hey you guys
need lil help.
am looking into letting go of my laptop and into htpc.

what am looking for is a HTPC/some gaming like sims
anyhow how should i build this with a budget not more than 1500.

anyone? thanks a million.

after more than half a day tweaking and reading and setting up...finally got my new HTPC to bitstream HD audio onto my AVR.  but with a solution, come a new problem...

first, i only get HD audio with MPC-HC and not on XBMC for some reason.  both Dolby TrueHD & DTS-MA works on MPC but on XBMC, all i get is PCM.  whatever i try to do.

second problem, (i only have 1 TrueHD source) when i try playing the title with TrueHD using MPC-HC, the video playback is jerky...kinda like choppy...don't know what's the best word to describe it...but i play anything else, no problem, although there's another file with DTS-HD MA tat's giving problem, kinda like watching badly scratched DVD disk, or those Uncle Ho's DVD...

but the same title (with TrueHD) played using XBMC, no problem  but i can't get TrueHD or HD-MA...

i guess i'll have to live with it for the time being...perhaps anyone kind enough to let me know what's the problem?

i also read one net that Cyberlink PowerDVD comes with HD Audio decoder...i have a copy of the PowerDVD 8 that came with the BD-Rom i bought...i haven't tried it yet...maybe will update here later...

btw, i've tried MPC-HC, XBMC and MCE.  MCE sucks real bad...i hated it the minute i started with it.

XBMC is probably the best, but somehow, not able to bitstream HD-MA & TrueHD.

MPC-HC, User Interface not the best, able to output both HD audio format, but a couple titles' video playback with its individual problem.

what other media center software is available out there? preferably freewares 

Did u try TMT3/TMT5 (TotalMedia Theatre )??

pls share with us how to get a NAS and HDD within 400..as far as I know a decent NAS itself is already costing more than 400?

installed TMT5 but haven't really gone in details with it...will give it a try tonight...

tried MPC-HC with few more titles..and confirm, it's not able to smoothly play the titles although its able to bitstream HD audio.  tried an MKV file with DTS-HD MA last night...and there's lip sync problem.  play the same title with XBMC, no problem (but unable to bitstream)

also, when i fast forward (drag the time slider) the whole thing freezes...

stumbled into this article Media Smart Server which apparently can use MPC in XBMC  doesn't look too complicated so i'll give it a try tonight and see what the result is.

edited:

k, so i've tried using MPC-HC with XBMC...i get HD audio, cos it basically means using XBMC's UI and launch a movie with MPC...effectively it doesn't change anything...attached screen shot of a m2ts title with DTS HD MA



its like watching Uncle Ho's DVD...as said earlier, same title with XBMC no problem.

what seem to be the problem?

installed TMT5 but haven't really gone in details with it...will give it a try tonight...

tried MPC-HC with few more titles..and confirm, it's not able to smoothly play the titles although its able to bitstream HD audio.  tried an MKV file with DTS-HD MA last night...and there's lip sync problem.  play the same title with XBMC, no problem (but unable to bitstream)

also, when i fast forward (drag the time slider) the whole thing freezes...

stumbled into this article Media Smart Server which apparently can use MPC in XBMC  doesn't look too complicated so i'll give it a try tonight and see what the result is.

edited:

k, so i've tried using MPC-HC with XBMC...i get HD audio, cos it basically means using XBMC's UI and launch a movie with MPC...effectively it doesn't change anything...attached screen shot of a m2ts title with DTS HD MA



its like watching Uncle Ho's DVD...as said earlier, same title with XBMC no problem.

what seem to be the problem?

Stan001, hope you dont mind im sharing the information for those users watching Blu-ray on HTPC

CyberLink Corp. today released CyberLink PowerDVD 10. Enabling Full HD and 3D Blu-ray playback, CyberLink PowerDVD 10 features TrueTheater 3D technology, upgrading the movie experience with 3D movie playback for DVD discs and video files. Meanwhile, the improved version of TrueTheater HD, optimized for the latest CPU/GPU acceleration technologies, enables the upscaling of both DVD movies and video files to HD. A "Mark II" update is scheduled for release this summer which will add Blu-ray 3D playback and 2D-to-3D video file conversion to their software.

With the initial release of PowerDVD 10, consumers will enjoy Blu-ray movies, plus the new features of CyberLink's advanced suite of TrueTheater technologies: TrueTheater 3D, TrueTheater HD, TrueTheater Noise Reduction, and TrueTheater Stabilizer.

Referring to PowerDVD 10 as a major milestone for CyberLink, Alice H. Chang, CyberLink CEO declared: "We're not just talking about an incremental shift in quality; PowerDVD 10 represents a new era of media entertainment, offering the best 3D and HD experience you can enjoy on the PC."

"We've upgraded playback quality for video files and music too, turning PowerDVD 10 into a unique universal player that enhances the visual and auditory experience for all kinds of media," said Alice H. Chang.

In addition to new playback features, PowerDVD 10 enables new online experiences, with more features for sharing movie reviews and live comments to social networks on Facebook, Twitter and MoovieLive.com.

