BTV Link Machine Build - need advice

[cfaslave]

I'm thinking of building a BTV Link Machine and need some starter ideas.

• I want this PC to fit into a "living room" environment. It doesn't have to be real small, but it does need to look like it belongs.
• It needs to be able to handle HD watching. I want it to be powered enough to handle HD with ease.
• It will have Beyond Media and will be used for music, movie etc playback. All of this including TV will be accessed over the network to the BTV server machine.
• Needs to be fairly quiet.

I think I'll need to buy a case, CPU and 1GB memory. I already have a copy of XP, copy of BTVLink, a quiet DVD/CD R/W drive and a hard drive to put in the box for now.

I'm open to suggestions. I've read lots on this and I'm toying with the idea of either a Zalman HD160 case, a Nmedia 200 or 300 case or a Silverstone case. Here's what I've been browsing for ideas:
http://projecthtpc.wordpress.com/my-htpc-client/
http://forum.byopvr.com/dvr/index.php/board,12.0.html
HTPC - First Time Building

This would be my first diy build so I'm needing some guidance. At the moment I just need help deciding on the HTPC parts. Since I already own some of the components, I'm hoping to keep the cost down some (if that is realistic )

[nanook105]

Do you have the option of putting the Link PC in a closet/basement/other room and then running wires to your entertainment center ? If that's an option, you don't have to worry so much about "looks"/noise

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by nanook105

Do you have the option of putting the Link PC in a closet/basement/other room and then running wires to your entertainment center ? If that's an option, you don't have to worry so much about "looks"/noise

Good point. I do currently have a link PC (bought it for really cheap )that is hidden in the basement like you say with wires running to the proper room and that is a great solution for that room. With this build, I want the link PC to be front-and-center. It will have a DVD reader so the user can insert a dvd.

[nanook105]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

Good point. I do currently have a link PC (bought it for really cheap )that is hidden in the basement like you say with wires running to the proper room and that is a great solution for that room. With this build, I want the link PC to be front-and-center. It will have a DVD reader so the user can insert a dvd.

You could take that a step further. Run a USB extension cable to a powered USB hub, and then connect a DVD player to the USB hub. I do this for two of my servers and also connect a USBUIRT, Firefly, Soundblaster Live 5.1 (which is then digitally connected to my receiver) and a wireless keyboard into that Hub

[queonda]

Hell just to save money, you can get an external USB DVD reader. Don't know how long your cables are but if too long powered usb hub.

[cmcquistion]

Here are my recommendations for a BTV Link system (I've built several BTV Link systems, over the past few years and my opinions are based on hardware that I've used and had good experience with...)

Case - Antec NSK2400 (comes with a PSU)
Motherboard - Asus 6150 chipset AM2 motherboard with excellent onboard video
-------------------(use the video drivers from Asus, not from Nvidia)
CPU - cheapest AM2 CPU available, built on 65nm technology (these will run coolest)
Memory - 1 GB dual channel DDR2, whatever is cheap
Hard Drive - Samsung IDE or SATA or laptop drive
Video - onboard
Sound - onboard
LAN - onboard
Fans and heatsinks - use stock, retail fans and heatsinks or splurge, if you're a silent PC nut, like me. (Zalman 7700 with stock fan replaced with Scythe 120mm FDB 800 RPM or 1200 RPM fan, case fan replaced with same Scythe FDB 120mm 800 RPM or 1200 RPM fan, power supply replaced with Seasonic S12-330.)

[nanook105]

Originally Posted by cmcquistion

Here are my recommendations for a BTV Link system (I've built several BTV Link systems, over the past few years and my opinions are based on hardware that I've used and had good experience with...)

