[antah]

Guys, hello there,

I'm fed up with different market solutions like android-based media players, but i love to use XBMC/KODI. So I decided to go and build my first HTPC. Of course I'm looking for a good price (overall budget shouldn't exceed 800$), but as I am an owner of 4K TV with HDMI 2.0 i want to build system, that can use this TV's potential when proper 4K content will arrive.

Here is my dilemma: buy average motherboard with 1.4a HDMI, wait until there will be 4K content and then buy video card with HDMI 2.0 (now prices are between 300-400$, that is half of my HTPC budget) or wait a bit and buy motherboard with built-in HDMI 2.0 port? Do you know if one is coming soon?

Or maybe you have another solution for my case? Thank you for any advice in advance!

[malcolmbarr]

I think the problem you face at the moment is that the only graphics cards that support HDMI 2.0 at the moment are gaming/performance oriented cards. that means a need for a heftier power supply and possible fan noise that you don't want in a HTPC. And I am not aware of any motherboards with built in HDMI 2.0 support and processors with HDMI 2 built in to the integrated GPU.

Your budget is much larger than you really need, and the HDMI 2 part is driving that. Maybe a better approach would be to give up the HDMI 2 bit for now, but makes sure you build a HTPC with a PCI express slot and a power supply that could support that later. Then when quiet and cheaper cards supporting HDMI 2 come along, you could simply add the card and disable what you were using before.

Isn't there also some limited 4K support through HDMI 1.4?

[Topken]

Yeah HDMI 1.4a will handle 4k30hz not 4k60hz

[noggin]

Yeah HDMI 1.4a will handle 4k30hz not 4k60hz

Apart from the nVidia implementation of the 4K60Hz (aka 2160/60p) mode using 4:2:0. Whilst this mode is only supported on HDMI 2.0 displays, 2160/60p (and 50p) 4:2:0 (unlike 4:2:2 and 4:4:4) is within the HDMI 1.4a bandwidth constraints which meant Kepler and Maxwell nVidia GPU Windows drivers (not sure about other platforms) were upgraded to support it. Not good for gaming or desktop use, but fine for 4:2:0 video (which is pretty much everything in the consumer space - including the 2160/50p and 60p broadcast tests using HEVC recently on satellite and terrestrial)

[wrxtasy]

I would personally wait till Intel release their Skylake Architecture that will do full hardware decoding of h265 codecs, likely with a motherboard with HDMI 2.0.

Your HTPC is very likely to be obsolete shortly after finishing building it, besides until a large company like Netflix start streaming in h265 there won't be a lot of content around anyway.

Even if you want to create content, have you tried encoding in h265. Its extremely slow even on high spec current hardware.

Now is not the time to be splashing around large wads on HDMI2.0 and bleeding edge 2160/60p hardware.
I still believe a Hybrid solution is best at this time, eg:
- a Cheap Android stick if you want to decode h265
- Chromebox or Zotac BI320 (internal HDD storage) or a Intel Broadwell NUC

[antah]

Thank you for your thoughts, guys!

I'm so upset when smth is not working properly, so i really don't like all this "cheap" android sticks or boxes. I was looking to buy open hour chameleon box (with hdmi 2.0!), but reviews are not good at all ;(

[wrxtasy]

The trouble is you are trying to get the magic sought after box that does everything. Thats not going to happen at this time.

You really are better off just buying good NAS storage and whatever Media boxes you need at the cheapest possible price for one and only one particular individual purpose, even if you need two or three - Throw em away in a year if you have to, you really don't go throwing good money after bad that way.

Another big Tip for anyone reading, is find out what SOC chipsets guys like Openelec are supporting, especially for Android. Its all about competent firmware and software developers these days. You want support, go with something mainstream and mass market. Don't try and re-invent the wheel.

[smuller]

I am looking to upgrade my HTPC as well, I am looking at a micro ATX motherboard with the latest HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 Compatible and a compatible CPU.

Do they exist or do we still have to wait;(


Current HTPC:

-Silverstone ML04B Black Slim HTPC Case
-LG CH12LS28.AYBR10B CH12LS28 Internal Blu-ray Disc Combo
-MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 FM2
-AMD A8-5600k
-Scythe Big Shuriken 2
-2x4GB DDR3 1866 memory
-Silent 300-350W power supply (120mm fan)
-OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD $125
-Synology 50TB NAS

[sunnyfunny]

ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac

1x HDMI 2.0
1x HDMI 1.4

[_Spook_]

Or get the Intel NUC6i7KYK...not a complete HTPC since it does not have blu-ray, but it does have HDMI 2.0/HDCP2.2