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*

is this the only tv card that can be use wif astro? Hauppauge PVR-150MCE TV Tuner Card with IR Blaster and Remote

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

you guys think i should really fork out the extra for a 3800 X2 instead of a 3500+? i just noticed that there's a 65W version of the 3800 X2..only suck up as much power as the 3500+...heat shouldnt be an issue then

Hi guys I finally managed to setup a dedicated (HT)PC. Its a Gigabyte GoPC :
P4 2.8 | 512MB ram | 200GB HDD | Ati 9600Pro | Panasonic 29" Tau Giga | Philips MCD700 micro hifi

PICs here
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?act=ST&f...=48191&st=2247#

I don't have Astro or watch TV, mainly for DVD and downloaded Vids, but my Rig can only support external USB tuner cos no PCI slot.

Super silent 1 PSU fan, and 1 HSf fan only.

Haiya...waster man...the XBOX is solid Media Center material.

In fact, the only reason i'm building another HTPC is becoz of the better sound card of the PC, (prodigy LT - full 24-bit) which i hope gives better music than the xbox.

I'm gonna do some extensive testing with the music after i finish setup. If the music is not much better, than i don't think i'll even want to keep the HTPC as the XBOX can do everything else and it comes in a small box + remote + fast boot up + play emulator games + great user interface.

Also, i think a PC will have a hardtime matching the boot up time of the XBOX, even a powerful PC.

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.

actually i got the dual core after i posted that. there are a couple version, the one on newegg is rather the same power as 3500+ so why not

u want ur pc to boot up as fast as xbox? keep it in standby mode when you dont use it

This post has been edited by AlamakLor: Oct 8 2006, 01:04 PM

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.

jesus...what kind of sentence did i just write in post 308.....
i should stop multitasking...

This post has been edited by AlamakLor: Oct 8 2006, 01:34 PM

I think i founs the main culprit of the noise problem. The PSU has the loudest noise.

I wonder how much a cheap silent PSU cost? Any recommendations?

PS:
More MCE updates:
I dunno if it's just me or what but seems to encounter many problems with MCE.
(1) while testing playing a DVD, i shift the PC to it's original position and accidentaly bump the thing and bam, the DVD-ROM stops working. Even after reboot also no use. Then i unplug the CD-RW (which is using the IDE end connector) and plug it into the DVD-ROM (which was previously using the "middle" IDE connector) and the DVD-ROM is regconized.

(2) Try install Dungeon Siege 2, successfully installed but can't go into the main screen, it hangs after the intro video... I just want to see how this game looks like in 1280x720. (720p).

(3) PowerDVD plays DVD whith sounds like a broken record when using the SPDIF passthrough to my amp for decoding dd51/dts. Using MCE is even worst...no sound at all even after setting the passthrough thingy. After that configure the Prodigy direct wire thingy(dun ask me how it works, i just crossed fingers and hope it works), but still no sound. After restarting MCE though, now the sound appears...

Oh boy....this is really a lot more than i bargain for.....the more i tinker this thing the more i appreciate how easy and useful my XBOX is....quiet casing (u dun need a 1K casing and RM600 silent PSU), small & compact, fast boot up, lovely UI, no hang up, no crap and it even play XBOX games....all for a mere RM6xx nowadays....



This post has been edited by Matrix: Oct 8 2006, 05:10 PM

More HTPC project Updates:

(1) Bought a nice ICUTE Quiet PSU - really helps a lot to reduce the noise level. Now it's down to acceptable noise level -only RM180. No need to spend RM600 on some overpriced Silverstone Silent PSU!!! Now only 4 fans in system - PSU (Only 1 big fan), CPU (CoolerMaster Quiet HSF), GPU (small fan, not much noise) and 1 system exhaust fan. Will probably reduce noise somemore with some queit system exhaust fan to add later.

(2) Finally managed to get Dungeon Siege 2 to run. Don't ask me how or why. Force resolution of the game to 1xxx x 6xx (1280 x 720 has overscanned and out of range of my tv display, so gotta reduce a bit). Wide screen does look different. But not really playable unless got big Widescreen monitor coz text is too small.

(3) Tested playing music with HTPC compared with my SONY DVD player. I used the same setting and volume on my amp to compare. Tested about 2 hours listening to the same songs...i can safely said THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN MUSIC quality. Somehow when using the PRODIGY LT card, the music sound like got different "stage" or location. Etc, the vocals are more centre, and the rest of the music are more noticeably separated. With the SONY DVD player, the music sounded more single dimensional.

Same setting used for amp/speakers. Both using digital connection except PC using coaxial while DVD player use optical.

But WIN XP MCE is still weird...sometimes no music coming out. I removed the "Direct Wire" thingy in my Prodigy LT drivers. Then the music come back. I'm not sure if it's caused by this or MCE is just cuckoo.

Water cooling solution for HTPC system




Attached thumbnail(s)

How's the noise levels for the Silverstone case (lascala?) esp. from the two rear fans?

Very quiet due to low acoustic thermal solution design

Silverstone LC16 HTPC setup

wow @edifier

nice, was thinking at building one myself but due to not enough budget have to stop...

w00t....my LC11B came freaking good build quality.
The psu doesnt have any voltage switch or any label at all (300W version) I was wondering if it's universal voltage input...do you know about that edifier?

EDIT: NVM got my answer, works from 110-240V

This post has been edited by AlamakLor: Oct 19 2006, 07:15 AM

Mind to tell me how you guys connect your Astro into the PC and use ffshow to upscale it? Do u need a tv tuner card to do it? Or a normal graphic card like 6800GS will do? Haven't got my Astro set up yet, but i will like to try from tv antenna to PC--> LCD TV. Is that possible?

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.

Ok thanks. So which tv tuner are u currntly using and how bout the price? May be interested to get one. Problem with that is everytime i need to watch tv i need to on my PC also. Or may be a signal booster would be better for me? Since tuner card cant help also when the signal is low right?