Posts tagged with Windows Media Center
Building an HTPC on a Budget (part 1)
Posted by Jay Taylor in 8:43 PM
Loading ...A hardware roundup – The Entry Level Build!
I have seen different sites put together a list of potential HTPC hardware for budgets under $1000 USD. While many of these sites are showcasing some nice systems, I think there are multiple ways to approach this project. As such, I put together my own list for a potential HTPC build while offering some options to hit different price points — entry level, mainstream/mid level and higher end systems — each less than $1000 USD. So here’s the first part of the series: The Entry Level Build.
For me, there are two things that drive my decision process when making a component selection for an HTPC; product performance/features and cost. I want technology that will offer good performance, aimed at the HTPC space, yet will not “break the bank”. As I outlined in my previous blogs, the HTPC does not require the absolute highest performance products, nor should it be about buying the cheapest products. What the HTPC needs is a combination of more balanced products that offer good performance and low power draw — all within a reasonable budget. I have seen too many individuals less that satisfied with their HTPCs because they bought the absolute highest performance products on the market and their HTPC was just too loud. Similarly, I have seen many others buy the cheapest products they could find only to realize their HTPC could not handle the tasks they desired.
So what can you expect from an entry level HTPC build? An entry level system can handle many of your standard HTPC duties. It should be able to offer smooth HD playback without dropping frames. It should handle most streamed online content (think Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc.). It should be able to drive HD resolutions (1080p, 720p) and do a decent job of upscaling standard DVDs. It should be able to play most mainstream games at lower resolutions (1024 x 768, 800 x 600, etc.) and still look good. However, check with the game manufacturer for complete system requirements.
Motherboard
At the heart of any HTPC platform is the motherboard and critical to the motherboard is the chipset. For this entry level budget HTPC build, I opted for the Gigabyte GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H. This board has a host of features that make for a good HTPC system. Being uATX, it can be put into a reasonably sized chassis (think ~VCR size). It is based upon the AMD RS785 chipset so it has great video performance and supports HD Resolutions (including Blu-ray), when combined with an HD monitor. The UVD-2 support is really useful for hardware acceleration of video related content. The powerful integrated graphics eliminates the need for a discrete card (saving power and money). The HDMI output offers easy connectivity to your HD TV. All-in-all, this makes for a good solution for the HTPC.
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H $94.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128399&Tpk=GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H
CPU
Processing power plays an important role in an HTPC. Depending on what it is you want to do with your HTPC, you may need more speed in your CPU or you may need more cores in your CPU. For example, if you will be using your HTPC to do a lot of transcoding, a CPU with more cores will offer you better performance. However, some applications may benefit from higher frequencies. You should really look at all the applications you are going to be using with your HTPC and determine if those applications would benefit from more cores or higher frequencies. In any case, you will still want low power CPUs for their superior thermal performance. The processor I selected for this entry build is the AMD AthlonTM II X2 240 dual-core processor. It is a dual core, low power processor that offers a great performance for the price.
CPU: AMD AthlonTM II X2 240 dual-core processor $60.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688
CPU Cooler
This one can be a little harder to address. When buying an AMD Processor In a Box (PIB) product, the heatsink will generally come with the CPU purchase in a nice box. These can be very effective and quiet coolers for most HTPC tasks.
Memory
Now for memory. There are not a lot of optimizations a memory vendor can do for an HTPC type scenario. Unlike video games applications or other mainstream desktop applications, HTPCs don’t need the fastest memory available. Likewise, they don’t necessarily need huge amounts of memory to provide great performance. I have found that 2GB is a pretty good amount of memory to start with for an HTPC. Rule of thumb is to get as much of the fastest memory that fits within your budget. For cost effectiveness, brand recognition and performance, I chose to go with memory from Kingston for this build.
Memory: Kingston 2GB Kit (2×1GB) of DDR3 1066 $43.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134492
Note: if you are using a 32 bit operating system, anything over 4GBs will not be recognized by the system (actually about 3.5GB will be seen by the OS).
HDD
Vendors like Seagate, Western Digital, and Hitachi also offer a variety of products for the PC space. Like AMD, they have some products that target this lower power environment. Seagate’s Pipeline HD series, Western Digital’s Green series, and Hitachi’s Cinemastar series drives are optimized for low power and quiet operation. These drives typically have fluid bearings, improved firmware and thermals that make them more suited for HTPC applications. Like memory, more storage is usually a good thing for an HTPC. If you plan on doing a lot of recording of TV, storing movies, music, etc. then again, purchasing as much storage as your budget allows is probably a good thing. For this build I chose the Western Digital 500GB Green drive.