Case - Antec NSK2400 (comes with a PSU)
Motherboard - Asus 6150 chipset AM2 motherboard with excellent onboard video
-------------------(use the video drivers from Asus, not from Nvidia)
CPU - cheapest AM2 CPU available, built on 65nm technology (these will run coolest)
Memory - 1 GB dual channel DDR2, whatever is cheap
Hard Drive - Samsung IDE or SATA or laptop drive
Video - onboard
Sound - onboard
LAN - onboard
Fans and heatsinks - use stock, retail fans and heatsinks or splurge, if you're a silent PC nut, like me. (Zalman 7700 with stock fan replaced with Scythe 120mm FDB 800 RPM or 1200 RPM fan, case fan replaced with same Scythe FDB 120mm 800 RPM or 1200 RPM fan, power supply replaced with Seasonic S12-330.)

Can you use this with HD ?

[tscales]

Dell Optiplex GX620 USFF. Very small. Very quiet. Handles HD flawlessly. Integrated Gigabit.

I have one on four of my HDTVs. Very slick.

I paid under $300 each on ebay. Just have to be patient.

Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110112442735

Tom

[cfaslave]

[quote=cmcquistion;247929]Motherboard - Asus 6150 chipset AM2 motherboard with excellent onboard video
-------------------(use the video drivers from Asus, not from Nvidia)
Video - onboard
Sound - onboard

Originally Posted by nanook105

Can you use this with HD ?

I would think a 2.2 processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103048
would do fine, but I also wonder how the onboard video works with HDTV. If it does okay, this would be a $300 solution for me since I already have many of the components needed.

cmcquistion, could you confirm that these handle HD okay? Thanks!

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by tscales

Dell Optiplex GX620 USFF. Very small. Very quiet. Handles HD flawlessly. Integrated Gigabit.

I have one on four of my HDTVs. Very slick.

I paid under $300 each on ebay. Just have to be patient.

Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110112442735

Tom

Tom,
I'll keep that as a backup plan as I know it would work. I actually use an older optiplex for a link machine now, but it can't handle HD all that well.

[cmcquistion]

Originally Posted by nanook105

Can you use this with HD ?

Yeah, that is the hardware I'm using for my BTV Link system and I have 4 HD tuners, so I watch HD, all the time.

The Nvidia 6150 integrated video is actually really good. It is the only integrated video that I've used that works well with SD and HD content.

[RenegadeELEN]

I use for my Link machine a Silverstone LC10 case and I used to have a 2Ghz AMD with using everything onboard but the Video card, silently cooled 7600GT, and that did HD with no problem. I have changed it since then to a low clocked Intel Core 2 Duo. I've heard that the 6150 could handle HD but personally I would get a video card (ATI/AMD or Nvidia) that was somewhat future proof, like a 7xxx series or X1xxx series card.

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by cmcquistion

Yeah, that is the hardware I'm using for my BTV Link system and I have 4 HD tuners, so I watch HD, all the time.

The Nvidia 6150 integrated video is actually really good. It is the only integrated video that I've used that works well with SD and HD content.

Awesome. I'm sold. If for some reason I have to upgrade with a videocard I can do that later.

Check my shopping list just to be sure I'm not screwing up anything here:
Antec Case
Asus Motherboard
AMD CPU
Kingston Memory 2x512

As I said in my first post above, I already have a copy of XP, copy of BTVLink, a quiet DVD/CD R/W drive and a hard drive to put in the box.

Anything I'm missing?

[cmcquistion]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

Awesome. I'm sold. If for some reason I have to upgrade with a videocard I can do that later.

Check my shopping list just to be sure I'm not screwing up anything here:
Antec Case
Asus Motherboard
AMD CPU
Kingston Memory 2x512

As I said in my first post above, I already have a copy of XP, copy of BTVLink, a quiet DVD/CD R/W drive and a hard drive to put in the box.

Anything I'm missing?

Looks great!

[RenegadeELEN]

Well at least the Asus motherboard has a PCI-E x16 slot so you can upgrade in the future if you want.

Checking out nvidia's website, http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideo_support.html, does show that the 6150 does support most of the SD and HD enhancements (inverse telecine, proper scaling) that are supported in the driver release now instead of depending on the Purevideo decoder. Those are important in order to get the best picture from DVDs and other content if thats what you are looking for.