Pre-Built HTPC

[GeoffBQ]

Hi everyone,

I am a custom installer and used to be a Niveus dealer.  A friend would like me to install a Win7MC for him along with some speakers and RTI remotes.  My question is should I build him a computer from scratch or is this ASRock pre-built good enough.  Anand said it was the best he has tested.  It is either that one or the one for $50 more with a BD drive in it. He has a Blu-ray player so he won’t be watching disks on it, we may eventually rip some to disk.  He wants it mainly to watch whatever he records in any of their three rooms and for Netflix.  This would mean that my cable card tuner has to be of the USB variety.  If anyone has a better system for the money please recommend it.

Thanks for your input.

Geoff

[Mike Garcen]

The main issue you’ll have with that ASRock OEM system is simply the size and the limitations. You say he wants to watch programming recorded anywhere on 3 rooms, so storage space is going to be a big deal. Or does he have a server as well?

What are you using in the other rooms, extenders or these same OEM boxes?

[GeoffBQ]

We are using 3 xBox 360’s and for storage I usually install one of these or these.

[GeoffBQ]

I guess what I am most interested in is reliability, I just want to stick an appliance like device on the shelf and let is sit there and act like his Set Top Box after I have set it up.

Thanks,

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

Does anyone have any comments on this, I would like to order in the next couple of days and was hoping someone has some advice.

Thanks,

Geoff

[RehabMan]

My only concern with that AsRock PC is what kind of noise does it make?!  It is based off a laptop MB and CPU and pretty small form factor, so there might not be space enough for large, low RPM, quiet fans.

I did find this review: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4713/asrock-coreht-252b-review/1

There is some data on noise there, but it is not exactly SPCR type nitpicking…

[babgvant]

[quote=GeoffBQ]

Does anyone have any comments on this, I would like to order in the next couple of days and was hoping someone has some advice.

Thanks,

Geoff

[/quote]

The problem with offering advice on a system like this is that w/o messing with it there is no way to say how reliable or appliance like it will be.  On paper it looks capable, but I think it’s pricey for what you’re getting and how it looks.

[RehabMan]

With 3 extenders, you might want more RAM.  Especially if they are to be used at the same time.

[RehabMan]

Also, I wonder what GigE NIC that has in it?  It is likely Realtek, which would be not so good news.  Better off with Intel.

[GeoffBQ]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  I went ahead and ordered one and will report back on how it goes. All my media centers have either been self built or a Niveus MC, I don’t have all the performance expectations with this as it will be primarily used for just TV and music no Blu-ray or movies ripping so hoping it can just sit there and do its job.  I will let everyone know.

Thanks,

Geoff

[GeoffBQ]

So I have had this installed for about a week.  I am having one problem with it that I hope someone can give me some advice with.  I am not turning it off or putting it to sleep at all, I want it to be instant when they turn on TV with the remote.  But, when the receiver and TV turn off 15 out of 16 times when everything comes back on, the computer has a message on it saying that Media Center has crashed and needs to be restarted.  I am thinking that when the HDMI port on the computer doesn’t have anything connected to it, it crashes MC, is there a setting somewhere in the video drivers that can alleviate it?  It is using a Core i3 and the built in GPU.  Unfortunately when this happens if you try to start up an extender it won’t connect, so the living room has to be turned on and relaunch MC.

So is there anything I can do so when the receiver turns off MC won’t crash?

If I can get this worked out, this setup will probably end up getting high marks.

Thanks,

Geoff

[babgvant]

The HDMI Detective is probably the best solution. Otherwise you can use StandbyHelper as a workaround.

[GeoffBQ]

Andy,

Thanks for replying so quickly.  I have never had this problem with either nVidia or ATI cards is this something you have seen with the Core i processors?  I think you have tested them more than anyone else in an HTPC function.

Geoff

[mikinho]

Do you have Clarkdale or Sandy Bridge base Core i3?  What CPU in particular.

Sadly no one has gotten it just right.  ATI, NVIDIA and Intel all have different HDMIHDCPEDID issues.  NVIDIA and ATI can lead to a black screen.  

Intel most commonly results in a smaller screen resolution but is generally easy to fix.  Let us know your specific CPU and what driver version you are using.

[GeoffBQ]

I know it is Sandy Bridge not sure of the driver version atm.

Geoff

[Author]

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