HDD: Western Digital 500GB Green HDD $54.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136358
Optical Disk Drive (ODD)
Selecting an optical drive can be a little challenging because it is often hard to tell the advantages of one over another. I have used a variety of drives over the years — some more reliable than others and some quieter than others. However, for me when it comes to the HTPC discussion, it boils down to DVD vs. Blu-ray. With the HD DVD / Blu-ray format war over, it does make the decision a little easier, but you still really need to look at what you are planning to do and how much you want to budget for the ODD. Upscaled DVD content can look very good on an HDTV. In my opinion, the clarity of Blu-ray really starts to show up at screen sizes larger than 50 inches. At 50 inches and below, upscaled DVD can look very nice and can save the consumer some money. Therefore, to keep costs within an entry level price point, I opted for a standard DVD.
ODD: Lite-On DVD ROM $17.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106274
Chassis
In an earlier blog, I covered some of the different chassis solutions on the market. Selecting a chassis really depends on personal tastes, budget, room decor, etc. The criteria I used below included a combination of price and functionality, yet still fitting the overall HTPC look and feel. However, adjust your budget based upon your own goals.
Chassis: HEC SECC 7K09 $54.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121027
Power Supply
Included in Chassis for this build. PSU selection is an important topic and we will talk more about this in upcoming blog.
Remote Control
The Remote Control is another important piece of your HTPC. I have already posted part 1 of the 2 part series on remote controls and I am currently working on the second part of that series. Microsoft’s Media Center product that is included with some versions of their operating system does a very nice job of bringing the “10-foot experience” to the PC. They make it very easy to access things like live and recorded TV (assuming you have a TV tuner installed), music, photos and more with just a remote. In fact, I have my HTPC set up so that I rarely (if ever) need to pick up a keyboard. As such, I think every HTPC user should add a remote to their configuration. Some higher-end remotes can be very expensive while offering more functionality, but may not be required for many of the basic functions of the HTPC. For a budget solution, I opted for the basic IR-based Media Center remote from Anywhere.
Remote: Anywhere Media Center Remote with IR receiver $22.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880121001
Keyboard/Mouse
Similar to remotes, keyboards are another important part of your HTPC solution. See part 1 of the Remote Control series for more info on keyboard options. For this budget build, I chose the Logitech keyboard/mouse Bluetooth solution for both range and functionality. Having both keyboard and mouse functionality out of the same device makes it easy to use. You could buy a separate keyboard and mouse as an option, but you would probably be close to this same price anyway.
Keyboard: Logitech Mediaboard Pro $69.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16879212011
Operating System
There are many different options here and many people will have their own opinion of what operating system to use. For simplicity, I am suggesting Microsoft’s Windows Vista® Home Premium solution. However, with Microsoft® Windows® 7 just around the corner, it may be worthwhile to wait and use that instead. Everything I have seen with Windows 7 looks to be very impressive for both general PC duties in addition to HTPC duties. (A Windows 7 capable PC configuration will be required.) Linux® is another very viable option and very cost effective. However, you might need more experience with setting up and configuring a Linux based system to get everything working to your liking.
OS: Windows Vista® Home Premium $99.99 USD (or wait for Windows® 7 Home Premium)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116485
OK, that covers most of the components you will need. The total cost of the hardware listed above comes to $420.92 USD + $99.99 USD for the operating system. Not a bad price for everything you are getting. Prices do not reflect any rebates or discounts that might be available nor does it include shipping costs. Sometimes you can get bundle deals, free shipping, etc. So do your research to get the best deals when you purchase and you may be able to get even better prices than what’s listed here.
Note, I am listing prices in US dollars found on Newegg as of the day this was written. They are not the only source and there are plenty of choices on where to purchase.
For those that would rather purchase a pre configured HTPC, see my “Build or Buy?” blog posting.
So, as you can see, building a budget HTPC is not all that expensive plus you can get very robust functionality. In the next part of this series, we will look at a mainstream, mid level build and bump up some of the functions and features to get a more robust HTPC experience.
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.
Getting Ready to Flick on the Switch
Posted by Shane Parfitt in 2:41 PM
(8 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)TV watchers in the U.S. are facing the “big switch“-the day when full-power television stations stop analog broadcasts and move to 100% digital broadcasts. After June 12, 2009, a television receiver with only an analog broadcast tuner will no longer receive over-the-air broadcasts originating from the US with an antenna because of the US transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. Nielsen research reported in late 2008 that 6.5 million US households were still unprepared for the switch, but this number has now dropped by more than half, to about 3.1 million households.
