Kodi Community Forum

Hi guys,

These are my requirements:
1) I want to be able to watch 1080p (2D) encodes.
2) I want to be able to watch TV
3) I want to be able to record TV

I have read eskro's excellent guide, and I think that this box is close to what i need:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=103967

I was not able to find all the exact parts, but I found the following hardware (from a danish store). The product descriptions are in english, so I think it's still possible to comment on them:

1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/64102...Milo-black
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/78850...er-2TB-HDD
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/62442...55-DDR3-MB
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/95779...Hz-LGA1155
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/37482...reen-80-Pl
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/27804...apter-til-
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/81290...3-DVI-HDMI
2x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/75283...600MHz-CL9
1x http://www.computersalg.dk/produkt/57707...l-SRP2008B

Are there any parts I should replace before ordering?

Thanks alot! :-)

Note: This post is moved to a new thread like eskro suggested.

Hi whjsdk!

Like i asked many users by now,

could you please create a new thread completely about your build?

you'll have better support from users if u do,,

eskro Wrote:something like this http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=93846

Eskro,

You proposed the above to be able to handle:

1080P XBMC
Web Browsing
YouTube, Netflix
Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, Couchpotato - DL and unpack files, then move to a directory on a USB connected Drive

Looking for the quietest, most power efficient and cool-running solution, will Zacate solution (http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?p=7...post727463) have trouble running these tasks?

Specifically, there may be an instance where a 1080p movie is being played while a Sabnzbd download is running and may subsequently be extracted.

Thanks.

Honestly, i think i recall PoofHairGuy saying he's running those apps on his HTPC,,,
or at least, one of them,,,,

Maybe he could jump in here and tell us which CPU power he suggest for those tasks...

But, to my experience, the more u wanna do with your PC,
its always better to get 'more' powerful CPU...

So for multi-tasking, AMD Quad-Cores are great
and on the INTEL's side, i think you should be fine with a G620 CPU,,,,

Hey Eskro,

Are the AMD's APU's as powerfull as the Sandy Bridge Intel's? And you have any idea if XBMC has the same (DXVA) issues with the APU's onboard GPU's?
I'm currently looking into the Sandy Bridge processors. The raw processor speed really has me thinking, especially since I will be doing a lot of emulation in my HTPC. However, if I instal a seperate video card like an NVIDIA G-FORCE, i will not have the typical intel trouble in XBMC, I hope? Is that correct?

thanks,
Grave

eskro Wrote:Q. Out of those builds, which one can Bitstream DOLBY TRUE-HD & DTS-HD MASTER audio?
A. Except the mini-ITX Zacate build, none of them till you add one of these 2 GPU Cards:
ASUS HD5450 512MB DDR3 64-Bit Fanless Low Profile ($36 + $0) (Windows OS only)
ASUS GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($66 + $0)
(Note that as of today, XBMC can't natively Bitstream HD-Audio)

I'm a bit confused by the comment that XBMC can't natively bitstream HD audio. Does this mean this is only possible via an external player? Or in windows is this possible using the DSplayer in XBMC?

Also will the new audio engine make this native to XBMC?


Thanks

In your Q&A section you say:

Quote:Q. Out of those builds, which one can play 3D 1080P movies?
A. None of them till you add this GPU Card:
ASUS GeForce GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile

Is this with the use of XBMC or do you mean in general?

Since in this review they do play a 3D blu-ray.

Albeit that's not with XBMC hence my question

I've gotten almost no help from the thread I created, so I figured I might get some more help here.


My 12 year old Pentium 3 HTPC has finally kicked the bucket, so I'm looking for recommendations on a new build. I'm fine with AMD or Intel, I've built systems using both. I have an 8400GS PCI card from the old box that I could use as long as I keep it mini-ITX. I'd like it to satisfy the following:

1. Very small, the smaller the better
   
2. Efficient
   
3. 2D 1080P high bitrate Rips
   
4. Game Emulators (SNES, N64)
   
5. I'd prefer a power brick instead of an internal PSU, but I wouldn't be against one.
   

I do have a Microcenter 30 minutes away if it helps. I wish I got in on the Antec ISK-300 for $35 a few weeks ago, I would've just used that.

Superorb Wrote:I've gotten almost no help from the thread I created, so I figured I might get some more help here.


My 12 year old Pentium 3 HTPC has finally kicked the bucket, so I'm looking for recommendations on a new build. I'm fine with AMD or Intel, I've built systems using both. I have an 8400GS PCI card from the old box that I could use as long as I keep it mini-ITX. I'd like it to satisfy the following:

1. Very small, the smaller the better
   
2. Efficient
   
3. 2D 1080P high bitrate Rips
   
4. Game Emulators (SNES, N64)
   
5. I'd prefer a power brick instead of an internal PSU, but I wouldn't be against one.
   

I do have a Microcenter 30 minutes away if it helps. I wish I got in on the Antec ISK-300 for $35 a few weeks ago, I would've just used that.

