HTPC Build

[eyz]

Hi,

am considering building a HTPC and the specs are as below.

Case: In-Win BQ 660 - $105 (Aim Resources)
Mobo+CPU: GA-HA87N ITX + i3-4130 - $304 (Tradepac)
Ram: Need recommendation
SSD: Crucial M4 128gb from current desktop.

I'm comtemplating on whether to dismantle the SSD from my current desktop for the HTPC. Or should I go get a MX100 or M500.

The desktop currently has a WD Black Caviar, and I am using the desktop mainly for XBMC movie watching, MS office and some photo editing. If I remember correctly, the system has a Core 2 Duo E8500. Need to check again.

If I were to dismantle the SSD, I will probably take the opportunity to install Win8.1 on both system.

Anyway, this HTPC will probably be used as a desktop when I am posted overseas next year. So I hope it would good enough for my usage.

Hope to get some advice.

Thanks.

 

[royfrosty]

Why do you need a i3 for HTPC?

MSI H81i ITX + intel Pentium G3220 ~ $168
Crucial 8gb 1600mhz Value RAM ~ $95
WD Purple AV 2tb ~ $124
Reuse SSD
Inwin BK655 with 300w PSU ~ $94
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM ~ $110
Samsung DVD Drive ~ $21

Total ~ $612. Buy at tradepac. DIY

 

[eyz]

hi roy,

thanks for the reply.

i think a i3 will allows me to play 3D movie, right?

after consideration, I think I'll settle for MSI H81I with i3-4130/4150.

The casing will probably remain, as I like the small form factor. But that would mean I can settle for two 2.5" SSD/HDD.

Is Win8 not recommended, even for HTPC usage?

Why do you need a i3 for HTPC?

MSI H81i ITX + intel Pentium G3220 ~ $168
Crucial 8gb 1600mhz Value RAM ~ $95
WD Purple AV 2tb ~ $124
Reuse SSD
Inwin BK655 with 300w PSU ~ $94
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM ~ $110
Samsung DVD Drive ~ $21

Total ~ $612. Buy at tradepac. DIY

 

[royfrosty]

Are you intending to use intru 3D technology. If you are using it then fine an i3. Else it is redundant.

Next is where are you connecting the htpc to?

Are you iintending to play TrueHD and DTS HD quality sound thru using the PC or having an external bluray player?

 

[eyz]

roy,

thank you so much for reminding some of the minor details. forgot what i set out for initially.

yes, i would like to play 3D movie from XBMC and I'll be connecting it to my 5.1 home theatre system with bluray player, and playing it to my active 3D TV.

My HT system has Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD functionality: hence and I would play out this sound quality.

Luckily you mentioned this, I just looked through MSI H81 specs, it seems that it does not support HD audio.

In that case, which mobo would you recommend? GA-H87N is able to push out 4K video, which is good, though I don't own a 4K TV yet.

Is there any B85 ITX board that is suitable for my requirement?

Are you intending to use intru 3D technology. If you are using it then fine an i3. Else it is redundant.

Next is where are you connecting the htpc to?

Are you iintending to play TrueHD and DTS HD quality sound thru using the PC or having an external bluray player?

 

[royfrosty]

Before you jump the gun to buy a htpc.

To play a dts hd and a dolby true hd ia not as simple as you think.

If you are playing through a bluray playback from your pc which requires a bluray dvd drive. If you have it, you cannot directly play bluray disc direct with the dts hd and dolby true hd sound from the disc. It is encrypted and locked within the disc.

You require a few things

- a true hdmi sound card which no longer produced
- a decoding software such as slysoft to extract out the dts hd and dolby true hd sound from the disc
- Rip the entire bluray into hdd or ssd

You cant use coaxial or optical for dts hd and dolby true hd. The cables does not have enough bandwidth for it.

 

[eyz]

hi roy,

thanks for the detailed explanation. really appreciate your help on this.

i am not sure whether i understand everything which you had written, but i'll try to explain a little more on my intended setup. I think my usage of the term Bluray had confused you.

the htpc will be solely used for XBMC movie streaming. ie. 1080p 3D videos from t0r12e+. It will be connected to the my Sony main unit (amplifier cum Bluray player) via HDMI cable. If I would like to play Bluray disc, i will play directly from my bluray player. I think XBMC has no problem pushing out TrueHD and DTS-HD sound from the 1080p HD movies that I streamed from it, right? AudioEngine - XBMC

Please correct me if I am miss or misunderstand anything.

Thanks.

 

[royfrosty]

hi roy,

thanks for the detailed explanation. really appreciate your help on this.

i am not sure whether i understand everything which you had written, but i'll try to explain a little more on my intended setup. I think my usage of the term Bluray had confused you.

the htpc will be solely used for XBMC movie streaming. ie. 1080p 3D videos from t0r12e+. It will be connected to the my Sony main unit (amplifier cum Bluray player) via HDMI cable. If I would like to play Bluray disc, i will play directly from my bluray player. I think XBMC has no problem pushing out TrueHD and DTS-HD sound from the 1080p HD movies that I streamed from it, right? AudioEngine - XBMC

Please correct me if I am miss or misunderstand anything.

