reliability, silence of operation and minimal variations in the +5V and +12v rails during peak loads.
* The basic requirement for an HTPC would be a 450W PSU [Even a 350W PSU from a reputed PSU maker such as Antec would suffice!] Look for brands [in the order of priority!!!] from Corsair, Antec, Coolermaster, Powersafe, POV, Zebronics. Manufacturers like Gigabyte, Thermaltake etc are yet to introduce their PSUs in the Indian markets which've been already dominated with brands like Corsair, Antec and CM.
* Do refer this article I'd compiled on PSUs earlier: http://www.techenclave.com/pc-peripherals/all-you-need-know-about-choosing-111254.html
It has the A-to-Z explained about PSU and choosing the right one.
Recommended:
1. Corsair VX450W - Rs. 4000
Welcome to Corsair :: VX Power Supply Product Information
2. Coolermaster CM460W [RS-460-PCAR-A3] - Rs. 2200 Cooler Master - Ultimate provider of Computer Chassis | Cooler | Power Supply
3. VIP/Powersafe 400W [Gold] - Rs. 1400 VIP SMPS series :: Kunhar Peripherals Pvt Ltd
[BREAK=.:Input Devices:.]
INPUT DEVICES:
* Since most of the HTPCs use a large high definition LCD or a plasma display, a wireless keyboard and mouse is rather advisable than using cheap cables to extend the wired ones. It spoils the aesthetics of the leet setup. For anything below 24inchers, a wired keyboard and a mouse would suffice with a USB/PS2 connectivity.
* When opting for a wireless combo, make sure that a decent pair of rechargeable batteries is kept as a backup when the juice runs out; Most of the wireless combos available today are based on RF and Bluetooth so they drain the charge faster. Most high-end combos comes with a battery status indicator so as to identify when the last amp in the battery drains out!!
* Wireless combos come in basic versions from a no frills keyboard and optical mouse to customizable LCD displays, backlit keys and laser precision driven mouses with extra buttons!!! Choose your pick wisely.
Recommended:
1. Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90 [Media keys; RF] Rs. 1100 -
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard_mice_combos/devices/345&cl=in,en
2. Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 110 [Multimedia + programmable F-keys; RF- Rs. 2000 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard_mice_combos/devices/154&cl=in,en
3. Logitech Cordless Desktop® MX 5000 Laser [Programmable keys; LCD Display; MX laser engine; Bluetooth] Rs. 7500
4. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 700 [Media keys; RF] - Rs. 1400 Microsoft Mice & Keyboards - Wireless Optical Desktop 700
5. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 [MM keys; RF] - Rs. 1900 Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Hardware - Wireless Optical Desktop 1000
6. Microsoft Wireless Entertainment 7000 [Sleek KB; Laser technology; Bluetooth] - Rs. 6300 Microsoft Mice & Keyboards - Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000
[BREAK=.:Universal Remotes:.]
UNIVERSAL REMOTE:
* A universal remote is a remote control that can be programmed to operate various brands of one or more types of consumer electronics devices such as the AV receiver, the HTPC, the PVR, the pre-amp, the power-amp etc.
* Low-end universal remotes can only control a set number of devices determined by their manufacturer, while mid- and high-end universal remotes allow the user to program in new control codes to the remote.
* To be frank, an HTPC build is incomplete without a universal remote. You obviously would hate to have 5-to-6 remotes for each device and ending up in a confusion to take the right one and point at the device for operating it in a jiffy [for instance: reducing volume of the pr0n/changing the channel you're watching when your dad suddenly wakes up at the wake of midnight hour!!]
* Universal remotes comes at an expense!! They are available in wide varieties from a very basic model to exotic versions which features touch-screen LCDs, programmable chip onboard, wi-fi and bluetooth data transmission, phone-call attneding service etc. Take you pick based on the budget
Recommended:
1. Gyration GYR3101CA - [Price ~ Rs. 5000]
Gyration - Media Center Universal Remote Control (Windows Media Center Compatible)
Gyration - R4000 LCD Music Remote
2. Logitech Harmony 525 Universal Infrared Advanced Remote Control - Rs. 5000 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/371&cl=in,en
3. Logitech Harmony 885 Universal Infrared Advanced Remote Control - Rs 8900 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/372&cl=in,en
Note: Few remotes retail cheaper so that the operation is limited to a fewer no. of devices [excluding the PC since its mostly controlled by means of a w/l keyboard and mouse combo] say for eg. DVD player, a LCD/Plasma display unit & an Amplifier. Some of them seems to take an innovative step ahead and includes the functionality of the AC as well; [How cool is that!!! :brevet:] I've included some of them below.
