Wondering if people could help me out here
Im currently saving to build a Shuttle HTPC I plan on creating a shopping list of parts and buying as money comes available and watching for second hand parts.
I may have to post in separate sections as I have a lot of questions ( Sorry !!)
Starting with requirements
I want to be able to connect to my TV by HDMI so im guessing the MOBO should have HDIM onboard but will with handle Blue ray etc and is this the way people go or do you buy a dedicated G card if so could you recommend one?
Im not interested in playing games its purely set up for HTPC so from what I can make out HDMI onboard should handle it?
Audio
I want to connect the system to my onkio amplifier by way of optical wire as I understand it this will provide HD sound and is the easiest way to transfer the sound?
I want to capture TV with a dual tuner I was thinking a nova 500 dual tuner would you agree or can you suggest a cheaper alternative as these look expensive?
Processor and RAM
I want to rip Blue ray so im guessing im going to need a dual core processor to do this and around 2 gig of ram would you suggest going higher on Ram EVEN KNOW ITS HTPC only?
I really fall down in this area so would like some recommendations I have read the atom processors are good as there energy efficient and cool to run
What would processor would you recommend as a HTPC setup?
To do Blue ray im going to need an optical drive are all these roughly the same with reverence to ripping the data to the hard disk?
What tools and format do you use ?
I remember back in the days when I used to do DVD’S I just ripped them as a ISO or Mepeg2! (Plan on using media portal so what’s the best way for playback)
Hard disk
Im reading good things on the western digital 1TB green drives is that what most people are using? Also are you using one drive for OS and data or do you install you operation system on a smaller separate drive to improve read times etc?
WIFI would be good if there is a MOBO with this built in as I would like to take it to my girlfriends at a weekend so it’s one less wire to take lol
To control the system I plan on using Logitech diNovo Mini
Sure I will have many more questions but I will leave it as this for now
Thanks
Ian
Im currently saving to build a Shuttle HTPC I plan on creating a shopping list of parts and buying as money comes available and watching for second hand parts.
I may have to post in separate sections as I have a lot of questions ( Sorry !!)
Starting with requirements
I want to be able to connect to my TV by HDMI so im guessing the MOBO should have HDIM onboard but will with handle Blue ray etc and is this the way people go or do you buy a dedicated G card if so could you recommend one?
Im not interested in playing games its purely set up for HTPC so from what I can make out HDMI onboard should handle it?
Audio
I want to connect the system to my onkio amplifier by way of optical wire as I understand it this will provide HD sound and is the easiest way to transfer the sound?
I want to capture TV with a dual tuner I was thinking a nova 500 dual tuner would you agree or can you suggest a cheaper alternative as these look expensive?
Processor and RAM
I want to rip Blue ray so im guessing im going to need a dual core processor to do this and around 2 gig of ram would you suggest going higher on Ram EVEN KNOW ITS HTPC only?
I really fall down in this area so would like some recommendations I have read the atom processors are good as there energy efficient and cool to run
What would processor would you recommend as a HTPC setup?
To do Blue ray im going to need an optical drive are all these roughly the same with reverence to ripping the data to the hard disk?
What tools and format do you use ?
I remember back in the days when I used to do DVD’S I just ripped them as a ISO or Mepeg2! (Plan on using media portal so what’s the best way for playback)
Hard disk
Im reading good things on the western digital 1TB green drives is that what most people are using? Also are you using one drive for OS and data or do you install you operation system on a smaller separate drive to improve read times etc?
WIFI would be good if there is a MOBO with this built in as I would like to take it to my girlfriends at a weekend so it’s one less wire to take lol
To control the system I plan on using Logitech diNovo Mini
Sure I will have many more questions but I will leave it as this for now
Thanks
Ian