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Loading ...Home Theater PC 101
Depending on when you read this, I will either be preparing for, in the middle of or finished with a Webcast about getting started with a Home Theater PC (HTPC) today. If it’s the first two, you can join it in action now. And if you weren’t able to make it, I hope you’ll catch a replay. If you’ve ever considered making the move to watching TV via the Internet a more permanent set up, take a look at our Webcast and keep reading. I’d like to take a few moments to talk about taking the HTPC plunge. I’ll also provide some details on where you can purchase the equipment needed to start enjoying your own HTPC.
With the growth of online entertainment content, the HTPC puts the power of your TV experience in your hands, and I believe that it’s simple enough for just about anyone to do. As I wrote here, my family and I took the plunge a few months ago and so far so good. We watch what we want, when we want, and how we want to view it. And because the HTPC can also serve as a Blu-ray/DVD player, DVR, photo library, music/DVD library and radio I’ve managed to clear a lot of clutter and wires out of the family room.
In all fairness, there are minor drawbacks to getting all your content online. There are a few more steps involved in getting your content and you may not have access to all the same content as you do with cable/satellite. But, happily, the choice is ours-cable+internet content, or 100% internet content.
Let’s get started …
So now that you’ve done your research and decided that a HTPC is right for you, the next step is finding out how to get content from over the air (OTA) broadcasts and through online content providers (see list here). Next, you’ll need to locate the right HTPC equipment.
For many, a turn-key solution from a system integrator or OEM vendor is the best option. It provides easy access to premium content and is easier to maintain and configure than a DIY system. For those who may want or need a shortcut, many of the system integrators will come to you and not only install your HTPC, but offer additional services and functions like home automation. Check out this entry for more details on getting the most from your HTPC from a system integrator (it even talks about setting up Blu-ray to play on your HTPC!).
You may want to check out the following companies who are offering quality HTPCs with digital TV tuners as part of the package. (To expand your content I highly recommend a TV tuner, such as the ATI TV WonderTM 650 PCIe® combo card.) Below are valued AMD industry partners and you can bet that they’ll provide you top-notch products and services.
Ace Computer (Home Installer/Consumer Channel)
Aspen Media Products (Home Installer/Consumer Channel)
Colorado vNet (Home Installer/Dealer channel)
Fluid Digital (Home Installer/Consumer Channel)
Maingear Computer (Consumer Channel)
Okoro Media Systems (Home Installer/Consumer Channel)
By the way, for those of you looking for a more advanced DIY (and cordless) HTPC set-up check out my previous entry. I list out the steps I took to cut the cord so to speak.
The possibilities for your HTPC continue to expand. Last week, Microsoft announced that Netflix streaming is available through Media Center with Windows Vista®. And software options from AMD and others provide enhanced visual experiences for everything from media library inventory to video conversion. And with the appropriate playback hardware and software you can use your HTPC to play back all your favorite DVDs and Blu-ray discs with just a click.
For more tips and tricks on how to get started on your HTPC – or on how to get the most out of your existing set-up – I invite you to browse through the AMD@Home blog. And if you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section. In fact, I will be giving away ATI TV Wonder TV tuners to three commenters who leave a comment here about today’s Webcast. The winners will be selected at random.*
Till next time, Happy Trails!
Jay Taylor is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Eligibility: United States residents, 18 years and older. One (1) entry per person or e-mail address. See Complete “HTPC Webcast TV Tuner Drawing” OFFICIAL RULES for additional rules and details. [insert link to Official Rules here]. Additional restrictions may apply, void where prohibited.
#1 by Anthony Morales - May 27th, 2009 at 11:40
Very informative webcast.
I’m interested in HD movie playback via internet stream. Are you aware of any sites that provide HD movie content?
#2 by Jay Taylor - May 27th, 2009 at 12:25
@Anthony Morales,
There are sites out there that provide HD movie content, but they are often fee based sites.
Check the Online Video content blog I posted. There is a section for Streaming Movies.
#3 by Pete - May 27th, 2009 at 11:45
It’d be great if you could drive resolution of the issue of incorrect white and black point rendering in AMD video drivers. This is a significant issue for HTPCs, and could be an opportunity for AMD to shine. See the (massive) thread at http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/274893.aspx for details.
Thanks for taking the time to do the webcast.