PS: HTPC users with Universal remotes; pl pour ur inputs here;
[BREAK=.:TV Tuner Cards:.]
TV TUNER CARD:
*The TV tuner card [or a video capture card as in a layman's language!!] is a component that allows TV signals to be received by the computers, viewed and recorded onto a hard disk so that the program can be viewed later on at the user's discretion; this feature's also called the time-shift ability.
*An HTPC becomes a mere DVD player if it loses out on the TV tuner aspect since it may not facilitate recording of your favourite TV show, be it an EPL match between ManU & Arsenal [] or your mom's favourite cookery show or Ekta's 'K' soaps one may've missed out!!
*The market currently has 2 types of them as you may've known by now: the Internal & the External. They come in a number of different interfaces: as PCI-bus expansion cards, PCIe (PCI-Express) bus or as USB devices. Most of them encode the incoming signal and processes them into 2 separate streams video and audio [MPEG2]. Gone are those days when there were only analog TV tuners in the market. FM tuning is also possible in most of the mid & high-end tuners. Inputs found in most of these systems are a composite-in, Svideo-in and an FM-in. Some of them have RCA inputs for audio channels being received from a STB [Set Top Box].
*Some of the pioneering brands that've established themselves in this field are Hauppauge Computer Works, Pinnacle Systems, AVerMedia Technologies and Compro Technology. There're other run-of-the-mill entrants into this field such as Mercury, Intex, Tech-Com etc. which may not ber really worth the buck and may not be able to output the stream with appreciable video quality.
*The HTPC should ideally have an internal TV tuner card [with a PCI/PCI-E 1x interface; Dont forget the motherboard has an mATX form factor and that you may have already considered a separate single slot graphics solution and/or an additional audio card!!!]. The difference between the External and Internal ones are minimal with probably only an interface change [USB-to-PCI/PCI-E] and the external set-top-box in which they're enclosed [Rarely some of the external ones may not have the TV tuning feature]. Most of them've the same encoding properties with the external counterpart withdrawing some amount of CPU load. Most of them might feature an MCE [Media Centre Edition] compatible remote to be bundled with the package [Else a separate remote which's discussed latre makes a sensible investment!!!].
Recommended:
1. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1250 - Rs. 3000 -
WinTV-HVR-1250 Product overview
2. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1800 MCE Kit - Rs. 6000 - WinTV-HVR-1800 Product description
3. AVerMedia AVerTV Combo - [Rs. 6000] - Newegg.com - AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe MCE ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner Card w/MCE Remote & L-P Bracket - TV Tuners & Video Devices
PS: Users with TV tuner cards; pl pour ur inputs here;
[BREAK=.:Enclosure:.]
ENCLOSURE:
* HTPCs require an elegant enclosure to house the components unlike the run-of-the-mill home PC cabinets. Not only that it adds to the aesthetics, it also enables the user to place the HTPC unit in the table horizontally along with an AV receiver or the Amp.
* A majority of the enclosures supports the mATX form factor motherboards although with a few of them like the Zalman HD160 supporting the ATX form fatcor as well.
* Most of the enclosures are crafted from machined aluminium which accounts for the better lustre and the light-weightedness of the enclosure whereas low- to mid-end chassis' are made out of cold-rolled steel which's rather heavy. Removable HDD cages and Full ATX compatible PSU are visible in most of the models.
* A majority of the enclosures' front sport a round volume knob for controlling the volume, USB and Firewire ports on the front, an LCD and some of them even comes with a memory card reader apart from the usual power and reset buttons, LED indicators for hard-drive activity and the optical drive door.
Recommended:
1. Antec NSK 2480 - Rs 6500 -
Antec.com - New Solution Series
2. Antec Fusion 430 - Rs. 12000 - Antec.com - Veris
3. Zalman HD160 - [Price ~ Rs. 15000] ::: Zalman, leading the world of Quiet Computing Solutions :::
4. Thermaltake Mozart - [Price ~ Rs. 6500] Mozart - VC4001SNS
5. Zebronics Pro CUBE - Rs. 2200 - http://www.zebronics.net/pro_catlog.pdf
Note: The prices enclosed in square brackets of a product, indicate approximate prices converted from USD to INR based on the Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! prices for the same.
