Nice, mine looks something like this (Logitech ones)



Cheers

it depend on what player we use to play h.264/x.264 files (720p and 1080p included), there is no HA for VLC so C2D E6xxx series is prefer at bare minimum, but if using Media Portal or Media Player Classic, C2D E4xxx series should be fine due ot these player utilize HA.

to ozak: today PC component still doesn't ready for BD play back yet, for example, there is no hardware exist yet (rumour got lah) for video/audio stream on HDMI cable, the price paid for BD drive can get a lower end pc already. Today graphic card processing power are able to handle BD 1080p resolution just fine but there is no stable playing player yet.

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Added on May 5, 2008, 10:57 pmI've tried Shuttle X, is SFF, dead silence with high performance as well, down side if MB gone 2 years later, there is no replacement and come with freaking asking price....oh you are not getting any fun out of DIY.

This post has been edited by kepco: May 5 2008, 10:57 PM

The reason why some front end players can and cannot support HA is because some players are crappy and difficult to set up filters and some not. When the GPU does not support HA, whatever front end player is used would not make a difference.

Unless of course you have an ATI 2X00/3X00 series graphics card and your mkv files are encoded with newer level 4.1 x264 streams, you would not have HA for mkv playback. Period.

Actually, you can get to stream 8 channel LPCM audio together with video via HDMI... Intel based G35 chipset (which apparently only Asus has made one) does this. But they are still at their infancy. Having said that, the Intel X3500 onboard video sucks with no HA. Which is why you need a beefy C2Q CPU on that Asus P5E-VM HDMI mobo. The other one that should do this is NVidia 8200/8300 mobo chipsets.

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Added on May 6, 2008, 12:24 amNot too sure what or how the 1080p files from MS's website are encoded... But if you play 1080p mkv containers encoded with x264 / AVC prior to level 4.1 profile (which most mkv files out there are), then you will have problems.

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Added on May 6, 2008, 12:26 amIf you're just interested in 1080p playback from Bluray / HDDVD disc, it is enough.

However, 1080p playback from mkv files will not get HA because most mkv files generally are encoded prior to level 4.1 x264 ! Safest would be to go with a 780G chipset and a powerful Phenom CPU. But then again, there are many reports of 780G mobos out there not being able to support Phenoms...

This post has been edited by jchue73: May 6 2008, 12:26 AM

mini-ITX board - checked
mini-ITX casing - checked
PSU for mini-ITX casing - checked........but 150w only, from FSP group. Wonders if there's any local shop that sells higher wattage PSU

this is the PSU I have at the moment http://www.fsp-group.com/english/1_product...id=33&proid=384 it came with my VIA EPIA M1000.

now i just need a processor, low profile heatsink, SATA HDD, OS and optical drive.

mine:

pentium dual core e2160 bsel modded @ 2.4ghz
2 x 1gb kingston value 667 ram
sapphirre HD3850 512mb DDR3
Asrock Wolfdale1333 945gc motherboad
western digital 40GB ide HDD
Lite on DVD combo drive

anyone where can get more choice for infra red remote comtrol ? i saw got certain forumer selling but no one suit my taste

i wonder why i can fimd good card

Which board are you using?

sniper, Albatron KI690-AM2

it's going to be replacing my EPIA since my EPIA is pretty old now, caps are showing signs of bloat. only has IDE, non-upgradable processor, using DDR and lastly - the damn USB WiFi device refuses to work with it!

still collecting funds for it's other parts.
ending configuration should be using

either the weakest Sempron/Athlon I can find or just my old X2 3600+
512MB - 1GB RAM (it uses DDR2-sodimm).
probably 250GB SATA
1x DVD-ROM (DVD-RW if possible)

oh yeah, and hopefully there's low-profile heatsink around.

Wah.. very geng board. I'll pop you a PM later.

Oh.. here's something to drool on...the ideal HTPC

Asus Essentio.. tiny in size... big on performance

http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=10836

the only thing is this - the ITX casing is so small, no way to put additional PCI-E card la.

not sure about the TA690G based board, whether the DVI output i can use for HDMI stuff or not.

see like even the HD3450 that i bought a few days back comes with some audio function, i believe this one should work like the HD3650 where i can convert DVI to HDMI signals.

the more costly part would be the plans for a 32" LCD TV for this unit to pair with.

HTPC no need too high end specs to work right? I mean, unless you want to play HD/ 1080i/p videos, an Intel Pentium DC should do fine, right?

most of the htpc use IGP/Onboard gpu, i dun think the case it self got space for extra pci-e slot.

depends on what casing your HTPC is in la. SFF units / MATX casings have ample space.

Which one is easy. Buy casing first, get the dimension and buy the component. Or buy the component and hunt for the casing. Since it is HTPC and we want our casing look like AV style, the space will be limited.

oh hey ozak, long time no see.

since you want it look like AV Style, find casing first la. I saw Silverstone have quite a few really nice looking AV / Receiver looking casing.

some of them actually fit widely available components, such as ATX PSU, mATX board and even PCI / PCI-E devices.

Where is this silverstone huh? The casing something like this

or

nah, way better
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/enc...re.php?area=usa

have a look. blow your mind away.

Guys, any links for Enlight casing? I saw a relatively good looking one.

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Added on May 7, 2008, 11:44 amguys, what you think of this casing?

http://www.enlight.com.my/images/pro_spec/...pccase/7473.jpg

This post has been edited by ericmaxman: May 7 2008, 11:44 AM

My Dad's Living Room Home Theatre Setup (This setup is like almost 10 years old)


Ceiling mount rear speaker


A lazy person necessity especially when watching movies and needing to go to the toilet.


Cheers

OMG kick this idxxt

this is HTPC..

u seem to have remember home theater
and forgot PC!!