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+--- Thread: Introducing my HP Microserver N36L / N40L / N54L using WHS2011 + XBMC (/showthread.php?tid=104372)
- pglover19 - 2011-12-13
g725s Wrote:I'm not sure what GPU to put in my N40L Just curious If this one would be OK. Would the 2gb of memory help at all?
http://www.amazon.com/HIS-H645H2G-Radeon-64bit-Express/dp/B005XLFPRY
This is the HIS HD6450 card I purchased from NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161376). This is the 1GB version of the same one from Amazon. So far, the video performance and quality of this card is superb. Once again, I am using a projector with a 92" screen and the picture quality for 1080P blu-ray content is amazing...
As far as going with the 2GB version, I would like to know that question as far...
- g725s - 2011-12-13
I went for the MSI card above. Didn't find many reviews. Should be a good card though. For 20 more bucks we'll see if the extra 1gb of SDRAM makes any difference.
MSI R6450-MD2GD3/LP
- Digital Vortex - 2011-12-13
pglover19 Wrote:There is no way in the BIOS to turn off the onboard graphic adapter. My display monitor is an Epson 8350 projector. Do I really need to use the Catalyst Control Center to tweak any settings for use with XBMC? Please advise.
This is probably the key question. I'd say no. I have a 5450 in my HTPC (not the Microserver) and I've never tweaked the card at all.
I know what settings you mean, in the CCC there are smoothness and sharpness dials, but playing around with them (to the extremes) adds problems. So the 'default' position of the sliders are ok.
So the moral of the story: the default settings are ok for XBMC to work, just tick the enable DVXA setting in XBMC (Not CCC!)
On a different note, I installed a low profile USB3 card into the Microserver. The USB 3 needs it's own power source supposedly. Long story short, 2 molex splitters were need to go from the top of the case down to the card, and had to be plugged in via the space above the PCI slots.
In a word: scratchy. But backups are 3x faster to the external usb3 drives.
- Digital Vortex - 2011-12-13
baldmosher Wrote:If it ain't broke.....
The question is how will I justify buying a HTPC if I get one of these first
Easy! Get the HTPC first, small case and a SSD
Then the question you can ask her is 'where does the media come from?'
- QLink - 2011-12-13
Digital Vortex Wrote:On a different note, I installed a low profile USB3 card into the Microserver. The USB 3 needs it's own power source supposedly. Long story short, 2 molex splitters were need to go from the top of the case down to the card, and had to be plugged in via the space above the PCI slots.
In a word: scratchy. But backups are 3x faster to the external usb3 drives.
why are you not using the built in esata port for backups ? i'm doin fine with it.
- baldmosher - 2011-12-13
Digital Vortex Wrote:Easy! Get the HTPC first, small case and a SSD
Then the question you can ask her is 'where does the media come from?'
That's brilliant!! But I think she might divorce me if I try that. She is exceptionally good at smelling a ruse. Easier to just spend the money in secret, and then show her how amazing it all is afterwards.
I'm buying the Microserver first as the need is greatest (too many different devices switched on in the apartment at the moment) and also in the hope that adding a HD5450 card means I won't actually need to buy an HTPC for a while afterwards! I want to play with VMware for a while and this will be an educational tool. That's my excuse, anyway. It'll buy me some time until Ivy Bridge comes out.....
PS if you want to help support my project, click here
- TimeToMuskUp - 2011-12-13
As a total beginner at this I've stumbled here and wonder if you can help. I've got a microserver N40L running WHS2011 with the ASUS branded HD6450 1GB DDR3 but I'm struggling (actually totally failing) to get any HDMI out from the card.
Have tried the usual stuff - different cables and two different TV's (every input) - Panny TH42pz800 & Bravia KD26EX320 but nothing gives.
Obviously vital for the sound over HDMI output, and hoped to start with XBMC but all on hold now. Have tried Catalyst 11.11 and back to 11.6 but no joy.
Is it me or a dodgy card?
- g725s - 2011-12-13
baldmosher Wrote:I'm buying the Microserver first as the need is greatest (too many different devices switched on in the apartment at the moment) and also in the hope that adding a HD5450 card means I won't actually need to buy an HTPC for a while afterwards!