One solution being offered by the US Federal Communications Commission is a digital-to-analog converter box that receives over-the-air digital signals with your antenna converts them to analog and sends the signal to your television. This will allow you to watch Digital free-to-air television on an analog TV. In any case, these digital-to-analog converter boxes are primarily intended for standalone TV sets, and may not be well suited for PC use.
It’s not often that we see a huge technological shift that affects each and every American-from those who have never turned on a computer to the most diehard tech enthusiast. For AMD, and in particular, for those with a history in our graphics team, talking about TV encourages us to look back at our own company’s history in changing the way people watch television. It was 13 years ago, in 1996, that ATI Technologies (now a part of AMD) released the ATI All-In-WonderTM, world’s first combination graphics and TV tuner card, giving consumers the ability to play early PC games and watch television on their computer. This paved the way for a series of innovative TV on PC products from AMD that let consumers program and record their favorite TV shows (long before the word TiVo became a household name) and receive free over-the-air TV signals for budget-friendly, high-quality home entertainment.
The newest addition to AMD’s TV-on-PC roster is the just released ATI TheaterTM HD 750 which brings HDTV and digital video recording (DVR) capabilities to desktop and notebook PCs using free-to-air broadcast signals without the need of a converter box. With DTV signals reaching 98% of the US population, anyone can gain access to their favorite hit shows, live sporting events, and a variety of local programming from the major US broadcast networks. And because we know that watching visually intense shows like Heroes and Lost demands only the best in picture quality, AMD has made further tweaks to the video processing and signal reception technology to help you see clearer, crisper and more vibrant images than any of our previous generation of PCTV products.
AMD has also worked with our technology partners to offer this chip in a variety of form factors that make it easy to add on to existing systems-including: a plug and play USB “stick” that could connect to a laptop computer; a mini PCI Express Card that will fit into a sleek home theater PC in the living room; and the more traditional PCI Express board that fits well in the home computer. For those looking to upgrade to a new laptop or desktop computer with TV tuner capabilities built into the box, stay tuned for anticipated product launches from major manufacturers later this year.
What also makes this product unique, is that it is our first TV tuner that is compatible with both digital and analog TV signals from around the globe-so you could potentially take your laptop on a trip to Hong Kong, power it up and be able to pick up the local free-to-air broadcast. AMD is prepared not just for the US digital transition but also for the global digital transition. Planned broadcast transitions include: October 2009 in Denmark, April 2010 in Spain, July 2010 in Estonia, August 2011 in Canada, January 2012 in Hungary and Romania, December 2012 in Bulgaria and Italy, with many more just around the corner.
Ultimately, the ATI Theater HD 750 is all about bringing affordable and high quality TV watching to PC owners everywhere. Whether you are a college student who needs a less expensive alternative to cable or a condo owner looking for a space friendly way to add a second TV to the house, the ATI Theater HD 750 really does have something for everyone-especially those who don’t want to be left in the dark when their old school rabbit ears won’t cut it anymore.
Shane Parfitt is Product Marketing Manager, PCTV Group 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.
Are You Plugged In Yet?
Posted by Jay Taylor in 12:29 PM
Getting more out of your HTPC.
I have mentioned in previous posts about various Plug In applications you can get that can add functionality and value to your home theater PC. This time, I thought I would share a few that I am currently using and provide a list of several more that exist.
However, before jumping into things, let me first explain a little about “plug-in” applications. As I had discussed in the What Can a Home Cinema/Home Theater PC Do?, Microsoft has developed a very nice application called Windows® Media Center. Windows Media Center provides some great functionality that allows you to enjoy much of your favorite content from the comfort of your couch. However, the very nature of the HTPC makes it very flexible, allowing it to do so much more. As such, Microsoft has enabled tools that allow software developers and others to write their own applications that “Plug In” to the Windows Media Center application. Once installed, most of these applications can be launched and used from inside the Windows Media Center almost as though it were part of the original application. In some cases, the plug-in might run in the background or reside on the desktop to make the Windows Media Center experience better.
The availability of plug-ins has enabled professional software vendors as well as individual software programmers to write a variety of applications that can enhance the overall functionality of your HTPC. There are applications that let you organize and store your DVD collection onto your HTPC, allow you to shop/bid on sites like eBay, provide localized, national and international weather updates, plus a lot more.
Below are some screen shots from My Movies and MCE Weather to give you an idea of the different types of features that can be added to your HTPC.
