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+--- Thread: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? (/showthread.php?tid=94199)
- eskro - 2011-11-10
if your going with the APEX case there,
dont buy that GT210 gpu card...
HeatSink too big, wont fit...
again, i suggest the card thats listed in my GUIDE...
CELERON G530 is good enough too,,, no need to pay more here...
16GB USB Flash drive is overKill!!
the rest looks good!
- shadow_cruiser - 2011-11-10
eskro Wrote:if your going with the APEX case there,
dont buy that GT210 gpu card...
HeatSink too big, wont fit...
again, i suggest the card thats listed in my GUIDE...
CELERON G530 is good enough too,,, no need to pay more here...
16GB USB Flash drive is overKill!!
the rest looks good!
I want to buy everything from one place to save on shipping. The zotac gt210 isn't available locally and not available on ncix's site. Is there a different video card you suggest or a different case that will fit the gt210?. The celeron G530 is on backorder with no eta for arrival, the G540 is only $5 more so I said why not
. The 16GB USB is $20 off right now making it $9.99, can't pass that up even if it's overkill!
- eskro - 2011-11-10
EVGA GeForce GT 210
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=60806&vpn=512-P3-1311-KR&manufacture=eVGA
$34.99 price match link
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130605&nm_mc=OTC-sho6b0tCA&cm_mmc=OTC-sho6b0tCA-_-Video+Cards-_-EVGA-_-14130605
- shadow_cruiser - 2011-11-10
eskro Wrote:EVGA GeForce GT 210
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=60806&vpn=512-P3-1311-KR&manufacture=eVGA
$34.99 price match link
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130605&nm_mc=OTC-sho6b0tCA&cm_mmc=OTC-sho6b0tCA-_-Video+Cards-_-EVGA-_-14130605
Awesome, ordering now!. Thank you very much from one canadian to another
- eskro - 2011-11-10
my pleasure! tell us how it goes for ya!
- crashnburn - 2011-11-10
Eskro - Any thoughts here? Please guide?
Q1: Can any of the options in the above groups run XBMC / OpenELEC at 2560x1600 native resolution via DVI-D (for a 30" LCD) that I have ?
If so, I'd prefer to try one of the Slim Zotac / Apple TV like box that does that.
Q2: What is good "Enough" hardware from the MacMini lineup with HDMI & DVD drive for Group 3 from your HTPC Categories?
That can be made or is equivalent of ATV1 + Crystal HD? i.e. Group 3 from your HTPC Categories.
- The objective is to be as powerful as this for playing movies from Server.
- But also if I have DVD drive, my parents could just pop in a DVD & play directly.
Additional Feature :
- I could even set it up to RIP the DVDs when inserted?
PS: This looks nice.. but too expensive - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/sys/2677054219.html
Something less powerful or not as new but EQUIVALENT to play the Group 3 stuff would be good enough. So which OLD MacMini hardware can it go down to?
OR
Q3: If there is hardware thats slim/ small enough like MacMini or similar size from something like Zotac, that also has a slim DVD/ Optical drive / space to insert one ?
- eskro - 2011-11-10
crashnburn Wrote:Q3: If there is hardware thats slim/ small enough like MacMini or similar size from something like Zotac, that also has a slim DVD/ Optical drive / space to insert one ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173024
Thank you for this thread! - realitybytez - 2011-11-11
I appreciate all of your hard work. Maybe I am a little different from the typical XBMC user, but my priority in building a HTPC is that I want to be able to record OTA TV using a DVR software application like MYTHTV, and I want to be able to stream HD content from the internet. I rent movies on DVD and blu-ray, and I have a standalone Blu-ray player, so this HTPC will not need an optical disk.
I bought a WD TV Live box to see if I would like streaming content from the web to my 50" LCD. It worked pretty well, but most of the things that I want to stream require using a browser. I want to be able to stream content from network websites (NBC, USAnetwork, etc.) and sites like FrontRowSports.
So how much CPU do I need for this type of application? Do I also need a video card or can I use the onboard graphics of the CPU?
I want to keep the cost as low as possible because I am unemployed and have a limited budget.
Any help that you can provide me would be great.
EDIT: I should have also stated that I am not interested in building a library of content. I am not the type of person who likes to watch the same movie or TV show more than once. I need the DVR functionality for Time-Shifting only.
- crashnburn - 2011-11-11
eskro Wrote:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173024
Nice. But a little expensive
$$$ What if I wanted to go down the older Mac Mini route.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini
Based on these various MacMini configurations, how old of a Mac Mini could I use?
Also - Any thoughts on Q1 of previous post?
- zac_haryy - 2011-11-16
What is the current best/cheap (under $100) 3d Video card that I can puchase? Also what is the easiest way to tell if it is 3d capable?
Example:
on Newegg under the details it shows:
3D API
DirectX 11
So does a 3D API mean that the card is capable of playing 1080p 3d movies on my TV?
Thanks!
-haryy
- bluray - 2011-11-16
zac_haryy Wrote:What is the current best/cheap (under $100) 3d Video card that I can puchase? Also what is the easiest way to tell if it is 3d capable?these are- HIS H657HS2G Radeon HD 6570 2GB, Sapphire Radeon HD6670 Ultimate 1GB, Asus nVidia GeForce GT440 1GB, ZOTAC nVidia GeForce GT430 1GB, etc. look for hdmi 1.4a!
Example:
on Newegg under the details it shows:
3D API
DirectX 11
So does a 3D API mean that the card is capable of playing 1080p 3d movies on my TV?
Thanks!
-haryy
- eskro - 2011-11-16
to playback real native 3D movies,
your GPU needs to have HDMI 1.4 output....
so basically, any Radeon HD6xxx series will serve you well!
- drhuxtable - 2011-11-16
So what exactly do the higher priced CPUs have over the Celeron you have listed in example builds? Obviously faster clock speeds (maybe more cores?), but is it anything that will make things slower noticeably?
I plan on using this HTPC (coupled with a discrete GPU, likely an HD5450) to:
1080p movies/TV shows (duh :p)
Hulu/Netflix
Some LIGHT gaming (I have a gaming PC, but it'd be nice to sit back and enjoy an older game or two)
Along with the light gaming, I'd want to set up a home emulator (nothing past N64) arcade of sorts using the XBMC plugins.
Obviously since all of the builds you have listed can do 1080p flawlessly, is there anything about the Celeron CPU specifically that would hold it back from my emulation idea, or should I go one step up and get a better CPU?
- eskro - 2011-11-16
well the gaming factor can sometimes change your HTPC build completely...
that being said, the CELERON will be able to handle your stuff....
and i suggest you get at least an HD6xxx series instead of 5xxx series....
just so u got current stuff...
- drhuxtable - 2011-11-16
I'll look into it.
I'm not wanting to do any serious gaming, maybe a few non-taxing indie titles, but I have a PS3 and 360 that will be hooked up to the same TV and a gaming PC that I built this year upstairs.
I figured I'd be fine if I have a separate GPU, so I guess nothing to worry about.
Any HD6xxx card you recommend (I'm open to nVidia as well, always been an nVidia guy)