Like Qlink has done here, you get both in one box. I'm headed this route for now and when HDD prices fall, and they should mid to late next year, that is when I'll hopefully rebuild my setup. But in the meantime also I'll buy the other parts on sale for both a dedicated HTPC and larger server.
- QLink - 2011-12-13
TimeToMuskUp Wrote:As a total beginner at this I've stumbled here and wonder if you can help. I've got a microserver N40L running WHS2011 with the ASUS branded HD6450 1GB DDR3 but I'm struggling (actually totally failing) to get any HDMI out from the card.
Have tried the usual stuff - different cables and two different TV's (every input) - Panny TH42pz800 & Bravia KD26EX320 but nothing gives.
Obviously vital for the sound over HDMI output, and hoped to start with XBMC but all on hold now. Have tried Catalyst 11.11 and back to 11.6 but no joy.
Is it me or a dodgy card?
do you have a normal pc screen with hdmi connection, just for trying ?
if you use dvi you get a picture ?
do you have a hdmi->dvi converter for trying ?
maybe try dvi -> vga on your TVs if this works, just to minimize possible error causes...
- g725s - 2011-12-13
Qlink,
Do you by chance have any good links that describe setting up WHS 2011 and XBMC?
- TimeToMuskUp - 2011-12-13
QLink Wrote:do you have a normal pc screen with hdmi connection, just for trying ?
if you use dvi you get a picture ?
do you have a hdmi->dvi converter for trying ?
maybe try dvi -> vga on your TVs if this works, just to minimize possible error causes...
Thanks for reply.
I get vga output from the card to the PC in on the tv. Have no DVI adaptor to try as yet but will pick one up. Tried the HDMI to other TV as additional display (duplicate, extend etc) but no joy. Thinking of trying an Nvidia equivalent but went for 6450 for performance/power draw in the first place and plenty of others have success so stumped really.
TV also works perfectly via HDMI as laptop additional display.
- JasonSTX - 2011-12-13
TimeToMuskUp Wrote:Thanks for reply.
I get vga output from the card to the PC in on the tv. Have no DVI adaptor to try as yet but will pick one up. Tried the HDMI to other TV as additional display (duplicate, extend etc) but no joy. Thinking of trying an Nvidia equivalent but went for 6450 for performance/power draw in the first place and plenty of others have success so stumped really.
TV also works perfectly via HDMI as laptop additional display.
I picked up the ASUS EAH6450 (Asus like yours) and HDMI worked out of the box (Even in the BIOS screen) with my N40L.
I picked Windows 7 as my OS as this is mainly a XBMC/Sab/Sickbeard box.
I also grabbed 2x 3TB external WD drives from Costco for $119 each, removed the drives and made them internal. Using the 250GB drive as a system drive, the others for TV/Movies/Music (Mirrored).
I figure I have another slot to add a drive if things get tight, or I can throw caution to the wind, break the mirror and double my space.
- QLink - 2011-12-13
g725s Wrote:Qlink,
Do you by chance have any good links that describe setting up WHS 2011 and XBMC?
all links i found useful for this project are in this thread.
there is no need for any special configuration...
install whs 2011
install newest catalyst (nothing special configured except overscan option)
install xbmc (enable dxva)
thats it
TimeToMuskUp Wrote:Thanks for reply.
I get vga output from the card to the PC in on the tv. Have no DVI adaptor to try as yet but will pick one up. Tried the HDMI to other TV as additional display (duplicate, extend etc) but no joy. Thinking of trying an Nvidia equivalent but went for 6450 for performance/power draw in the first place and plenty of others have success so stumped really.
TV also works perfectly via HDMI as laptop additional display.
sounds like you got a defective HD6450...
i'm afraid you need to return it
for me it worked out of the box...
opened the N36L
installed HD6450
connected TV with N36L through HDMI
booted up and installed whs+software
didn't do anything special.
- TimeToMuskUp - 2011-12-13
Thanks all. Will go for a replacement 6450 then and try to claim back the hours of life wasted trying every other option.
Out of interest would you recommend an uninstall of catalyst before change and a fresh start or just a straight swap of card?
- QLink - 2011-12-13
imho there's no need for uninstalling drivers...
just swap the cards
