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Episode One: Origins
Why build a Home Theatre PC?
Personally, I've been fascinated by the technology and genre of HTPC since I completed my first PC in summer of 2001. My interest, in fact, practically predates the naming of the genre. My first PC was built for a dorm room and included a DVD drive (in this era before software was commonly distributed on DVD, it was solely intended for movie playback) and a S-Video output on my video card. The first PCI card I later installed was even a TV tuner. While that system never grew beyond these humble aspirations, it showed me the great potential in this area.
Determining My HTPC Goals
Before selecting, let alone purchasing, components, I decided to determine what functions I wanted my HTPC to perform, and which I wanted to emphasize. It's worth noting that HTPC has become sort of a catch-all term for computers connected to non-computer audio and/or video equipment, or existing in the living room to serve practically any non-traditional computer purpose, so simply saying "HTPC" may not correctly emphasize one particular individual's intended area(s) of functionality.
I figure it would be useful to rate my goals on a scale of 0-5.
5- This functionality will be my guiding principal in all decisions
4- This functionality is highly important and I would prefer not to sacrifice it
3- This functionality should be present given reasonable compatibility with my other goals
2- If this functionality is present it will probably be used
1- If this functionality is present it may be used
0- This functionality is insignificant
Video features:
*Playing DVD: 4
*Playing Blu-Ray: 3
*Playing HD-DVD: 1
*Playing archived video files at up to 1080p: 5
Audio features:
*High-quality output for external amplifier: 1
*Multi-channel positional output for 5.1/7.1 audio: 3
PVR (Tivo-esque) features:
*Scheduled recording & playback of HD signals: 4
*Time-shifting of "live" TV: 3
*Simultaneous recording & time-shifting: 1
*Viewing and recording a combined total of more than 2 HD channels simultaneously: 0
Storage features:
*Store compressed audio files: 1
*Store uncompressed audio files: 4
*Store compressed video: 4
*Store high-def video: 3
*Read from SD/MMD/Compact Flash etc: 2
"Computing" features:
*Browse web & send/read e-mail: 5
*Archive CDs/DVDs: 3
*Archive Blu-Ray discs: 2
*Archive HD-DVD discs: 1
*Burn DVD (+R, -R, DL): 4
Gaming features:
*Play "classic" video games: 4
*Play "modern" video games: 1
*Play "latest" video games: 0
Network features:
*Playing streaming internet video (Hulu, YouTube): 5
*Play streaming internet/local audio (Pandora): 5
*Play streaming local compressed video: 4
*Play streaming local high-def video: 2
*Serve streaming audio: 1
*Serve streaming video: 0
Aesthetic features:
*Small physical footprint: 5
*Attractive/professional appearance: 4
*Outward appearance indistinguishable from home audio/video components: 0
*Low noise levels: 4
*Low power consumption: 2
You could also create ratings for specific types of connectivity, but a 5 point system is probably overkill for that. There are types of connections you absolutely HAVE to have, those you'd like to have if you can get them, and types you care nothing about (which should only be legacy & highly specialized or proprietary connections).
Selecting Components
With a firm grasp on my goals, I can focus on the following primary goals as I search through the wide range of components available.
*Playing archived video files at up to 1080p
*Browse web & send/read e-mail
*Playing streaming internet video (Hulu, YouTube)
*Play streaming internet/local audio (Pandora)
*Small physical footprint
Since I want a machine that can handle e-mail, Hulu, and Pandora I can rule out commercial PVRs and video-file playback devices. Because I desire a small footprint machine, I can quickly narrow my search to microATX and smaller systems/components. Looking at my "power" requirements, I can eliminate anything smaller than mini ITX as nothing below that seems likely to handle 1080p playback, even from non-DRMed files. Between micro ATX and mini ITX the differences in chipset availability, chassis variety, and expandability is pretty significant. Mini ITX may win in size, but it loses in the other relevant categories.
Choosing a micro ATX motherboard was easily the hardest part of the build process so far. I ended up with the BioStar TA790GX XE due to its moderate cost ($95 at NewEgg), 790GX Northbridge (with an onboard integrated GPU that should be powerful enough to handle 1080p and support for Hybrid CrossFire if I choose to upgrade to do some gaming), and the fact that AMD CPUs across most of the mid-range are 25% cheaper than their Intel competitors. My main complaint about this board is that it has 2 PCI slots and only 1 PCI-Express x1 slot, instead of the reverse. It also lacks a rear e-SATA connection and an internal firewire header. However, I could not find any mobo with exactly the features I wanted and the BioStar board was over $50 cheaper than a similar DFI LanParty Jr. board. Wanting a moderately powerful, but inexpensive and preferably low heat / energy efficient CPU, I settled on the AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 2.7GHz Dual Core ($57 at NewEgg after discount) which had a small die size (65nm), not-excessive thermal power (95W) and more cache than some other chips in the same price range.
Memory was an incredibly easy decision once I found Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5 2x2GB DDR2 800 for only $20 at NewEgg, after a rebate. And while I considered many different slim microATX enclosures, in the end I went with the Rosewill R379-SM ($50 at NewEgg) as one of the few models in that price range to offer a 300W power supply and also for the convenience/accessibility afforded by the removal drive tray.
With a 250GB HD, SATA DVD-RW DL, and USB 802.11g wireless adapter on-hand, I was able to get my HTPC started for only $232 (after shipping, discounts, sales & rebates). In the next installment I intend to cover assembly, OS selection & installation, and review the components purchased so far, as well as outline my upcoming plans for "Harrison".
