HTPC recommendation needed

[i_WaVe]

Hi there, I thinking of building a HTPC to replace my blu ray player. I'm totally new towards this, so need some expert to help me out . It's a long list .

I'll be connecting this HTPC to my 7.1 receiver, thus I will also need HDMI video and audio output (at full rate without losing some signal or something) to my receiver.
I've some question in mind that I would like to clarify,
1) Is Pentium G3240 powerful enough to play Blu ray 1080p ISO rip?
2) Can i3 4160 or G3240 run 4k contents at 30Hz or 60Hz?
3) Does Asus H97I-Plus supports Broadwell (for future upgrades)?
4) Does it matter if the mobo uses some good sound card? (Does it improve the sound quality as I'm using HDMI audio not the 3.5mm jack)
5) Does displayport output audio as well?
6) Is the power supply listed below powerful enough, if in the future I add a 4k capable graphic card?
7) I'm thinking of getting G3240 if it can run Blu ray 1080p ISO rip, then upgrade to broadwell (CPU only) when 4k Blu ray contents are available (if G3240 can't run 4k). Is this a wise decision?
8) Should I get a cheaper mobo and upgrade again in the future for 4k? As H97I-Plus does not support HDMI 2.0 (for 4k at 60hz) yet.

I'm looking at PC theme price list.
[Build]
1) Intel i3 4160 (or Intel Pentium G3240)
2) Asus H97I-Plus (it has got 1 dp and hdmi, so that I can connect one to receiver and one to tv. Then I can choose to use the receiver or not. Is this mobo overkill? As I need 1 dp and hdmi, this mobo has got it. It has to be mini-ITX.)
3) FSP 300 80% SFX Power Supply (FSP300-60GHS i think, as it's not listed in the price guide. I'm using a SFF box, so PSU has got to be SFX)
4) 3TB hard disk

That's it, I've got the rest, like blu ray drive, 2x2gb ddr3 ram, windows etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fatfool]

HDMI 2.0 is the one needed to stream 4k at 60 fps. G3240 will be able to play 4k mp4 files but not 4k streaming video from youtube for example. Displayport carries audio as well.

I'm also looking into a set up like yours but haven't gotten it nailed down due to the HDMI 2.0 issue.

 

[royfrosty]

For 4k, there will be 2 ways to go, but i would highly recommend a gpu to be added. For some reason i don't think you really need a HDMI 2.0. A minimum of HDMI 1.4 would be needed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Version_1.4

But you will get 30hz instead of 60.

But if you really need 60hz 4k, i suggest you to get a proper GPU with HDMI 2.0 and it does not come cheap. OR wait for skylake mobo to be release with HDMI 2.0 support.

As for GPU right now, only gaming oriented cards will have HDMI 2.0.

 

[jedi5diah]

if you really want 4K ready/proof you will have to wait till at least next yr end when more products are certified and mass produced so you can have more options. like what the 2 pro mentioned about 30/60 fps limitation with 4k

Chassis is the only impt factor for htpc as it will deter the price most.

so i recommend get a cheaper but stylish one and enjoy 1080p first meanwhile. (save up for 4k next yr then)

 

[Alphas]

Asus H97I-Plus does not support DTS connect. Get Z97I-PLUS instead of getting another sound card to output DTS to the receiver.

Dun worry about 4k, there is virtually no 4K content at the moment. Once the content becomes available, upgrade the video card and if your monitor is not 4K, neither can you see any difference.

 

[royfrosty]

Ah ya! Forget about dts HD and Dolby TrueHD.

Yes most mobo also standalone do not support dts or dolby.

Only certain. So careful when buying.

 

[Fatfool]

Asus H97I-Plus does not support DTS connect. Get Z97I-PLUS instead of getting another sound card to output DTS to the receiver.

Dun worry about 4k, there is virtually no 4K content at the moment. Once the content becomes available, upgrade the video card and if your monitor is not 4K, neither can you see any difference.

Some HTPC builds can be rather small so a discrete GPU may not be an option

 

[Alphas]

there is one PCIe slot, so he can upgrade if there is a need.

 

[i_WaVe]

Asus H97I-Plus does not support DTS connect. Get Z97I-PLUS instead of getting another sound card to output DTS to the receiver.

Dun worry about 4k, there is virtually no 4K content at the moment. Once the content becomes available, upgrade the video card and if your monitor is not 4K, neither can you see any difference.

Ah ya! Forget about dts HD and Dolby TrueHD.

Yes most mobo also standalone do not support dts or dolby.

Only certain. So careful when buying.

So does it mean if the HTPC does not support DTS and others, the receiver will not be able to output DTS and other even if it supports it? I'm using a Harman/Kardon AVR355 if that helps.

I'm thinking of getting a cheaper build (as jedi5diah suggested), then upgrade (Receiver, HTPC) when 4k contents are available.

 

[Peach Tea]

Ah ya! Forget about dts HD and Dolby TrueHD.

Yes most mobo also standalone do not support dts or dolby.

Only certain. So careful when buying.

use codec or decoder to play.

so why people keep taking about 4k where we still on x264 rather then x265?

 

[i_WaVe]

use codec or decoder to play.

so why people keep taking about 4k where we still on x264 rather then x265?

future proof? since 4k will be mainstream soon maybe?