Pl pour in ur comments/suggestions/queries so that the article can be edited for better clarity.
Special thanx to Choas dada for his support; Also to mano for the suggestions;
Regards
Gannu
For TE;
I've compiled a comprehensive guide on building an HTPC based on several inputs which'll churn out the best price-to-performance.
Building the best gaming rig is easy. For a specified budget, you can argue about what graphics card, CPU or motherboards are better/faster/cheaper, but the fundamental goal remains the same - best performance with the best eye-candy you can afford to create a smoother gaming experience.
However, building an HTPC could be a daunting task!!! Its an entirely different genre, wherein selection of each component is crucial as it determines the performance, functionality, ease of operation, silence, reliability and the expenses incurred.
Primary goals an HTPC should achieve:
* Stream HD content [upto 1080p] flawlessly.
* Run cool n quiet.
* A repository for all downloaded contents which includes music, movies and games.
* A PVR or a Personal Video Recorder by virtue of which time-shifted viewing of your favorite TV shows is possible.
* Double up as a download rig, a net-surfing rig and occasionally as a light gaming rig as well.
* Attain Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio pass through to reciever.
[BREAK=.
latforms & Processors:.]Both the platforms, viz. Intel and AMD have processors and motherboards suited for an HTPC build; Choose your pick based on the budget and the requirements.
PROCESSOR:
The most demanding task an HTPC has to do is playing (i.e. decoding) H.264 encoded movies. It primarily depends on:
* CPU processing power and the clock speed.
* GPU's assist on the decoding process.
* Playback software and the video card driver used.
For that matter, a Quad-core processor [like the Q6600 or the Phenom 9500] is an overkill. Why??? Since decoding does not utilize the extra 2 cores onboard the Quad-core processors [however the reverse, encoding does and hence for encoding applications a quad-core suits the best!!!]
Recommended:
2. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e [2.5GHz 45W TDP ] - Rs. 3800 [Predicted approx price];
3. Intel Pentium Dual Core E 2160 [1.8 GHz 1MB L2 Cache] - Rs. 2700;
Note: The stock HSF for the processors performs decently well for an HTPC setup. Investing in an aftermarket cooler is not justified since the processor is not intended to be overclocked and this may result in excessive heat dissipation and noise [due to the aftermarket fan] and unwanted costs.
[BREAK=.:Motherboards:.]
MOTHERBOARD:
* While choosing a motherboard, ensure that it has an mATX form factor [even the mini-ITX form factor has made an appearance into the markets recently!!! read it here: http://www.techenclave.com/cpu-mobo-corner/j-w-has-mini-itx-780g-111680.html] ] so that it can be easily squeezed into an HTPC enclosure like the Antec Fusion series or the Zalman HD160; Moreover the additional PCI-E slots in the ATX boards're not justified for the usage of an HTPC;
* Onboard IGP is a no brainer since most of the motherboards for an HTPC will sport this feature. Henceforth, watch out for motherboards that has a DVI port and an HDMI port. This'll enable HDCP support and connecting your HTPC to an LCD or a Plasma TV much easier. Some of the manufacturers takes a step further by including the newer Display port although very few displays in the market has one!
* eSata port, optical & coaxial S/PDIF ports would certainly be added advantages;
Recommended:
1. Intel motherboards:
Intel accounts for some of the most stable motherboards and since the processors are not intended to be overclocked, these should be fine for an HTPC rig [an abit board is also included which features an HDMI header and onboard nvidia 7 series IGP]:
b. Intel DG33TL [Intel G33 chipset] - Rs. 5800 Intel® Desktop Board DG33TL Overview
c. Intel DG31PR [Intel G31 chipset] - Rs. 3750 Intel® Desktop Board DG31PR Overview
d. abit IN73-HD [nforce 630i chipset] - Rs. 4100 Universal abit > Motherboard, Digital Speakers, iDome, AirPace, Multimedia
e. Intel DG45ID [Intel G45 chipset] - Intel® Desktop Board DG45ID Overview
2. AMD motherboards:
b. Gigabyte GA-MA78SM-S2H [nVidia 8200 chipset] - Rs. 4750 GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification - GA-M78SM-S2H (rev. 1.0)
c. MSI K9A2GM-FD/FIH/FIH-S [AMD 780G chipset] - Rs. 4900 MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD.
d. M3A78-EMH HDMI [AMD 780G chipset] - Rs. 4900 ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
e. M3N78-EMH HDMI [nVidia 8200 chipset] -Rs. 4950 ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
[BREAK=.:Memory Requirements:.]