CyberLink PowerDVD 10 offers the following features:

Blu-ray Movies in 3D:

    * Blu-ray 3D, including comprehensive support for various 3D playback hardware, ensures exceptional playback quality for the soon-to-be-released Blu-ray 3D format. (A free "Mark II" upgrade will be made available to existing PowerDVD 10 Ultra users to enable Blu-ray 3D features.)
    * Improved optimization for Intel Core Family Processors, NVIDIA CUDA and ATI Stream, delivers smooth playback for high-definition content by leveraging the power of the latest hardware acceleration technology.
    * Lossless HD audio, including support for HDMI 1.3a, offers pure 8-channel Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio via a single cable.
    * Fast Blu-ray loading enables consumers to access their Blu-ray movies on the PC up to four times faster.
    * DVDs in 3D and HD
    * Advanced Cyberlink TrueTheater 3D technology lets consumers transform their existing 2D DVD content into a 3D experience.
    * HD upscaling for DVDs, using CyberLink TrueTheater HD technology, sharpens the image quality of standard definition content for playback on high-definition TVs and monitors.
    * Enhanced Videos and Music
    * Quality-enhancing TrueTheater Technology for videos improves the playback experience for video files, including real-time correction of home movies using TrueTheater Stabilizer and TrueTheater Noise Reduction. PowerDVD also includes TrueTheater HD, TrueTheater Motion, and TrueTheater Lighting for upscaling and enhancing video files too.
    * TrueTheater Surround for music allows PowerDVD users to customize their playback experience according to their home theater hardware and personal taste, with a range of settings for optimizing audio playback.
    * Extensive file format support enables playback of even more movie types, including QT, MOV, RM, RMVB, FLV, MKV, and 3GPP, and support for subtitle formats including smi, ass, ssa, psb, srt and sub.
    * Refreshed universal player interface integrates access to movies, videos and music files, without compromising the traditional simplicity of the PowerDVD interface design.
    * Playlist features allow consumers to easily create video and music playlists of their favorite media.

Movie Reviews and Live Comments

    * MovieMarks offer a brand new way for PowerDVD users to bookmark, write and share movie reviews, by adding comments and descriptions to bookmarks of key movie scenes.
    * Sharing MovieMarks on MoovieLive.com is a new feature allowing reviewers to upload their reviews to PowerDVD's online community MoovieLive.com. MovieMarks can be downloaded and shared.
    * Short Comments allow users to post live updates to Facebook, Twitter and MoovieLive.com as they are watching their movie.
    * PowerDVD Movie Page provides direct access to the latest content on MoovieLive.com, with links to recent movie reviews, trailers, and product tutorials, more in-depth movie information, and the ability to post live comments to Twitter and Facebook.

Support for Windows 7:

    * Touch support allows users to navigate features by touch, including their Movie Collection via PowerDVD's FancyView interface.
    * Ambient Light support offers compatibility with hardware featuring the power-saving feature of the latest notebooks.
    * Support for Windows 7 music library features enables easy creation of music playlists and track management directly from within PowerDVD 10.

Product Availability

Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 is now available online, supporting the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Boxed versions will be available soon in retail stores worldwide. CyberLink also offers OEM versions to PC and peripheral manufacturing customers.

    * CyberLink PowerDVD 10 Ultra 3D: $99.95
    * CyberLink PowerDVD 10 Deluxe: $69.95
    * CyberLink PowerDVD 10 (Standard): $49.95

Upgrade versions for previous PowerDVD versions are available starting at $29.95.

Note: Consumers who have purchased PowerDVD 10 Ultra 3D can upgrade their software for free to enable Blu-ray 3D playback and 3D video file playback. Available this summer.

daryl.k, finally I found a person have totally same problem as me!!!!
MPC-HC -> able bitstreaming but choppy/crack screen!! But after I uncheck the "DTS HD/MA" under ffdshow audio configuration so that it only output with LCPM, it running smooth. You can refer to the link in below for ffdshow audio configuration.

Below are my htpc specs:
1) AMD 6000+
2) Asus M2N-E SLI
3) 2GB DDR2 800Mhz Ram
4) XFX HD5750 1GB
5) 2 x 500GB SATA2 HDD

Anyone know what is happening? I tried Power DVD10 but no luck, unable bitstreaming and only LCPM:(

denhock is selling those opened box qnap nas for quite cheap, under Rm400 can get the nas itself but the hdd u have to find urself

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=959863&hl=

RM199 for QNAP TS-109 NAS
RM299 for QNAP TS-109 PRO

then add
3.5" Western Digital 1TB SATA2 Green Caviar 64MB = RM175

Rm384/Rm484

Anyways,
i m still deciding on getting a htpc or a media player with attached storage (eg. ac ryan playon!hd)
Still dunnoe which to choose...

My HTPC Rig


Lian Li Q07
Intel e5300
Zotac 9300
Silverstone PSU
Corsair xms2 4gb

nice...

Looks really tiny case... q07 successor is the q11.. thinking of getting it .. should be the same size...

from your pic it really looks small .. is ur monitor model syncmaster b2230 ? i might be using the same as yours..trying to estimate the size of it...

I think Daryl.k want bitstream to True HD sound. What AVR u using now? If u want bitstream to HD sound u can try the method above which i write down.

I think the problem came from ur sound/video codec, can u list down ur HTPC spec here, and what AVR u using now??
U can try fully uninstall all the sound/video codec(FFDshow,MPC-HC and other sound codec), then install the latest Graphic driver and sound driver too, then directly play the BD with TMT3/TMT5, if it doesn't show DTS HD MA or DD True HD, then try follow the guide below.
Guide setting up bitstreaming with your windows 7 htpc