Thanks.

Alright then that is fine. Cause my initial thinking is that you have wanna have a htpc with a bluray drive to run bluray.

Then it should be fine.

 

[eyz]

Sorry about the misuse of words that confused you.

So, I guess the MSI H81I-ITX is able to push out HD audio?

Between MSI H81I and Asus H81I, which is better?

Alright then that is fine. Cause my initial thinking is that you have wanna have a htpc with a bluray drive to run bluray.

Then it should be fine.

 

[royfrosty]

Sorry about the misuse of words that confused you.

So, I guess the MSI H81I-ITX is able to push out HD audio?

Between MSI H81I and Asus H81I, which is better?

Push out HD audio would be done by your external player when you are watching Bluray contents.

But lets say if it is streaming 1080p videos or 3D videos I doubt it will give you DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD contents.

 

[eyz]

Thanks! Really appreciate your help!

Push out HD audio would be done by your external player when you are watching Bluray contents.

But lets say if it is streaming 1080p videos or 3D videos I doubt it will give you DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD contents.

 

[bagger 288]

Before you jump the gun to buy a htpc.

To play a dts hd and a dolby true hd ia not as simple as you think.

If you are playing through a bluray playback from your pc which requires a bluray dvd drive. If you have it, you cannot directly play bluray disc direct with the dts hd and dolby true hd sound from the disc. It is encrypted and locked within the disc.

You require a few things

- a true hdmi sound card which no longer produced
- a decoding software such as slysoft to extract out the dts hd and dolby true hd sound from the disc
- Rip the entire bluray into hdd or ssd

You cant use coaxial or optical for dts hd and dolby true hd. The cables does not have enough bandwidth for it.

but once you rip out to hdd should pass through optical right?

 

[royfrosty]

but once you rip out to hdd should pass through optical right?

Optical max support is dts and dolby digital. Not dts hd and dolby true hd.

Dts hd and dolby true hd only supported via a hdmi cable.

 

[eyz]

Roy,

Can the MSI H81I bitstream the audio DTS-HD and TrueHD to my AVR?

Thanks

 

[royfrosty]

Roy,

Can the MSI H81I bitstream the audio DTS-HD and TrueHD to my AVR?

Thanks

Bitstream I doubt is DTS HD. Is quite big bandwidth needed to stream. Unless you talking about normal DTS and Dolby.

If there is then yes via a HDMI to your receiver. As long is not from a bluray disc from your PC.

 

[bagger 288]

Optical max support is dts and dolby digital. Not dts hd and dolby true hd.

Dts hd and dolby true hd only supported via a hdmi cable.

I been using mpc-hc. Connection from asrock b85killer to logittech z5500 via optical cable.
If I use lav audio decoder, able to play dts hd from logitech.
Same files doesn't have sound if I play from my wd live which doesn't support dts hd.

I'm confused.

 

[royfrosty]

I been using mpc-hc. Connection from asrock b85killer to logittech z5500 via optical cable.
If I use lav audio decoder, able to play dts hd from logitech.
Same files doesn't have sound if I play from my wd live which doesn't support dts hd.

I'm confused.

No DolbyTRUEHD or DTS-HD through optical/coaxil on Blu-Ray players? - AVS Forum

Hope this clears out. If you are still able to get DTS HD is probably your external decoder is doing the job. But is not DTS HD that is set. Is on DTS. Your decoder could be displaying DTS HD.

 

[jskc3617]

To have DTS-HD or DD True HD surround when using HTPC (not playing thru bluray player/disc), all the following must meet.

1) connect htpc to AV receiver with hdmi cable
(on-board - intel HD graphic LGA1156 platform onward using XBMC)
(Nvidia - 400 series onward using XBMC)
(AMD - 5000 series onward using XBMC)

2) AV receiver support DTS-HD and DD True HD

3) HTPC install with media player that support DTS-HD or DD True HD (ex. XBMC)

4) The source (video file) have DTS-HD and DD True HD audio format

Do correct me if wrong. So far no problem using XBMC version 11 to play.

 

[coyote]

Actually the ability to pass Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS lies with XBMC. So you only need to make sure either HDMI or a optical spdif out are presents on your motherboard. XBMC should take care the rest though configurations is not trivial.

Don't think you need DD5.1 compliant hardware because you are basically doing a bitstream passthrough & let your receiver do the decoding anyway....

 

[coyote]

I have my dual core Android TV box Minix X5 doing DTS & Dolby digital 5.1 passthrough to my receiver via the HDMI port. So, there is no reason any PC cannot do what a lowly Android TV box can.