RAM:
* The more the RAM, [the merrier!!!
] the better it is for encoding applications. For running a media centre OS like the Windows XP MCE or the Vista Home 32bit editon, at least 2 GB of dual channel DDR II RAM is recommended;* If a 64bit OS [certainly an overkill for an htpc but nothing like it!!!] say the Vista Ultimate 64-bit is used, 4GB of RAM is advisable.
* Here, the brand-tag and the chips used do not account for a significant performance improvement as these systems are not going to be overclocked as mentioned before.
Recommended:
2. G.Skill 2x1GB DDR II 800MHz GBNQ - Rs. 2100 F2-6400CL5D-NQ (DDR2-800)
3. Transcend JetRam 2x2GB DDR II 800MHz - Rs. 2500
[BREAK=.:Hard Drives:.]
INTERNAL HARD DRIVE:
* Factors to consider when selecting a HDD, besides capacity, are performance (sustained read/write speeds), noise and heat dissipation, reliability and the warranty period.
* I've quoted some of the recent models in each drive capacity, in particular from the viewpoint of low noise and heat dissipation and high sustained data transfer rates.
* The capacity of the hard drives for an HTPC is purely based on user requirement as some may prefer storing more contents in an external hard drive or creating a backup of the same on an optical media [which've been covered in the forthcoming pages!!!
]* Although there may be identical hard drives, setting them up in RAID is totally left to the user's discretion. But please do note that setups like the RAID 0 (striping) leads to faster data transfer rates but very low reliability! RAID's generally not recommended on HTPC systems.
* Buffer or cache memory onboard these hard drives need not be given much importance although a minimum of 16MB is advisable. 32MB cache drives comes at an extra expense!
Recommended:
2. Seagate 7200.11 series ST3750330AS [with SD15 f/w] 750GB - Rs. 5100 Seagate Technology - Barracuda 7200.11 SATA 3Gb/s 750-GB Hard Drive
3. WD Caviar 640AAKS 640GB - Rs. 3800 WD Caviar SE16 640 GB SATA Hard Drives ( WD6400AAKS )
4. WD Caviar 750AAKS 750GB - Rs. 5000 WD Caviar SE16 750 GB SATA Hard Drives ( WD7500AAKS )
[BREAK=.:External Storage Media:.]
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE:
* For those who'd like to carry the contents around and lacks space for additional hard drives inside the enclosure, the external hard drives prove to be a no brainer.
* Their ease of functionality, instant backup feature, less (or almost no) installation hassles, portability, aesthetics etc. makes it a worthy contender in comparison to their internal counterparts.
* Moreover HTPCs do not require higher sustained data transfer rates, the primary usage being media and entertainment.
* Firewire has become the de facto standard in most external hard drives; eSATA though still in its grace period is gradually becoming popular since most enthusiasts prefer a motherboard with an eSata port and eSata cables're becoming pretty inexpensive by the day! But most external hard drives do not ship with an eSATA cable.
Recommended:
2. WD MyBook Home Edition 750GB [eSATA, 2xIEEE 1394a, USB 2.0] - Rs. 6400 My Book Home Edition 750 GB Hard Drives ( WDH1CS7500 )
3. WD MyBook Home Edition 1TB [eSATA, 2xIEEE 1394a, USB] - Rs. 8000 My Book Home Edition 1 TB Hard Drives ( WDH1CS10000 )
4. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 500GB [USB 2.0, eSATA, IEEE1394] - Rs. 5000 Seagate Technology - FreeAgentâ„¢ Pro 500-GB USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire External Hard Drive
5. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750GB [USB 2.0, eSATA, IEEE1394] - Rs. 7000 Seagate Technology - FreeAgentâ„¢ Pro 750-GB USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire External Hard Drive
6. Seagate FreeAgent Pro 1TB [USB 2.0, eSATA, IEEE1394] - Rs. 8500 Seagate Technology - FreeAgentâ„¢ Pro External Hard Drive 1TB - USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire
[BREAK=.:Optical Storage Drive:.]
OPTICAL DRIVES:
* Some of the users may want to burn the content in an optical media [such as a DVD-R or a DVD-RW] for preserving it as a backup or in case they run out of space in the hard disks.
