Built my first HTPC What do you think I'm missing?

1046 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by vwgti, Mar 17, 2009

gex80

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2009

Okay I finally built my first HTPC. I really didn't look at many examples and basically put what I felt a HTPC should have. What do you think?
Antec New Solution NSK2480

XFX MIA78S8209 AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz
Antec Mult-Station Elite Internal IR receiver w/ VFD and remote
2GB of DDR2(will soon be 4.)
seagate 1.5TB
windows xp with XBMC
Vista with Media Center.
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1
500 Watt BFG PSU

The only thing I don't have in there is a TV tuner because in order to record all channels with Verizon fios you need a cable card and the only way to obtain one for the computer is through an OEM built computer.

As for the quad core, it is needed because we are saving the iso's of over 500 dvds to the HDD so we want it to rip at a decent speed.

Also two version of windows is installed because i'm letting my parents decide whether they like xbmc or WMC.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

EvilGenius007

· #2 · Mar 15, 2009

Did you already order your motherboard? 780G or 790GX chipsets might be a bit better at HD playback if that's of concern. The 780G might also be overlockable in a relatively large case like that.

Gigabyte 780G board $70 after rebate

DuckieHo

· #3 · Mar 15, 2009

The Antec Media Station is only $69 shipped at Buy.com: http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-multim...208285981.html

I just got one but my just selling it since my plans have changed.

Weedvender

· #4 · Mar 15, 2009

A 780G chipset will be a lot better. I have tried both the 8200 and the HD3200~3300 and in a pinch, I would get the HD3200 in a heart beat. The 8200 is really.... er... crap for Integrated. At least I can play COD4 with the HD3200 overclocked to 750mhz. And it will handle any HD video you throw at it. You can even skimp on the processor since a basic Sempron will be able to handle the HD video content with the 780G chipset.

Oh and dont get this one:
http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Mothe...2758#anchor_os
Avoid like the plague. Overvolts me like crazy. Was glad to get rid of it.

Mr Bear

· #5 · Mar 15, 2009

Why not convert the dvd's to avi's or x.264? Save lots of space and have the same quality.

conductor609

· #6 · Mar 15, 2009

2

If you're ripping over 500 dvds at 4gb each wouldn't that be over 2tb

You may want to look into getting more hdd space

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gex80

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 16, 2009

6

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilGenius007

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Did you already order your motherboard? 780G or 790GX chipsets might be a bit better at HD playback if that's of concern. The 780G might also be overlockable in a relatively large case like that.

Gigabyte 780G board $70 after rebate

The thing is micro center didn't have a big selection. And J&R was the only other store that had boards that fit and were decent. Plus There is no need to over clock. it's not being used for games or anything. Overclocking will speed up the dvd rips though but I have trouble with my Intel and I hear amd is different. But yea I already bought the parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo

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The Antec Media Station is only $69 shipped at Buy.com: http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-multim...208285981.html

I just got one but my just selling it since my plans have changed.

I wanted order everything from the net since it would be cheaper in some respects. but my father is the type who doesn't like to order. He is the if I can go to the store and get it now for only a few dollars difference then he will

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Bear

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Why not convert the dvd's to avi's or x.264? Save lots of space and have the same quality.

Cause this is for my parents. That and they wanna rip menus and what not. Plus my father likes dvd shrink. Doesn't want to use anything else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by conductor609

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If you're ripping over 500 dvds at 4gb each wouldn't that be over 2tb

You may want to look into getting more hdd space

I eventually will. I told him about that but he says just throw another HDD in there and call it a day when that time comes. Hey it's his and he is gonna be the one doin it.

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Mr Bear

· #8 · Mar 16, 2009

Well.. especially for newer movies, DVD shrink is not necessarily the way to go. There is way too much compression of the files and there is too much loss. Most of the movies I rip, do not have the menu's or special features due to this. But whatever flys your pig.

darksideleader

· #9 · Mar 16, 2009

i prefer newer tech:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103648

wonder if the faster tri-core cpu can compensate over the missing core when comparing the performance to the 9850.

hawaiian_geek

· #10 · Mar 16, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Bear

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Well.. especially for newer movies, DVD shrink is not necessarily the way to go. There is way too much compression of the files and there is too much loss. Most of the movies I rip, do not have the menu's or special features due to this. But whatever flys your pig.

DVD Shrink isn't the problem when it comes to ripping newer DVD movies. To rip encrypted DVD movies one would have to use the latest DVDFAB HD DECRYPTER program to do the ripping.

DVD Shrink hasn't been updated in years and is still the best freebie software to use when it comes to compressing video files to fit a single layer dvd disc.

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craigap

· #11 · Mar 16, 2009

Also, because you are ripping to a HDD and not trying to burn to a single layer disc you can turn off the compression part of DVDshrink and maintain the quality in its entirety. I too use Dfab HD Decrypter in those cases where DVDshrink won't work.

hawaiian_geek

· #12 · Mar 16, 2009

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigap

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Also, because you are ripping to a HDD and not trying to burn to a single layer disc you can turn off the compression part of DVDshrink and maintain the quality in its entirety. I too use Dfab HD Decrypter in those cases where DVDshrink won't work.

FYI DVD SHRINK is not for ripping DVD files, all it's for is to compress video files. The reason why it can't rip encrypted dvd files is because it's no longer updated by the author. Who by the way went to work for NERO BURN.

DVDFAB HD DECRYPTER is used to rip DVD files because of the newer encryption codes on newer dvd movies.

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craigap

· #13 · Mar 16, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawaiian_geek

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FYI DVD SHRINK is not for ripping DVD files, all it's for is to compress video files.

In my experience it will rip most of them.

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hawaiian_geek

· #14 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigap

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In my experience it will rip most of them.

Sure dvd movies that DON'T HAVE the LATEST COPY ENCRYPTION DVD SHRINK can rip them or if you're ripping a single layer dvd disc that's already been converted via DVD SHRINK.

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craigap

· #15 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawaiian_geek

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Sure dvd movies that DON'T HAVE the LATEST COPY ENCRYPTION DVD SHRINK can rip them or if you're ripping a single layer dvd disc that's already been converted via DVD SHRINK.

DVD shrink has built-in decryption algorithms too. But like you said it hasn't been updated in a while.

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vwgti

· #16 · Mar 17, 2009

ANYDVD and dvdshrink, great combination.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

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