Episode One: Origins
Why build a Home Theatre PC?
Personally, I've been fascinated by the technology and genre of HTPC since I completed my first PC in summer of 2001. My interest, in fact, practically predates the naming of the genre. My first PC was built for a dorm room and included a DVD drive (in this era before software was commonly distributed on DVD, it was solely intended for movie playback) and a S-Video output on my video card. The first PCI card I later installed was even a TV tuner. While that system never grew beyond these humble aspirations, it showed me the great potential in this area.
Determining My HTPC Goals
Before selecting, let alone purchasing, components, I decided to determine what functions I wanted my HTPC to perform, and which I wanted to emphasize. It's worth noting that HTPC has become sort of a catch-all term for computers connected to non-computer audio and/or video equipment, or existing in the living room to serve practically any non-traditional computer purpose, so simply saying "HTPC" may not correctly emphasize one particular individual's intended area(s) of functionality.
I figure it would be useful to rate my goals on a scale of 0-5.
5- This functionality will be my guiding principal in all decisions
4- This functionality is highly important and I would prefer not to sacrifice it
3- This functionality should be present given reasonable compatibility with my other goals
2- If this functionality is present it will probably be used
1- If this functionality is present it may be used
0- This functionality is insignificant
Video features:
*Playing DVD: 4
*Playing Blu-Ray: 3
*Playing HD-DVD: 1
*Playing archived video files at up to 1080p: 5
Audio features:
*High-quality output for external amplifier: 1
*Multi-channel positional output for 5.1/7.1 audio: 3
PVR (Tivo-esque) features:
*Scheduled recording & playback of HD signals: 4
*Time-shifting of "live" TV: 3
*Simultaneous recording & time-shifting: 1
*Viewing and recording a combined total of more than 2 HD channels simultaneously: 0
Storage features:
*Store compressed audio files: 1
*Store uncompressed audio files: 4
*Store compressed video: 4
*Store high-def video: 3
*Read from SD/MMD/Compact Flash etc: 2
"Computing" features:
*Browse web & send/read e-mail: 5
*Archive CDs/DVDs: 3
*Archive Blu-Ray discs: 2
*Archive HD-DVD discs: 1
*Burn DVD (+R, -R, DL): 4
Gaming features:
*Play "classic" video games: 4
*Play "modern" video games: 1
*Play "latest" video games: 0
Network features:
*Playing streaming internet video (Hulu, YouTube): 5
*Play streaming internet/local audio (Pandora): 5
*Play streaming local compressed video: 4
*Play streaming local high-def video: 2
*Serve streaming audio: 1
*Serve streaming video: 0
Aesthetic features:
*Small physical footprint: 5
*Attractive/professional appearance: 4
*Outward appearance indistinguishable from home audio/video components: 0
*Low noise levels: 4
*Low power consumption: 2
You could also create ratings for specific types of connectivity, but a 5 point system is probably overkill for that. There are types of connections you absolutely HAVE to have, those you'd like to have if you can get them, and types you care nothing about (which should only be legacy & highly specialized or proprietary connections).
Selecting Components
With a firm grasp on my goals, I can focus on the following primary goals as I search through the wide range of components available.
*Playing archived video files at up to 1080p
*Browse web & send/read e-mail
*Playing streaming internet video (Hulu, YouTube)
*Play streaming internet/local audio (Pandora)
*Small physical footprint
Since I want a machine that can handle e-mail, Hulu, and Pandora I can rule out commercial PVRs and video-file playback devices. Because I desire a small footprint machine, I can quickly narrow my search to microATX and smaller systems/components. Looking at my "power" requirements, I can eliminate anything smaller than mini ITX as nothing below that seems likely to handle 1080p playback, even from non-DRMed files. Between micro ATX and mini ITX the differences in chipset availability, chassis variety, and expandability is pretty significant. Mini ITX may win in size, but it loses in the other relevant categories.
Choosing a micro ATX motherboard was easily the hardest part of the build process so far. I ended up with the BioStar TA790GX XE due to its moderate cost ($95 at NewEgg), 790GX Northbridge (with an onboard integrated GPU that should be powerful enough to handle 1080p and support for Hybrid CrossFire if I choose to upgrade to do some gaming), and the fact that AMD CPUs across most of the mid-range are 25% cheaper than their Intel competitors. My main complaint about this board is that it has 2 PCI slots and only 1 PCI-Express x1 slot, instead of the reverse. It also lacks a rear e-SATA connection and an internal firewire header. However, I could not find any mobo with exactly the features I wanted and the BioStar board was over $50 cheaper than a similar DFI LanParty Jr. board. Wanting a moderately powerful, but inexpensive and preferably low heat / energy efficient CPU, I settled on the AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 2.7GHz Dual Core ($57 at NewEgg after discount) which had a small die size (65nm), not-excessive thermal power (95W) and more cache than some other chips in the same price range.
Memory was an incredibly easy decision once I found Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5 2x2GB DDR2 800 for only $20 at NewEgg, after a rebate. And while I considered many different slim microATX enclosures, in the end I went with the Rosewill R379-SM ($50 at NewEgg) as one of the few models in that price range to offer a 300W power supply and also for the convenience/accessibility afforded by the removal drive tray.
With a 250GB HD, SATA DVD-RW DL, and USB 802.11g wireless adapter on-hand, I was able to get my HTPC started for only $232 (after shipping, discounts, sales & rebates). In the next installment I intend to cover assembly, OS selection & installation, and review the components purchased so far, as well as outline my upcoming plans for "Harrison".