 

[royfrosty]

use codec or decoder to play.

so why people keep taking about 4k where we still on x264 rather then x265?

When you own a HT setup. For what get a seperate decoder? Waste money only. It should channel straight and let the avr settle everything and use its own sound dsp to output sound.

 

[i_WaVe]

When you own a HT setup. For what get a seperate decoder? Waste money only. It should channel straight and let the avr settle everything and use its own sound dsp to output sound.

Am I right to say that if I were to use DTS, I do not need a mobo with sound card that support DTS, since my receiver can output DTS?

 

[royfrosty]

So does it mean if the HTPC does not support DTS and others, the receiver will not be able to output DTS and other even if it supports it? I'm using a Harman/Kardon AVR355 if that helps.

I'm thinking of getting a cheaper build (as jedi5diah suggested), then upgrade (Receiver, HTPC) when 4k contents are available.

DTS and Dolby sound is caried in 2 forms.

1. SPIDIF Aka optical
2. Coaxial connectors.

DTS HD and Dolby HD is carried by Hdmi only.

So check your receiver whether can you receive dts or dts hd. If it is dts only, can try find a mobo that has optical out. This will bypass the mobo sound board and pass the signal straight to the avr and the avr will decode everything for you.

If you have dts hd and dolby truehd receiver, and want to enjoy bluray movies, be it fhd or 4k. Best is to buy a separate bluray player and connect to avr and output from avr.

Note that if you use optical for dts hd or trueHD you will only get 5.1 channels. And your avr will show you DTS or Dolby thats all.


If your mobo does not have optical out nor coaxial out then you cant get avr to play dts nor dolby. You can connect hdmi. BUT since AVR only got 1 output hdmi and connected to the monitor, you got to on avr in order to see display.

 

[royfrosty]

Am I right to say that if I were to use DTS, I do not need a mobo with sound card that support DTS, since my receiver can output DTS?

Yes. Only if you have optical out or coaxial out.

But normally when a mobo has those 2 connections above. Their mobo manufacturer will put dts or dolby supported.

 

[i_WaVe]

DTS and Dolby sound is caried in 2 forms.

1. SPIDIF Aka optical
2. Coaxial connectors.

DTS HD and Dolby HD is carried by Hdmi only.

So check your receiver whether can you receive dts or dts hd. If it is dts only, can try find a mobo that has optical out. This will bypass the mobo sound board and pass the signal straight to the avr and the avr will decode everything for you.

If you have dts hd and dolby truehd receiver, and want to enjoy bluray movies, be it fhd or 4k. Best is to buy a separate bluray player and connect to avr and output from avr.

Note that if you use optical for dts hd or trueHD you will only get 5.1 channels. And your avr will show you DTS or Dolby thats all.


If your mobo does not have optical out nor coaxial out then you cant get avr to play dts nor dolby. You can connect hdmi. BUT since AVR only got 1 output hdmi and connected to the monitor, you got to on avr in order to see display.

I've just checked, it has got DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD on my receiver. I've a separate blu ray player that support this as well. Thinking of getting a HTPC and rip out all my blu ray then I don't have to put disc in again.

So let me edit my question again, am I right to say that if I were to use DTS HD and dolby truehd, I do not need a mobo with sound card that support DTS HD and dolby truehd, since my receiver can output DTS HD and dolby truehd?
My connection - HTPC (HDMI Output) -> Receiver (HDMI Input) -> TV & Speaker (DTS HD and dolby truehd)

My understanding is that, the HTPC does not process the audio using the internal sound card, it just passes the signal to the receiver to process the audio. So even if mobo does not support DTS HD, it can still output DTS HD if receiver supports it. Am I correct?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Alphas]

There is no mobo on the market that supports DTS-HD and truHD encoding, through optical out. The mobo just pass through the data only. To get DTS out from mobo for normal audio, you have to get mobo that have "DTS connect", this will encode all audio to output to DTS.

Only a few mobo from asrock and asus support this function, and it is not true that the audio does not pass to the onboard sound, it does and get encoded into DTS where the receiver decodes it.

So why get DTS connect, because you can get 5.1 sound even when the audio is only stereo and allows many mixing by the receiver. The main reason I get my mobo is because it supports DTS connect.

 

[Alphas]

Previously I posted my setup, you can see the AVR with the center, the front speakers but the rear speakers are out of view. All the audio is carried by the optical cable from the modo in DTS format.

 

[royfrosty]

Dont get confused.

DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD cannot be passed using Optical. It will not work but it will still give you DTS and Dolby only.

It is a 5.1 Signals. If you have 7.1 then this optical option is out.

DTS Connect is a feature from mobo onboard sound. This allows you to convert any signals from a 2ch to a 5.1 channel. But however it isnt real 5.1. You can hear the slight difference.

If going by your connections then yes. IF you go by HDMI route, you can get both audio and graphics signal out from your PC and goes into the AVR. And from AVR output another HDMI to TV or Monitor. But don't forget, if your monitor or TV has sound output, please disable it first from sound panel.

Then from there, you can enjoy DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD for all your RIP blurays that you rip in ISO format. Use Kodi Player.

 

[Alphas]

DTS connect is defined by DTS Inc and it is a format that is real 5.1, please do not mislead and sound wise, this is what you get in cinemas.