* The current price of the Blu-Ray burners [thanks to the never ending format wars!!!] makes it prohibitive enough for most users to stay out of reach of one.
* The new medium of the optical drive interface is Serial ATA [SATA in short!!!]. Although there's not much performance upgrade from the older IDE interface, the usage of a slimmer and a thinner SATA cable is justified and hence much less of an issue as far as cable management is concerned. Unlike most IDE based DVD writers that have a maximum bus transfer rate of 33MB/s to 66MB/s, the SATA drive features 150MB/s, 300MB/s and 600MB/s transfer rates for a much improved burst performance.
* Price of SATA DVD-Burners are diminishing by the day and a decent burner from Samsung/Sony/Lite-on costs not more than Rs. 1200. And the top-of-the-line models from NEC/Pioneer/Optiarc [Eg. Optiarc AD-7200A/Pioneer DVR-215/Pioneer DVR-115D etc.] are hard to fetch in the local Indian markets due to their very limited popularity [hence the non availability!!!] among Indian users.
* Nowadays most of the burners sport 22x burning speed but there is not a single medium available which enables burning at 22x speeds!!! [Heck!! not even 20x for that matter
] And as a rule of thumb, the lower the speed with which the media're burnt, the better is the reliability and so is the life of the disc in the long run.* Blu-ray burners are gradually making its presence felt in the optical media industry and among enthusiasts! Playstation 3 anyone? It can read Blu-ray discs and is sometimes referred to as the cheapest stand-alone BD player and yet the most successful gaming console ever sold with the almighty Cell processor within it! But the million dollar question is would everyone want to spend 24 grand just for the heck of reading BDs? For peeps who build such a system for their grandpas and grandmas would certainly want ease of use more than anything else and hence BD burners are recommended. One which stole the limelight recently was the LG GGWH20L which could read HD-DVDs in addition to burning BDs! This should make it into the shopping-list for those who're willing to splurge on a grand HTPC system!
Recommended:
1. Samsung SH203D - Rs. 1000 SAMSUNG ODD SERVICE
2. Samsung SH223F - Rs. 1100 SAMSUNG ODD SERVICE
3. LG GGWH20L - Rs. 8900 (special price at the Croma outlets!)
Details
Recommended Optical Burning Media:
2. Taiyo Yuden DVD+R 8X 4.7GB
3. TraxDATA DVD+R 4.7 GB
4. Samsung Pleomax DVD+R 4.7 GB
GRAPHICS CARD:
* The most important criteria for choosing a video card for HTPC are:
* Hardware assist for decoding HD contents (of all three formats MPEG-2, H.264, and VC-1)
* HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) support
* Picture quality
* HDMI support
* Single slot passive cooling
* No additional power requirement from the PSU
* HDMI video is compatible with the existing digital standard DVI and in fact one form can be converted to the other via a simple adapter. So there is nothing new. In contrast, HDMI audio completely takes over the aged digital standard S/PDIF which supports only stereo PCM and 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS. A graphics card with onboard HDMI eliminates the need of an additional DVI-to-HDMI converter and hence is a purchase worthwhile. Having told that, there are fewer cards in the nvidia segment that offers native HDMI support.
* HTPCs do not require high end graphics processing units [GPU] since most of the H264 decoding can be easily handled by most of the entry level graphics card segment. The 780G IGP onboard the ATI 780G based motherboards can easily handle 1080p HD with ease and eliminates the requirement of an additional graphics card.
* A single slot passive cooling is advisable since the 2-slot cooling renders most of the PCI and PCI-E 1x slots useless in mATX form factor motherboards; Passive cooling adds to the silence of the entire system.
* An ATI card with an onboard ATI 780G IGP can help the user enable ATI Hybrid Crossfire by virtue of which both the graphics processors [the IGP and the external GPU] can be utilized improving the quality of the output.
Recommended:
2. PowerColor HD 3450 256MB HDMI [ATI 3450 with native HDMI output] - Rs. 2750 |- Welcome to the PowerColor World -|
3. GeCube Radeon HD3450 256MB [ATI 3450 with native HDMI output] - Rs. 2650 GECUBE Internet, 3D Gaming&Entertainment
[BREAK=.
ower Supply Unit:.]POWER SUPPLY:
* An HTPC does not consume much power compared to a mid-end gaming PC. Practically speaking, it may consume a maximum of 300W if the HTPC runs at peak load with an X2 4800+ overclocked to 3G, 4 hard drives, 1 DVD burner, An ATI 3450 graphics card and a couple of fans.
