What box + video card is the dream HTPC setup?

[kirchh]

I know this has been touched upon quite a bit, but I was hoping to get the most current thinking from the experts here.

1) What do folks recommend for the best box for a dedicated HTPC? Reliability is very important, and I gather sound levels can be an issue, so that would be a factor, I figure. I see references to Shuttle boxes; can folks be specific about what they recommend as the best pick? Price is not very important, but quality is.

2) What's the dream video card? I have no gaming requirements -- the card will be used just for HTPC duties. TV hookup will be via S-Video, so tip-top S-Vid output quality is paramount. The HTPC may be serving video to other locations, so I'd like to keep processor load at a minimum, therefore a video card with MPEG-2 acceleration is highly desirable (info on the companion codec to take advantage of this is welcome, too). Again, cost is not really a factor. Can folks make a specific recommendation for a video card (not just a chipset) that will really sing?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

--Daniel

[Eric3a]

Price is not very important, but quality is

Oh well then:
These guys have a $300 power supply that looks just fine to put in their new amazing case:
http://www.silentmaxx.net/

Then the fastest mobo/cpu/ram combination you can get at the moment so that your SmartChapters and squeeze jobs take the least time.

Then get a few PVR 250s.
And a top of the line 3D card. Nvidia 5900 or ATI 9800 so you get the best 3D rendering you can get and output to anything you want.

Add a distribution system for around the house.
Add a Firefly remote control for RF remote of BTV.

That's a good start;
Eric

[dbump]

You don't mention what your display will be, so I'll assume some sort of TV/Projector that accepts S-Video. If you want a quiet system, I'd suggest a video card like an NVidia FX5200 that is 64-bit. The 128-bit cards all include fans on the heatsink, wheras most of the 64-bit cards are passively cooled. For simple S-Video, you don't need a high-end card. The NVidia cards (GeForce 4 and newer, I think?) allow you to control/eliminate black borders around the screen without third-party software.
Even if your display is a monitor, I'd lean the same way, since you mention this is a dedicated HTPC. No reason to spend money on a heat generator when you don't need to.

[kirchh]

Thanks for the responses so far. Let me clarify what I'm looking for.

Output will be to a TV via S-video. I won't be using the machine for gaming or anything else video-intensive, so I don't think I have any need to pay for 3-D capability in the video card.

I'm new at this, but my impression is that nvidia doesn't make video cards; others build cards around their chipsets. Does someone have a recommendation for a specific make/model of video card with top-notch S-video output and MPEG-2 acceleration (nvidia-based, or ATI, or anything else)?

Right now I'm focusing on the enclosure and the video card, so I don't need to get into video distribution and so forth. The enclosure need not be attractive -- highest priority is reliability. I'm not terribly price-sensitive, but it is a lesser factor.

So: Specific video card with great S-video output and MPEG-2 acceleration (and codec recommendation), and reliable, quiet enclosure for the beast.

Thanks again for the expert input!

--Daniel

[Eric3a]

Output will be to a TV via S-video. I won't be using the machine for gaming or anything else video-intensive, so I don't think I have any need to pay for 3-D capability in the video card.

I disagree with that.
Changing from overlay to 3D mode makes no difference to me using my 9800 Pro when it does to may users. Snapstream commented that 3D mode (the best mode to run in my opinion) runs best with a "modern" video card. They did not define what a "modern" card is, but some users of 9600 cards see a difference between overlay and 3D when those of 9800 reported not seeing noticeable differences.
So the cut point at the moment is around 9600.

So I'd go for an ATI 9800 128MB. It outputs to anything you want, including S-Video. Very good quality. Yet not too crazily expensive.
For about $30 you can get an AIW version. This would give you an extra tuner if you ever need one...
It comes with an RF remote, though I am now very partial to the Firefly remote: Coming out this month for $49.99 MSRP.

I sure nVidia's 5900 is about as good, but I haven't got one so can't tell.

Hope this helps.
Eric

[wayner]

One problem with the Shuttle cases is the lack of slots. The Shuttle cases I have looked at have 1-AGP slot and 1-PCI slot. That means you are done once you add a video card plus a tuner card such as the Hauppauge PVR-250. To me this is a huge downside to these cases. You couldn't add a second tuner or a different sound card or whatever.

I just got a new PC - a 3.2GHz CPU in an Antec Sonata case with a Asus P4P-800DLX mobo. The CPU comes with its own fan which is too noisy for my liking. I will likely be replacing this fan with a quieter Zalman fan/heatsink combo. This is something to keep in mind if you get a 3.0GHz or faster system which I assume you will.

I don't know what CPUs the Shuttle can accept, but you will likely not be able to put one of these larger heatsinks into it so you may be stuck with a noisy fan if you want one of the faster processors.

If you are putting together such a high end HTPC then why only use s-video? HDTV looks AMAZING and if cost is not an issue upgrade your TV to an HDTV. If size isn't an issue then rear projection HTPCs can be had for a reasonable price. Then you should get a much better picture out of component or DVI or RGB or whatever your TV accepts.

If you're serving video to other locations you might want to get a media player like the Gateway Connected DVD player for those locations. Then you can stream MPEG or DivX files over your LAN either wired or wireless. The Gateway player is < $200.

[kirchh]

I gather that I might be under a misapprehension about 3D mode; I assumed it wouldn't have any bearing in the performance of BTV.

Can you clarify what 3D mode is and how it benefits BTV? Also, I gather there's some interaction with 'overlay' mode; please excuse my ignorance in this area, but can someone explain the meaning/importance of these modes with respect to BTV?

On the video format issue, cost is not a major concern when talking about the kind of prices video cards and enclosures go for, but I'm not in a position to go to HDTV for the TV at this point; it'll be S-Video for now. But one day...

Thanks again for all the info!

--Daniel

[Eric3a]

3D mode is the "classic" mode that you want to use.
Overlay was recently addedin 3.4.4 to help with some older video cards, but since you are getting a new system don't bother.

3D gives you much nicer menus, transparent menus, fade in and out, and is generally much nicer to look at and interact with.
It does take more 3D processing power, but nothing a decent card can't handle.

Eric

[kirchh]

I had just assumed that 3D capabilities were for games and such that were rendering 3D objects; it never occurred to me that BTV could take advantage of that same acceleration to implement its layered display. Thanks for the info!

I still welcome more viewpoints on a solid box and specific make/model of video card for S-Video output with MPEG-2 acceleration.

Thanks again -
--Daniel