Movie Collection View
Forecast View
One thing to note about plug-ins is that while many of these are free, most of the developers do accept donations as they do spend a great deal of their free time writing and debugging these applications. If you find one you really like, consider making a donation to show your appreciation and support for the developer. Other plug-ins are fee based but may offer a trial version. Lastly, some plug-ins have specific hardware or software requirements, so it’s important to check the requirements before downloading and/or installing the application.
Below is a list of various plug-ins that I have collected with the help of folks on various forums. Again, this list is not all inclusive nor should it be considered a “recommended” list — it is just a sampling of some of the plug-ins available today. Most of the sites below will have screen shots and detailed information about their application.
View add/remove movies from your Netflix queue, browse movies, view history/recommendations, etc.
VMC Netflix
vmcNetflix is another Netflix oriented plug-in to manage your Netflix subscription.
My Movies Plugin
Shown above, index all your DVD movies automatically, browse, read about and watch your movies, etc.
ArcSoft TotalMedia™ Theatre (Fee based)
This is a great plug in for Blu-ray and DVD playback. The software supports multiple audio/video formats (Blu-ray or DVD Drive required).
Web Guide 4
WebGuide allows you to remotely view live/recorded TV programs as well as manage your recorded television programs. Offers remote access from any machine that has a web browser an internet access, including mobile devices. This currently only works with Windows Vista®
Secondrun TV Plugin
Here is a nice plug-in that brings Hulu to Media Center. This is an early release and still a work in progress, but it is a great start.
My Channel Logos for 7MC
Here is a nice plug-in that allows you to add channel logos to TV channels in the EPG (Program Guide). It is limited to Microsoft’s Windows 7 at this point in time.
MCE Google Calendar
Plug-in for adding Google calendar to Media Center.
Video Browser
Plug-in that provides a simple interface to your videos, movies, and TV shows.
Media Browser
Media Browser is a free media aggregator plugin for Media Center that takes your recorded, digital, or ripped media and presents it in a simple, easy to use interface. Media Browser prides itself on delivering a fast, intuitive, media rich experience for the whole family.
MC Shoutcast (Fee based)
mcShoutCast adds internet radio to your HTPC. +13,000 stations at your fingertips, save your favorite radio stations. Top 500 Station list shows you the hottest stations.
Music Browser
Music Browser is a Vista Media Center application which allow for folder based navigation of your music files, ditching the need to have the Artist and/or Album Artist tagged correctly in all of your files.
MCE Buddy
MCEBuddy is a file compression tool to make large TV, Video, etc. files smaller, saving disk space. It can also remove commercials from recorded TV shows.
MCE Weather
mceWeather shows weather for your region on your TV or PC. The plug-in provides data from all over the world. It shows the forecast for the next days and also shows you a satellite image of your country.
My TV to Go (Fee based)
Easily convert and transfer TV shows directly to your mobile device. Watch TV on your iPod, Sony Playstation Portable, Laptop, Pocket PC, Smartphone etc. Transfer directly to your device using your remote control (connectivity hardware may be required).
Lifextender
Lifextender is a simple commercial-removal application designed exclusively for Windows Vista® Media Center users.
ShowAnalyzer
ShowAnalyzer is another commercial removal based plug-in that basically “watches” the show for you, only really, really fast.
MCE Auction
Just imagine sitting on your couch in the living room with your remote in the hand while you search, browse, bid or buy on eBay! mceAuction brings eBay to your living room on your Microsoft® Windows® Media Center 2005 or Window’s Vista® Media Center.
MCE Contacts (Fee based)
Brings your contacts into media center with the ability to add pictures and detailed info on each contact.
Media Center Mail
With Media Center Mail you can read your e-mails on your Media Center TV. Media Center Mail comes with its own mail system for receiving e-mails from POP3 servers.
Media Center Status
Media Center Status is a simple application to keep your Facebook and Twitter friends up to date based upon what you are watching in Media Center.
MCE Phone Skype Application (Fee based)
With mcePhone for Skype, your Microsoft® Windows® Media Center turns into a full communication machine. Make/Receive Skype calls from within Windows Media Center (additional hardware may be required).
Menu Mender
Not so much a plug in per se, but more of a nice utility that allows you to customize the menu strips in Windows Vista® Media Center, add short cut icons to launch applications, etc. This does not work with Windows 7®.
Media Center Studio
Media Center studio is the follow on product to Menu Mender. It is another nice utility that allows you to customize the menu strips, add themes and customize your Media Center experience in both Windows Vista® and Windows 7®.