* The most neglected component in any computer is its PSU!! A PSU should be given due importance as much as to any other component in the system since the PSU is the powerhouse of the system and is vital in the survival of the rest of the components.
* Although a generic PSU of 400W is sufficient enough to handle an HTPC rig, its advisable to go for an aftermarket PSU considering the reliability, silence of operation and minimal variations in the +5V and +12v rails during peak loads.
* The basic requirement for an HTPC would be a 450W PSU [Even a 350W PSU from a reputed PSU maker such as Antec would suffice!] Look for brands [in the order of priority!!!] from Corsair, Antec, Coolermaster, Powersafe, POV, Zebronics. Manufacturers like Gigabyte, Thermaltake etc are yet to introduce their PSUs in the Indian markets which've been already dominated with brands like Corsair, Antec and CM.
* Do refer this article I'd compiled on PSUs earlier: http://www.techenclave.com/pc-peripherals/all-you-need-know-about-choosing-111254.html
It has the A-to-Z explained about PSU and choosing the right one.
Recommended:
2. Coolermaster CM460W [RS-460-PCAR-A3] - Rs. 2200 Cooler Master - Ultimate provider of Computer Chassis | Cooler | Power Supply
3. VIP/Powersafe 400W [Gold] - Rs. 1400 VIP SMPS series :: Kunhar Peripherals Pvt Ltd
[BREAK=.:Input Devices:.]
INPUT DEVICES:
* Since most of the HTPCs use a large high definition LCD or a plasma display, a wireless keyboard and mouse is rather advisable than using cheap cables to extend the wired ones. It spoils the aesthetics of the leet setup. For anything below 24inchers, a wired keyboard and a mouse would suffice with a USB/PS2 connectivity.
* When opting for a wireless combo, make sure that a decent pair of rechargeable batteries is kept as a backup when the juice runs out; Most of the wireless combos available today are based on RF and Bluetooth so they drain the charge faster. Most high-end combos comes with a battery status indicator so as to identify when the last amp in the battery drains out!!
* Wireless combos come in basic versions from a no frills keyboard and optical mouse to customizable LCD displays, backlit keys and laser precision driven mouses with extra buttons!!! Choose your pick wisely.
Recommended:
2. Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 110 [Multimedia + programmable F-keys; RF- Rs. 2000 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard_mice_combos/devices/154&cl=in,en
3. Logitech Cordless Desktop® MX 5000 Laser [Programmable keys; LCD Display; MX laser engine; Bluetooth] Rs. 7500
4. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 700 [Media keys; RF] - Rs. 1400 Microsoft Mice & Keyboards - Wireless Optical Desktop 700
5. Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 [MM keys; RF] - Rs. 1900 Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Hardware - Wireless Optical Desktop 1000
6. Microsoft Wireless Entertainment 7000 [Sleek KB; Laser technology; Bluetooth] - Rs. 6300 Microsoft Mice & Keyboards - Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000
[BREAK=.:Universal Remotes:.]
UNIVERSAL REMOTE:
* A universal remote is a remote control that can be programmed to operate various brands of one or more types of consumer electronics devices such as the AV receiver, the HTPC, the PVR, the pre-amp, the power-amp etc.
* Low-end universal remotes can only control a set number of devices determined by their manufacturer, while mid- and high-end universal remotes allow the user to program in new control codes to the remote.
* To be frank, an HTPC build is incomplete without a universal remote. You obviously would hate to have 5-to-6 remotes for each device and ending up in a confusion to take the right one and point at the device for operating it in a jiffy [for instance: reducing volume of the pr0n/changing the channel you're watching when your dad suddenly wakes up at the wake of midnight hour!!
] * Universal remotes comes at an expense!! They are available in wide varieties from a very basic model to exotic versions which features touch-screen LCDs, programmable chip onboard, wi-fi and bluetooth data transmission, phone-call attneding service etc. Take you pick based on the budget
Recommended:
2. Logitech Harmony 525 Universal Infrared Advanced Remote Control - Rs. 5000 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/371&cl=in,en
3. Logitech Harmony 885 Universal Infrared Advanced Remote Control - Rs 8900 http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/372&cl=in,en
Note: Few remotes retail cheaper so that the operation is limited to a fewer no. of devices [excluding the PC since its mostly controlled by means of a w/l keyboard and mouse combo] say for eg. DVD player, a LCD/Plasma display unit & an Amplifier. Some of them seems to take an innovative step ahead and includes the functionality of the AC as well; [How cool is that!!! :brevet:] I've included some of them below.
