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HTPC Help

Burkdaddy

Active member
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
36
I'm not well versed on HTPC builds. I am aware there are many many similarities to a gaming rig, which I've built many of, but I want to make sure I get this right as it's for a side business.

The build I'm shooting for is to work parties for sporting event for my more affluent acquaintences. I'm building a 16'x9' portable screen, have outdoor surround sound and a very nice projector. Now, I want the HTPC to have the features I want.

1. I know Hauppage makes good capture cards with coax connections so I can tap straight in to cable/dish. have that covered. Is there something that could make this wireless? Where I can connect a piece of hardware to the cable in the house/bar and have it send the signal to my HTPC?

2. To make the 16'x9' worth viewing, what vid card is reccomended? Remember...We're starting out, innitial build needs to be a budget build. (Need HDMI Out)

Have case and other components covered but am open to suggestions as I haven't made any purchases yet.

Thanks for your help.
 

theAnimal

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
94
2. To make the 16'x9' worth viewing, what vid card is reccomended? Remember...We're starting out, innitial build needs to be a budget build. (Need HDMI Out)
Don't need a video card. GeForce 9300 mobo would be a good choice for 1080p.
 

JD

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Staff member
Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
11,929
Location
Toronto, ON
1. I know Hauppage makes good capture cards with coax connections so I can tap straight in to cable/dish. have that covered. Is there something that could make this wireless? Where I can connect a piece of hardware to the cable in the house/bar and have it send the signal to my HTPC?

2. To make the 16'x9' worth viewing, what vid card is reccomended? Remember...We're starting out, innitial build needs to be a budget build. (Need HDMI Out)
1. Nothing will reliably transmit your coax wirelessly. You're better off just running some cabling. However if you just run coax, you wont be getting HD outside. You'd have to run like component + audio cables instead and have a capture device that accepts component. Another choice, get an antenna to keep outside and just watch whatever HD channels you can get over the air.

2. Gigabyte HD4350 is perfect for this. Has HDMI out, the fan on it is pretty much silent, and it typically goes for like $25 during NCIX's weekly sales.

Alternatively, if you want a small, portable setup. Look at Zotac's ION motherboards. They Intel Atoms with NVIDIA "ION" (9400M) graphics. These boards have WiFi, HDMI output, and even a power supply all on board. As long as your just viewing content, it should suffice. Though if you wanted to use it like a PVR, that's probably pushing it. And you could either find or build a case of sorts that could sit under/ontop of your project to make it all a nice compact setup.

I'd really like to see the final results when you get this screen and all built. I can only imagine how awesome it'll be.
 

Burkdaddy

Active member
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
36
Thanks, good info.

This is really just a wild idea a couple of sales people concocted while passing time throughout the day. We're looking for a way to make some extra cash. As I was a bartender for several years and am connected to local bars and thus other (hotter and female) bartenders, I thought we'd capitalize on our resources. Wings, Beer and sports. If all that is delivered in your backyard with a HUGE screen and a hot bartender, more the better. (We hope)

This has to be portable and upgradable. Simple is best. As I'm in the US, so far I'm using www.newegg.com. However, I've been shopping around on NCIX for comparison. The folks here are WAY beyond me in knowledge so I follow your lead.

Here's my cart on www.newegg.com. Subject to change as I shop and change my mind according to budget.

When you take a look below, there are two major things to note.

1. I want the option of recording the event. Whatever it is.
2. I'm going to use a Verizon service for internet. This way, as a "pregame" show, we can put older retro games up on the screen or whatever the customer wants. Was thinking HULU or ESPN.com could provide it.

On the GPU, I like the HD4350....maybe I'll change to that.

Can I get away with a less powerful CPU/MB? Do I need that much RAM? Think I will in the near future? This HTPC needs to perform for 1 yr and be able to deliver.

Link to the screen I'm building is at the very bottom.