I'm not sure what you are willing to pay, but this package might work for you:

1. ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe AM3 AMD 880G HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard
2. AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz
3. G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB
4. SAPPHIRE 100324L Radeon HD 6570 2GB DDR3
5. Corsair Force CSSD-F40GB2-A
6. TOSHIBA 1TB USB 3.0
7. APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply
8. SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm Case Fan

You can use this to calculate power consumption- eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite v2.5

Lexicon44 Wrote:Eskro,

You proposed the above to be able to handle:

1080P XBMC
Web Browsing
YouTube, Netflix
Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, Couchpotato - DL and unpack files, then move to a directory on a USB connected Drive

Looking for the quietest, most power efficient and cool-running solution, will Zacate solution (http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?p=7...post727463) have trouble running these tasks?

Specifically, there may be an instance where a 1080p movie is being played while a Sabnzbd download is running and may subsequently be extracted.

Thanks.

Sab does not take a lot of processor power. I ran it for while on Acer Revo in the background. Two things I would say to eliminate performance interference with XBMC.

1. Set SAB to pause downloading while unpacking (which is in config settings). Greatly reduces processor impact. As soon as its done unpacking most recent download it picks back up on the remaining ones. Really does not slow you down much.

2. Cap the download rate if you ever use XBMC with streaming plug-ins to give yourself just enough bandwidth so downloads don't interfere with video streams. Kind of obvious I know but the one time I noticed downloads was trying to watch icefilms while downloading on my Ion 330 Revo. Capping download rate in SAB settings made all the difference.

bluray Wrote:I'm not sure what you are willing to pay, but this package might work for you:

1. ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe AM3 AMD 880G HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard
2. AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz
3. G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB
4. SAPPHIRE 100324L Radeon HD 6570 2GB DDR3
5. Corsair Force CSSD-F40GB2-A
6. TOSHIBA 1TB USB 3.0
7. APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply
8. SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm Case Fan

You can use this to calculate power consumption- eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite v2.5

That is WAY over budget, and it looks like total overkill for my needs. I believe the any C2D or newer chip (even pentiums) can do emulation easily, and a high end video card is not required.

It's looking like I'll end up upgrading my main PC and using the e2160/RAM from that build to build the HTPC.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Superorb Wrote:That is WAY over budget, and it looks like total overkill for my needs. I believe the any C2D or newer chip (even pentiums) can do emulation easily, and a high end video card is not required.

It's looking like I'll end up upgrading my main PC and using the e2160/RAM from that build to build the HTPC.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

it's good to include your price range when ask for help to build a new system. if you have the money, it's always to be overkill than under power and not enough options.

this might be for you then-
1. APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX
2. ASRock E350M1/USB3
3. Kingston SSDNow V Series SNV125-S2/30GB
4. Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)
5. SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm Case Fan
6. HP MCE Remote Control
7. LG Black 10X BD-ROM

bluray Wrote:it's good to include your price range when ask for help to build a new system. if you have the money, it's always to be overkill than under power and not enough options.

this might be for you then-
1. APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX
2. ASRock E350M1/USB3
3. Kingston SSDNow V Series SNV125-S2/30GB
4. Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)
5. SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm Case Fan
6. HP MCE Remote Control
7. LG Black 10X BD-ROM

Sorry about that, I should've included a budget. I have read that the Zacate boards (AMD 350) do not work well with XBMC Live or with game emulators. I'd love to get an integrated solution, but I'm not sure if it will run an n64 Emu.

I've read that the PSU in that MI-008 case isn't very good, plus it gets in the way. Would it be possible to use a PicoPSU and fill in the hole in the back?

Superorb Wrote:Sorry about that, I should've included a budget. I have read that the Zacate boards (AMD 350) do not work well with XBMC Live or with game emulators. I'd love to get an integrated solution, but I'm not sure if it will run an n64 Emu.

I've read that the PSU in that MI-008 case isn't very good, plus it gets in the way. Would it be possible to use a PicoPSU and fill in the hole in the back?

check this- Tested with AMD Zacate E-350:. i haven't had any issue with apec psu, and i never turn off my htpc either. it's easier for my wife, sons and daughters to operate it!

bluray Wrote:check this- Tested with AMD Zacate E-350:. i haven't had any issue with apec psu, and i never turn off my htpc either. it's easier for my wife, sons and daughters to operate it!

How about the E350 in XBMC Live and with 1080p high bitrate?

I keep reading that the E350 platform should only be used with Windows, and I refuse to buy a Win7 license just to run XBMC.