PS: HTPC users with Universal remotes; pl pour ur inputs here;
[BREAK=.:TV Tuner Cards:.]
TV TUNER CARD:
*The TV tuner card [or a video capture card as in a layman's language!!] is a component that allows TV signals to be received by the computers, viewed and recorded onto a hard disk so that the program can be viewed later on at the user's discretion; this feature's also called the time-shift ability.
*An HTPC becomes a mere DVD player if it loses out on the TV tuner aspect since it may not facilitate recording of your favourite TV show, be it an EPL match between ManU & Arsenal [
] or your mom's favourite cookery show or Ekta's 'K' soaps one may've missed out!! *The market currently has 2 types of them as you may've known by now: the Internal & the External. They come in a number of different interfaces: as PCI-bus expansion cards, PCIe (PCI-Express) bus or as USB devices. Most of them encode the incoming signal and processes them into 2 separate streams video and audio [MPEG2]. Gone are those days when there were only analog TV tuners in the market. FM tuning is also possible in most of the mid & high-end tuners. Inputs found in most of these systems are a composite-in, Svideo-in and an FM-in. Some of them have RCA inputs for audio channels being received from a STB [Set Top Box].
*Some of the pioneering brands that've established themselves in this field are Hauppauge Computer Works, Pinnacle Systems, AVerMedia Technologies and Compro Technology. There're other run-of-the-mill entrants into this field such as Mercury, Intex, Tech-Com etc. which may not ber really worth the buck and may not be able to output the stream with appreciable video quality.
*The HTPC should ideally have an internal TV tuner card [with a PCI/PCI-E 1x interface; Dont forget the motherboard has an mATX form factor and that you may have already considered a separate single slot graphics solution and/or an additional audio card!!!]. The difference between the External and Internal ones are minimal with probably only an interface change [USB-to-PCI/PCI-E] and the external set-top-box in which they're enclosed [Rarely some of the external ones may not have the TV tuning feature]. Most of them've the same encoding properties with the external counterpart withdrawing some amount of CPU load. Most of them might feature an MCE [Media Centre Edition] compatible remote to be bundled with the package [Else a separate remote which's discussed latre makes a sensible investment!!!].
Recommended:
2. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR 1800 MCE Kit - Rs. 6000 - WinTV-HVR-1800 Product description
3. AVerMedia AVerTV Combo - [Rs. 6000] - Newegg.com - AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe MCE ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner Card w/MCE Remote & L-P Bracket - TV Tuners & Video Devices
PS: Users with TV tuner cards; pl pour ur inputs here;
[BREAK=.:Enclosure:.]
ENCLOSURE:
* HTPCs require an elegant enclosure to house the components unlike the run-of-the-mill home PC cabinets. Not only that it adds to the aesthetics, it also enables the user to place the HTPC unit in the table horizontally along with an AV receiver or the Amp.
* A majority of the enclosures supports the mATX form factor motherboards although with a few of them like the Zalman HD160 supporting the ATX form fatcor as well.
* Most of the enclosures are crafted from machined aluminium which accounts for the better lustre and the light-weightedness of the enclosure whereas low- to mid-end chassis' are made out of cold-rolled steel which's rather heavy. Removable HDD cages and Full ATX compatible PSU are visible in most of the models.
* A majority of the enclosures' front sport a round volume knob for controlling the volume, USB and Firewire ports on the front, an LCD and some of them even comes with a memory card reader apart from the usual power and reset buttons, LED indicators for hard-drive activity and the optical drive door.
Recommended:
2. Antec Fusion 430 - Rs. 12000 - Antec.com - Veris
3. Zalman HD160 - [Price ~ Rs. 15000] ::: Zalman, leading the world of Quiet Computing Solutions :::
4. Thermaltake Mozart - [Price ~ Rs. 6500] Mozart - VC4001SNS
5. Zebronics Pro CUBE - Rs. 2200 - http://www.zebronics.net/pro_catlog.pdf
Note: The prices enclosed in square brackets of a product, indicate approximate prices converted from USD to INR based on the Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! prices for the same.
Pl pour in ur comments/suggestions/queries so that the article can be edited for better clarity.
Special thanx to Choas dada for his support; Also to mano for the suggestions;
Regards
Gannu
For TE;
