(2012-05-10, 00:39)Frankie Spankie Wrote: Hi, new to these forums. I've spent the past couple of hours looking into building my own HTPC. I've read the topic and looked through some of the builds and was just looking for some advice.

Essentially, I really just want to make an HTPC that works as an HD DVR and work with Netflix. I saw in the Q&A that all the Micro-ATX builds work fine as a DVR.

Do you recommend any video capture cards in particular? And will the video capture card eliminate the need for my cable box? I'm fine with paying a little more for a video capture card that I can use a cable card in to save some money on monthly payments to my cable company.

And I'm looking into the XBMCbuntu program. Reading up on it, it sounds like it's just a version of Linux. I've heard some people have a lot of issues with setting up Linux (I've only known a couple of friends who have ever worked with Linux). How hard is it to get set up?

Thanks for the help!

(2012-08-12, 05:37)Palmer Wrote: Can anyone let me know if it makes any sense to try and use my old hp pavilion amd athlon 64x2 4200+ a1710n case, psu, and DVD drive to build a decent htpc? I wanted to see about saving a few dollars. Interested in maybe doing amd a6 or a8 htpc build if anyone has suggestions? I believe it's a micro atx style case but no idea the psu power? The system as it sits is just horrible for video, dead slow with iTunes and horrible start up. It will be used for Internet browsing, downloading and streaming videos to 40 inch LCD. Let me know what u think or should I just get rid of the old parts and start fresh.

(2012-08-01, 16:19)bluray Wrote:

(2012-08-01, 15:22)mustangjim1 Wrote: Planning to use i3 2525 which has built in hd3000 gpu running at 1100 frequency. Is the built in graphics enough to run blu ray at full hd? This will be strictly an XBMC dedicated build.

Yes, and there is no need for a discrete GPU.....

(2012-08-17, 14:25)newpipe Wrote: Hi!

(2012-08-01, 16:19)bluray Wrote:

(2012-08-01, 15:22)mustangjim1 Wrote: Planning to use i3 2525 which has built in hd3000 gpu running at 1100 frequency. Is the built in graphics enough to run blu ray at full hd? This will be strictly an XBMC dedicated build.

Yes, and there is no need for a discrete GPU.....

Is the GPU of the Celeron G540 also capable of playing HD content which is encoded in h.264 or MPEG4(HD TV)?

(2012-08-17, 15:54)bluray Wrote:

(2012-08-17, 14:25)newpipe Wrote: Is the GPU of the Celeron G540 also capable of playing HD content which is encoded in h.264 or MPEG4(HD TV)?

Yes....

(2012-07-30, 05:32)assassin Wrote: Seriously can someone (mods?) please update the first post to correct the blatant misinformation about the G530?

It does bitstream HD Audio. Let's correct this misinformation. Maybe include the opinion of people that have actually used some of these options?

(2012-08-20, 18:37)bluray Wrote:

(2012-07-30, 05:32)assassin Wrote: Seriously can someone (mods?) please update the first post to correct the blatant misinformation about the G530?

It does bitstream HD Audio. Let's correct this misinformation. Maybe include the opinion of people that have actually used some of these options?

I know eSkro is in this forum, but he is not taking suggestion from you.......

(2012-08-21, 00:26)assassin Wrote:

(2012-08-20, 18:37)bluray Wrote:

(2012-07-30, 05:32)assassin Wrote: Seriously can someone (mods?) please update the first post to correct the blatant misinformation about the G530?

It does bitstream HD Audio. Let's correct this misinformation. Maybe include the opinion of people that have actually used some of these options?

I know eSkro is in this forum, but he is not taking suggestion from you.......

That's okay. There are other guides and viewpoints available out there.

(2012-08-25, 04:36)newguy1 Wrote: HELP!!!

Too much content, technology changes, my brain hurts, real bad......

I'm looking for a cheap implementation of an HTPC. Budget of $100 to $150 if possible, am I smoking the crack?

I have no idea where to start, I'm looking to run Netflix, Blurays, basic surfing (Youtube, Network station surfing/streaming, Hulu, etc), Antenna/PVR (tv tuner), Network connectivity to play files from a server.

my needs are:

HDMI/Audio over HDMI (decoded by the amp, not the card), horizontal case, bluray player.

No idea what size case I need, but the obvious answer is the smaller, the better.

I think that's it, but I really don't know what I'm not thinking about.

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

(2012-08-25, 17:33)dlmartin53 Wrote: Hi All,
New to this site and have been reading this thread. I want to know if the motherboards have been updated somewhere. The original post is quite old and some of the mobo's are not available.
Thanks for the help and this post.
Donald