Xbox360 no HDMI output. only component. But I will try to check out the sony AV receiver on bulk sales. Any tips to look out when buying an AV receiver? Thanks.

Managed to try out post proccessing Astro video yesterday. Result not that good. Overall image quality is ok but got pixelation when watching high speed shows like sports.

I used blur NR + resizing only. Even with all the post processing turned off I still get pixelation of high speed shows. Did I miss something here? Anybody can give me some tips?

Thanks you.

The connection is composite. Haven't had the chance to go get a S-Video cable.

I think its definately FFDShow problem because when I disable FFDShow post processing (disable as in revert back the hack windows Registry), it goes back to normal smooth image.

I going to google some FFDShow tutorials and meddle with other options. Will keep u guys updated.

No I haven't tested dvd or divx post processing.

Yup I hacked the registry to run ffdshow on MCE Live TV. The CPU load never go above 50% usually around 10-20%. I resize to 1360x768.




Yes, I am using Purevideo Decoder. And its definately better than powerDVD decoder.

Yeah, its strange that MCE did not bundle the necessary or basic codec just to play DVD.

XBMC on XBOX rocks!!! All my downloaded videos looks so good on it. Felt very sad when I sold it off to fund my xbox360.

PS: PureVideo it not free but.... can "acquire" from B *cough* T *cough*

Another 1 I know is PVR-500MCE. Cost around RM800

Not very sure whether the power consumption of 3800 x2 is the same as 3500+. For me, I took 3800+ X2 because for RM230 more (compuzone price), I sort of get an "extra" CPU with another 512kb L2 cache. This will seriously boost multithreading apps. And I want to jump onto the dual core bandwagon long time ago already.


Nice.

If you watching downloaded vids, save $$$ for a new widescreen tv or plasma. Super nice watching HDTV quality shows on it. Although its compressed, but quality still way better than watching astro on my new LCD TV.

Quite sad to find out that my new Samsung R7 LCD TV can't play Astro ok a decent level. I already tried S-Video connection btw, still not satisfactory.


I know. Feel dam sakit now.

Totally agree that no HTPC can match XBOX boot up time. Because XBMC itself is the OS so no need to load windows and run on top of it.

good choice

Standby mode still takes power ma. But I know sure how much the pc consume during standby mode. Nowadays electricity dam expensive. I staying in service apt some more. Commercial rates.

You will need a TV tuner card to feed TV/Astro signal into the PC and a graphics card with TV-out to output to TV. Since you are using LCD TV, you can use the monitor cable to connect to your lcd tv if your LCD tv accepts monitor input.

For normal antenna tv and astro to non media center (MCE) windows xp most tv tuner card can do it but if you want to control astro decoder using windows xp mce then you need hauppauge PVR150MCE tv tuner card.

Check my sig for a rough guide.

I'm using Hauppauge PVR-150MCE. Bought it for RM499. Its pricier than normal tuner because it comes with a Windows XP MCE remote (Can be use for Xbox360 remote as well) and a IR Blaster to control Astro Decoder.

I never try to use on normal TV so can't really comment on the signal but yeah signal low tuner also cannot help.

You can check out the features of my tuner card from here:
http://www.terencey.net/blog/?p=65

nice!

Post pics of the finished product la. And the entire setup with your receiver and speakers.

What casing you using?

Comes package with the mobo.

Had some issues with my RAM on this mobo. Using 2x 512mb kingston 667 DDR2 RAM, kept getting BSOD. But I manually up the voltage to higher value then problem solved.

All in all a great feature packed and value for money AM2 mobo.

Wow, traveler. Thats some super high end specs you got there. drool.... Yahama RX2600.... wish I have that. The entire setup should cost close to 20k .... *faint*

PVR-500MCE cost RM800 man. Buy astro max straight la. Dual tuner needs 2 decoder. You will be paying double for astro as well. Not worth it. Astro max you still pay for 1 decoder but can record 1 channel while watching another.

AlamakLor,

what's so important about finding native english software for soundmax? I didn't realize that the software is not native english.

I manage to get my hands on a receiver and a set of speakers but I dunno how to connect both the front and rear jack speaker output from the mobo to the RCA left right input on the receiver. Any idea?

Unfortunately, my receiver don't have digital input. Its a Yamaha RX-393 receiver.

Yes i'm currently using a RCA -> stereo 3.5mm cable to connect my HTPC to my receiver. But that is for the front channel. When I tried set in xp to enable 5 speakers, the sound driver indicates that I need to connect the rear channel output as well.

I'm thinking of getting another RCA to stereo 3.5mm cable and 2 x 2RCA to 1 RCA converter to input into the receiver. Means the front and rear channel from the mobo will both go into the receiver through the 2x 2RCA to 1RCA converter. Hope you understand what I'm saying here. I'm not sure if this is a workable solution though.

Thanks for confirming it matrix.


Even with dual decoder also cannot? Tested before?

I'm using ASUS M2NPV-VM too. Looks like I made the right choice.

Its a feature pack mobo that comes with a small price tag. Good value for money. Just the little memory voltage issue that bothers me initially otherwise it a great mobo.

myuu,

interesting project you got there. Please do post your progress here. Really interested to see how u receive astro directly to your htpc without using the decoder.

hey ryan,

quite sad lar. astro abit jerky when using ffdshow to process it. Not very watchable lor.

I followed the settings in the guide on HTPCnews. At the end I turned off all the post process and leave only the OSD and its still jerky.

Recently got distracted by xbox360 so no time to go dig on more info on this. Any success stories here on upscaling astro? Please share share

ryansia, you manage to do post processing on astro rite? or is it matrix?? Anyway do you guys get jerky playback during post processing on astro?

For DVD, I get sharper pictures but sometimes audio goes out of sync....

Hit too many potholes now, abit discouraged so find xbox360 for comfort Will pick myself up to explore more on post processing later.

This post has been edited by terencey: Nov 6 2006, 04:01 PM

Wah x2 4200+ .....

looks like my x2 3800+ is still not sufficient

accs_center, did you try to upscale astro?

dun think PVR-150 comes with IR blaster.

only PVR-150MCE can remote control Astro

1. If you want to control astro using the MCE remote spend the 100 buck.

2. Use a splitter to output ur astro directly to TV and to your HTPC.

3. It will be easier and better if you have a LCD TV or projector to go with your HTPC. Standard CRT TV also can but your video card needs to support TV-out and the quality is not as good as LCD TV. I don't have projector so cannot comment on that.

I wrote a simple guide on PVR-150MCE HTPC setup. Check out my sig.

Sorry for the wrong info. I guess the only difference between PVR-150 and 150MCE is that 150MCE supports windows xp mce.

Ryan, thanks for pointing it out about the SD source quality, I overlooked that . I was referring to those downloaded HDTV series from the net. It's awesome watching them on a HDTV. Watching them on SDTV also very good as well. As for Astro, I get 2 black box on both sides when watching on my HDTV unless I do post processing to enlarge the video.