My new Home Theater PC
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My new Home Theater PC
Read up on good ways to build a new PC for High Definition playback. I determined I needed a smaller case, micro-ATX board, plus a newer nVidia card that can do Blu Ray Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master 5.1 and 7.1, or more. My AVR is 7.1 and can play back 7.1 Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master, so there I was.
I saw an ad for a very inexpensive Asus M/B and a cheap CPU. Here we go.
Take an on sale, $69 M/B that can accept nVidia and ATI:
a cool running, sale priced at $74 CPU, an Intel G6950:
add two sale priced ($99 each) cool operating WD 2 TB drives:
an EVGA NVidia GT 430 GPU that can output DD TrueHD and DTS-MA HD via HDMI, $84:
a sale priced ($119) LG BD R unit:
a sale priced ($39) Cooler Master HTPC case:
Add the components:
Set up with Win 7 x64 Ultimate:
Mount on furniture, not next to, where the last one that fried in the sun was:
Plug into AVR, which passes to 60" HDTV and watch Windows Media Center internet TV, and play BDs via Power DVD Ultra 10.1, which intergrates into WMC:
BTW, with a 1 GB LAN and a cable connection, it plays any and all avi, mkv and such files, gives me 60" photos, music, over the network, or off the internet. Right now, I have Hulu, Crackle.TV, and Slacker Radio in IE favorites. Later, maybe a streaming NetFlix, Amazon on Demand, Hulu Plus, or Google TV account.
One day, its drives, and some others around the house may power a huge 8 or 10 TB NAS unit that plays all over the house. Meanwhile it plays back beautifully on a 60" Deep Color 1080p Pioneer Elite plasma, with audio that's unbelievable. Using VLC media player for most *.mkv play back, and PowerDVD 10 Ultra alone or through Windows Media Center, I get perfect Blu Ray play and so much more.
I saw an ad for a very inexpensive Asus M/B and a cheap CPU. Here we go.
Take an on sale, $69 M/B that can accept nVidia and ATI:
a cool running, sale priced at $74 CPU, an Intel G6950:
add two sale priced ($99 each) cool operating WD 2 TB drives:
an EVGA NVidia GT 430 GPU that can output DD TrueHD and DTS-MA HD via HDMI, $84:
a sale priced ($119) LG BD R unit:
a sale priced ($39) Cooler Master HTPC case:
Add the components:
Set up with Win 7 x64 Ultimate:
Mount on furniture, not next to, where the last one that fried in the sun was:
Plug into AVR, which passes to 60" HDTV and watch Windows Media Center internet TV, and play BDs via Power DVD Ultra 10.1, which intergrates into WMC:
BTW, with a 1 GB LAN and a cable connection, it plays any and all avi, mkv and such files, gives me 60" photos, music, over the network, or off the internet. Right now, I have Hulu, Crackle.TV, and Slacker Radio in IE favorites. Later, maybe a streaming NetFlix, Amazon on Demand, Hulu Plus, or Google TV account.
One day, its drives, and some others around the house may power a huge 8 or 10 TB NAS unit that plays all over the house. Meanwhile it plays back beautifully on a 60" Deep Color 1080p Pioneer Elite plasma, with audio that's unbelievable. Using VLC media player for most *.mkv play back, and PowerDVD 10 Ultra alone or through Windows Media Center, I get perfect Blu Ray play and so much more.
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
for sharing AZ-J
bob2701- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
What a beautiful little build and great setup!
4hams- Old Father Time
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AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
I built an old PC into a WHS 2003 server. I now have 5 SATA drives in it, a 160GB for OS, and 4 2TB drives. With 2.67 TB left, I have 712 HD movies on it (all 1080p or 720p). Most of those playback over our network on the HTPC above right into the 7.1 AVR and the Pioneer plasma TV using VLC Media Player. It provides wonderful DTS and DD audio.
But for the 10 or so DD TrueHD or DTS-HD Master audio, I use a Media Classic Player/ffdshow combo intertwined in setup, and MC gets the 1080p or 720p files with DD TrueHD or DTS-HD Master audio correctly.
But for the 10 or so DD TrueHD or DTS-HD Master audio, I use a Media Classic Player/ffdshow combo intertwined in setup, and MC gets the 1080p or 720p files with DD TrueHD or DTS-HD Master audio correctly.
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Sounds like a great setup I have been following your discussions around it at UDVDR.
4hams- Old Father Time
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
We can play any of those files on any of the PCs. It's so much fun.
Last edited by AZ-J on Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:28 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : spelling)
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Have you shown the system to the neighborhood men? You may get a side job building and configuring them?
4hams- Old Father Time
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
No can do. How'd I'd explain to them how I got the 712 movies? No one understands that!
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Very good point I didn't think about that. :duh:
4hams- Old Father Time
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Post some more pic's of that setup!
Vinman- DVD Ranger Support Admin
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Especially the neighbors with the badges!!! :help:
bob2701- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Vinman wrote:Post some more pic's of that setup!
The WHS 2003 server in the corner, with the subwoofer next to:
The HT straight on 14' wide x 17' deep:
The HTPC in another corner, on furniture, out of East morning sun (old PCs all fried on floor next to furniture piece from the sun, right through the shade):
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
for sharing AZ-J
Last edited by 4hams on Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:02 am; edited 1 time in total
4hams- Old Father Time
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
No, on top of the WHS is its PC speaker system subwoofer. We have three NAS units in another room in a big 10/100/1000 switch, with several PCs. a network color laser and a MFC/fax in it as well. Those NAS drives are far smaller than that honking sub.
My PC, a 2GB teamed LAN is the only PC in the router.
My PC, a 2GB teamed LAN is the only PC in the router.
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Your kids and wife must love having access to all that goodness.
4hams- Old Father Time
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
My kids are old enough, that neither lives at home (most of the time). Every once in a while, my 19 year old come home, and there's a chance, she'll be here this summer. These movies are all mine, and my wife's. I showed her how to play one on her PC while she worked on something, and she was shocked.
But last week for my and the 19 yr old's b'days, all were home and we watched Tron Legacy in 1080p with DTS-HD Master. All loved it!
But last week for my and the 19 yr old's b'days, all were home and we watched Tron Legacy in 1080p with DTS-HD Master. All loved it!
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
Oh you must be lonely? Want 2 or 4 girls to come and keep you company for maybe a month or 2. (Please please please he says under his breath)
4hams- Old Father Time
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
No thanks. We have a 7 yr old Chinese Crested Hairless, and a 4 yr old Chinese Crested Powderpuff at home, they keep us pretty busy with walks, and walks, hell it's 88F here now, so I'm going out in shorts.
Besides just got over spring break and the 19 yr old was here a week. We're still cleaning up...!
Besides just got over spring break and the 19 yr old was here a week. We're still cleaning up...!
AZ-J- Respected Forum Idividuals
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Re: My new Home Theater PC
I hear ya on the cleaning! LOL
4hams- Old Father Time
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