Re: Daily Frustrations when being a HTPC enthusiast

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October 8, 2010 at 6:58 pm #1479
Meester.Rip

    As far as frustrations go it was always what I introduced to the HTPC setup that caused me the problems not necessarily the pc.

    When I was running Media Center 2005 on my Tube TV it worked great for a couple years. I’ll list my issues chronologically.

    I got a HDTV – This required a new setup so I upgrade my video card for HDMI – problem fixed.

    Added an HDHR – Pixelation caused from cheap onboard NIC. Tinkered with properties and upgraded router to gigabit.

    BluRay comes along. New build here to have a faster proc, bigger HDD for storage. Onboard video works. Board was a 690G

    Surround sound – Onboard audio didn’t cut it, I tried a new ATI 4350 addin card, still an issue so I went with a dedicated sound card – problem fixed.

    WHS – This addition to the setup brought networking issues back again. Upgraded to a discrete Intel NIC and the problem is solved.

    I have no problem telling people they should want an HTPC. They should need to listen to me because I have been there and done that at my expense. Currently I have several friends, family andd neighbors that like my setup. But I have to figure out what they really want before I tell them what they need to buy. And if they go to Frys without me and tell me they have problems later I’ll tell them straight up I can’t help unless they take it all back and then listen to me.

    There are a lot of levels of a HTPC also. From a basic Netflix box with the ability to play music and other media from the network to a full blown whole house DVR and Media server.