#4 by wpeltola - May 27th, 2009 at 12:10
Jay, I really enjoyed your webcast today and thank you for answering the four questions I posted in recent blog post. I now have a better understanding on how I can make my HTPC better over time and really liked the different tips you offered.
In regards to this post, I made the early mistake of buying a fairly cheap HD Antena at a local Best Buy and I quickly found out..the saying “you get what you pay for” can really come into play when dealing with electronics! I was able to get two local HD channels and that was it. For now, Comcast is holding me over until I can afford a better antena and make the full switch over to full internet and OTA broadcasting.
Please add me to the drawing for the ATI TV Wonder card.. My current tuner seems buggy and I’ve never been able to get it working fully with my current setup. I’m sure it would play well next to my ATI HD2600 Pro.
The news about Netflix working side by side with MS Media Center has me very excited and I plan on checking into this more! Thus far, I’ve been very happy with MS Vista Ultimate and Media Center’s easy integration. As long as I can get Blu Ray downloads from Netflix, I’ll be happy. I may never leave the house again
Thanks again Jay!
#5 by Jay Taylor - May 27th, 2009 at 12:23
@wpeltola, No problem. However, before spending big $$ on an antenna, you might consider trying to build one yourself.
I built mine from coat hangers, woodscrews, a 2×4 and a transformer. Took about 30 minutes to build it and cost $7.00. Works better than a fairly expensive amplified in door antenna I was using prior to that.
I provide a link in my Cut the Cord blog to a video that shows you how to do it.
#6 by wpeltola - May 27th, 2009 at 12:28
@Jay Taylor,
I’m going to give that a try! Any way I can save some $$$ is a good thing; especially now-a-days.
Thanks.
#7 by Heath - May 29th, 2009 at 12:41
Great blog, and informative webcast! I’ve been thinking about “cutting the cord” myself. I spend a lot of time in the htpc section at AVS, and I see many people have the opinion that the on board graphics of the 780 chipset is not sufficient for interlaced content, such as standard DVD and 1080i TV. Knowing that you use this solution in your home, what’s your take on this?
#8 by Jay Taylor - June 1st, 2009 at 13:08
@Heath,
Hello Heath, I have found the 780 chipset to be very robust for anything I throw at it. Now, I am running a 65W quad core CPU which does have greater Hypertransport bandwidth, but DVD’s upscale nicely and OTA SD digital content looks fine (as well as SD content can look on an HD screen, IMO). I am not getting dropped frames or anything.
Now, there may be some file formats that I am not viewing on my box, but I generally don’t watch much MKV files, etc.
#9 by Surya - June 1st, 2009 at 01:33
I though AMD as chips and platforms solution provider must be neutral to their hardware vendors/system integrators, but I can not find any websites that comparing some AMD platforms (like Puma notebook platform) from several hardware vendors/system integrators. I can find several hardware review websites that compare your competitor notebook platform (netbook in this case) that offered from several company. Can you tell me the hardware review websites that compare several products based on your platform qualifications?
#10 by Jay Taylor - June 1st, 2009 at 13:14
@Surya, I will need to talk with the notebook team on that. I am not directly invovled in the notebook enablement efforts. I will see what I can find out.
#11 by Carmen - June 1st, 2009 at 09:34
What do I do if I have a Nintendo Wii and a Satellite box and want to listen audio output on mi surround speakers connected to the integrated 5.1 amp in the MSI Media Live Diva???
#12 by Jay Taylor - June 1st, 2009 at 13:12
@Carmen, Some of this depends on what OS you are using and what the output capablilities are of your other h/w.
I do have a Wii connected up to my MSI Media Live Diva platform and play the audio back out on the 5.1 amp card. I am running Win 7 and bring the 2 channel audio from the Wii to the 2 ch. inputs on the back of the MSI board. Just set the audio properties in Win 7 to monitor the inputs and it routes the audio back out to the amp card.
As for your STB, it would depend if your box has SPDIF coax audio out. In theory, it should work similar to the Wii, but as mentioned, I don’t have satellite anymore so I cannot test this out.
I am completely cord free at this point so I only have my 1 HTPC box under the TV. I installed 2 TV Tuners for local OTA content and go online for the rest.
#13 by Milardo - September 23rd, 2009 at 13:29
I wish there was more support for old ati tv tuner products like my ati tv wonder pro!