MCE Zone
A site with several different plug in applicaitons. They have calendar plug ins, Twitter® plug ins, VOIP plug ins and more.
As you can see, there are lots of ways to extend the functionality and enhance your HTPC experience. Next time, I will provide more info on my own experience with our Maui HTPC.
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.
What Can A Home Cinema/Home Theater PC Do? Part 1
Posted by Jay Taylor in 12:18 PM
The Benefits of Owning an HTPC
Last time, I addressed why anyone would consider owning an HTPC. HTPCs have come a long way in a short amount of time. Today I want to share a little more info about the features offered by an HTPC and include some pretty screen shots. This is Part I of a two part post. Look for Part II in the coming days. Most of what I am sharing here is based upon my own, personal experience and most of the screen captures in this series are from my own system at home.
What I’m describing today is based on the Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate operating system which includes an application called Windows Media Center. While not the only solution, I am limiting this particular blog to the Windows Media Center functions along with a few “plug-in” applications due to some inherent advantages offered by Windows Media Center along with its support for digital cable tuners. I do want to note that what I am describing here is controlled with your HTPC remote control for ease of use.
Access Music, Recorded TV, Live TV, Play Blu-ray discs, and more with a touch of a remote.
Movies and Videos
HTPCs provide a great way for you to enjoy DVDs and Blu-ray discs. With the appropriate playback software you can use your HTPC to play back all your favorite DVDs and Blu-ray discs without ever touching a keyboard or mouse. It behaves just like a traditional DVD player.
Access various online content including Internet Radio, movie services, news and shopping.
With applications like Cinemanow (pictured above, lower right corner icon), you can even rent or buy the latest movies online and stream them over the Internet without leaving your living room.
HTPCs also give you an easy way to store and playback your personal video library. Those vacation videos that you took last summer? Your kid’s school play? Whatever the content, now you can access it anytime with a simple click of your remote. Heck, you might even embarrass your kids by breaking out that video of them dressed like an talking tree in the 2nd grade school play and showing it to their dates years later.
Broadcast and Cable TV
If you add a TV tuner to your HTPC, you can receive your local broadcast television transmissions (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, etc.) in full, high-definition, free of charge. I find myself using my HTPC for TV viewing quite regularly. Even my wife is using our HTPC for TV viewing more often than our satellite set top box.
Guide data for scheduling recordings, tuning stations, etc.
Add a digital cable tuner (a.k.a. OCUR) and you can access many of your favorite premium cable channels like HBO, The Movie Channel, etc. right on your HTPC. A digital cable tuner and a cable card from your cable provider can turn your HTPC into a cable-like set top box thereby eliminating the need of renting one from your cable company.
Digital cable tuners and/or OCUR solutions are only available from OEM vendors and system integrators and not available to the Do-It-Yourself community at this point in time. We will be posting a list of system integrators that are selling AMD technology-based Home Cinema PCs on our website.
DVR/PVR (a.k.a. Time Shifting)
Along with live TV viewing, with your HTPC, you can watch TV on your terms. An HTPC can be used just like a digital video recorder (DVR) or personal video recorder (PVR). Record your favorite shows and watch them when you are ready. You can pause and rewind live TV, and skip commercials. Depending on the amount of storage space on your HTPC, you can store hundreds of hours of HD TV content. This is one I find myself using quite frequently as well.
DVR/Recorded TV – Watch TV on your terms
Remote Viewing (a.k.a. Place Shifting)
Typically known as “place shifting,” your HTPC can also serve content from remote locations (i.e. traveling, etc.) Similar to devices like a Slingbox, your HTPC can serve media to you while you are outside the home from just about any Internet-enabled system. Perhaps you are on vacation overseas and want to catch the local news. If your HTPC is set up to record the news, you can access that programming from a local device connected to the Internet.
Pictures
Millions of people own digital cameras. In fact, more pictures are taken now than any other time since the invention of the camera. However, people rarely go back to view them more than once. They might share them via an online service or email a few pics around to family and friends, but the majority of digital photos sit on the computer or your camera and rarely get viewed. With an HTPC, you have an easy way to access those pictures from the comfort of your couch. You can easily play them back in a slide show, set to your favorite music while friends are over. It really is a great way to share your memories.
Store all your pictures in one, easy to access location and enjoy them on your big screen TV.
Some of these functions may be limited at times due to copy protection mechanisms, but this does show the power and versatility of an HTPC. Stay tuned for Part II of this two part series where we will next discuss amplified audio, music, Internet TV and more!
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.