OKGEAR 18" Cable Model OK18ARUB12 - Retail Item #: N82E16812123262 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $6.18 ($3.09each) select item 2 quantity of item 2
11-196-028-03.jpg

AeroCool M40-BK Black 0.6 SECC Steel MicroATX Cube case Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811196028 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$15.00 Instant
$89.99 $74.99 select item 3 quantity of item 3
22-136-098-02.jpg

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136098 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options22-136-098|hide options22-136-098)




Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info22-136-098.0.18)
  • 1 year: $6.99
  • 2 year: $11.99
$49.99 select item 4 quantity of item 4
15-293-007-02.jpg

ASUS My Cinema EHD3-100 Dual Hybrid TV Card EHD3-100/NAQ/FM/AV/MCE RC PCI-Express x1 Interface - Retail Item #: N82E16815293007 Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy $119.99 select item 5 quantity of item 5
14-125-263-03.jpg

GIGABYTE GV-N94TOC-1GI GeForce 9400 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814125263 Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy $10.00 Mail-in Rebate14-125-263 $59.99 select item 6 quantity of item 6
17-338-038-09.jpg

Athena Power AP-MP4ATX55FEP8 550W MicroATX SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16817338038 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options17-338-038|hide options17-338-038)




Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info17-338-038.0.18)
  • 1 year: $16.99
  • 2 year: $25.99
$119.99 select item 7 quantity of item 7
20-134-641-02.jpg

Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N6K2/4G - Retail Item #: N82E16820134641 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy $47.99 select item 8 quantity of item 8
13-128-393-02.jpg

GIGABYTE GA-EG41M-US2H LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813128393 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options13-128-393|hide options13-128-393)




Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info13-128-393.0.18)
  • 1 year: $10.99
  • 2 year: $16.99
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate13-128-393 $74.99 select item 9 quantity of item 9
19-116-072-02.jpg

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5200 - Retail Item #: N82E16819116072 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy $66.99 select item 10 quantity of item 10
27-136-162-02.jpg

LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail Item #: N82E16827136162 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


The Screen
Kits and parts for 8X10 Outdoor Movie Theater Screen
 

JD

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
11,929
Location
Toronto, ON

Burkdaddy

Active member
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
36
Food for thought. Saves me some serious cash too.

On that Silverstone Case, people were talking about too much ventilation and dust. Think it possible to use like cheese cloth (I'm primitive) or something else to help keep it out?

Oh, on the screen, I already found an alternative.
Open Air Home Screen - 18' Inflatable Projection Screen : Portable Projector Screens

There's a better pic on the lower left side of the page. Inflatable! Instead of a 2hr build time I'll have 30 min tops.

A version of this for the sound. May go with 150w version.
Fender Passport PD250 Portable PA System : Audio Systems

My buddy owns a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise... I get this built, I'm hitting him up. If he bites, I'll take a lot of pics =)
 

JD

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
11,929
Location
Toronto, ON
Food for thought. Saves me some serious cash too.

On that Silverstone Case, people were talking about too much ventilation and dust. Think it possible to use like cheese cloth (I'm primitive) or something else to help keep it out?

Oh, on the screen, I already found an alternative.
Open Air Home Screen - 18' Inflatable Projection Screen : Portable Projector Screens

There's a better pic on the lower left side of the page. Inflatable! Instead of a 2hr build time I'll have 30 min tops.

A version of this for the sound. May go with 150w version.
Fender Passport PD250 Portable PA System : Audio Systems

My buddy owns a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise... I get this built, I'm hitting him up. If he bites, I'll take a lot of pics =)
Could definitely use cheesecloth. Some people say dryer sheets as well or pantyhose. I just find the Silverstone case looks a bit more professional and it sounds like a normal ATX PSU will fit better. And cooling shouldn't be of much issue since you won't be putting in a gaming video card.

And the stuff I picked out is probably a bit faster too than the E5200/G41 setup. Also I went with a modular PSU so you don't have a bunch of extra cables hanging around in such a small case. Also OCZ is of much higher quality than Athena.

Only thing I'd question is the sound quality of that PA system. Though I guess if its mainly just showing sports, then it would be fine since that's just talking for the most part. But if you wanted to show movies or something, probably best off finding something else.
 

Burkdaddy

Active member
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
36
For the sound, as we're targeting the sports fans innitially, will be the PA. Like you said, it's mainly talking. However, I'm looking in to 5.1 surround sound. Not a priority though.

I appreciate all the input. If this doesn't pan out, my buddy will end up with a nice back yard theater =)
 

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