matt200sr Posted August 30, 2009 Posted August 30, 2009 I have done a bit of a search on this but can't find any recent posts with definitive answers. Does anybody know of somewhere where I can buy a HTPC in Perth? I have looked online and can find plenty of parts to build one myself however I am not very tech savvy when it comes to computers. Also what can I expect to pay for something with 2 HD tuners and a Blu-Ray combo drive and 2tb of storage? Do HTPC's need a super fast processor to run them? What is the best operating system?
myrantz Posted August 30, 2009 Posted August 30, 2009 I have done a bit of a search on this but can't find any recent posts with definitive answers.Does anybody know of somewhere where I can buy a HTPC in Perth? I have looked online and can find plenty of parts to build one myself however I am not very tech savvy when it comes to computers. Most of the time I get my stuffs from Netplus... You can get them to build one for u a little extra. Most expensive item will pro be a computer case with VFD (if you don't want that it'd be alot cheaper) Also what can I expect to pay for something with 2 HD tuners and a Blu-Ray combo drive and 2tb of storage?Do HTPC's need a super fast processor to run them? get 1.5tB? < $140 each now. What is the best operating system? For Blu Ray playback... I guess you're stuck with only one OS... Windows... if using onboard audio you're limited to only a few chipsets, look further down in the subsection and I have a list of onboard audio that has a "protected audio path'... (or get a Xonar to get full bitstream ability)
ajm1503559545 Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) ... if using onboard audio you're limited to only a few chipsets, look further down in the subsection and I have a list of onboard audio that has a "protected audio path'... There still isn't an BD application that will take advantage of onboard HD audio that I'm aware of even as PCM. PowerDVD will still downsample to 16bit/48hz while TMT2 and TMT3 will only bitstream audio if you're using the Xonar HDAV1.3 card. This thread on AVS gives a reasonably good run down on what's available and what it can (and can't) do. ..... however I am not very tech savvy when it comes to computers. If that's the case I would think long and hard about whether you want to learn to become savvy with computers before you put your money down. The learning curve is steep but there is plenty of info about if you're prepared to find it and prepared to spend time working on your PC. They make a great hobby but they simply are not a plug in and use device like a PVR or DVD player. Remember the HTPC is a pet for life, not just for Christmas! Edited August 31, 2009 by ajm
myrantz Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 There still isn't an BD application that will take advantage of onboard HD audio that I'm aware of even as PCM. PowerDVD will still downsample to 16bit/48hz while TMT2 and TMT3 will only bitstream audio if you're using the Xonar HDAV1.3 card. ^ What said is true... Hopefully things will change, but in the meantime, there's always the Xonar.. If that's the case I would think long and hard about whether you want to learn to become savvy with computers before you put your money down. The learning curve is steep but there is plenty of info about if you're prepared to find it and prepared to spend time working on your PC. They make a great hobby but they simply are not a plug in and use device like a PVR or DVD player. Hmm. now that you mention this.. does the OP want a company to build him a HTPC (+ after sales support?), or??? Remember the HTPC is a pet for life, not just for Christmas! Better a pet than a pain..
Guest clay_tone Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 I have done a bit of a search on this but can't find any recent posts with definitive answers.Does anybody know of somewhere where I can buy a HTPC in Perth? I have looked online and can find plenty of parts to build one myself however I am not very tech savvy when it comes to computers. Also what can I expect to pay for something with 2 HD tuners and a Blu-Ray combo drive and 2tb of storage? Do HTPC's need a super fast processor to run them? What is the best operating system? I have just completed my own HTPC build, and living in Perth I used 3 retailers - NetPlus, PLE and MSY. Sometimes because of price, but often due to availability of products. I had never built a PC before, but following advice on the net, and researching components, the proces was quite simple. Now, getting Blu-ray, HD FTA broadcast, 1080p video all to play has been a huge challenge. Right now I am stuck in some sort of codec bizarro world, and it is looking like my only option is to reinstall Vista and start again. Without going into specifics, I budgeted the build to around $800. $1000 later and rising...... So after 2 weeks of agony, I should have taken ajm's words of wisdom. I have now gone back to individual components v the all in one HTPC. One day soon I will revisit the HTPC. Why am I telling you this? You admit yourself you are not 'tech savvy' with PCs. The build will not be the hard part. It will be getting all of your media to behave, and all of the components of the PC to integrate. Good Luck!
myrantz Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 I have just completed my own HTPC build, and living in Perth I used 3 retailers - NetPlus, PLE and MSY. Sometimes because of price, but often due to availability of products. I had never built a PC before, but following advice on the net, and researching components, the proces was quite simple. The unholly trinity.. Building the PC is easy (there's only one way the thing will fit).. Getting the software to work, that's difficult.. Without going into specifics, I budgeted the build to around $800. $1000 later and rising...... I started my new build with $400.. But with a BD ROM drive, and a eventual Xonar, + software costs, I think i'd eventually hit the $1k mark too.... You admit yourself you are not 'tech savvy' with PCs. The build will not be the hard part. It will be getting all of your media to behave, and all of the components of the PC to integrate. I'm kindda excited with Windows 7 though... After 200MB of driver/app downloads/updates, Blu Ray playback works (the loading is so quick).... Granted I havn't really tested anything else, and all I have managed so far are analog sounds... If you think it's difficult now, it's a lot more difficult 4-5 years ago.
Woodlake Posted August 31, 2009 Posted August 31, 2009 Yep, I agree with all the comments above. It took a bit of fiddling to get everything to play nicely together, but worth it if you have the time and inclination. I'd second PLE as a good choice for buying components from. I built mine (from PLE) for about $700 and have just added a separate video card (ATI 4550) for reliable 24fps playback and have a Xonar slim on the way for bitstreaming the HD audio (had trouble finding one, but got a good deal from Here and they still have a few in stock). All up I think $1000 is about right budget wise.
myrantz Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) I'd second PLE as a good choice for buying components from. I built mine (from PLE) for about $700 and have just added a separate video card (ATI 4550) for reliable 24fps playback and have a Xonar slim on the way for bitstreaming the HD audio (had trouble finding one, but got a good deal from Here and they still have a few in stock). All up I think $1000 is about right budget wise. I have trouble finding Xonar in HK too... Is that place u quoted from perth (trying looking around but can't seem to find an address).... Edit: Nevermind, phone # not from WA.. $1000 is about right for a Microsoft build... I hate HDCP.. Edited September 1, 2009 by treblid
Woodlake Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 I have trouble finding Xonar in HK too... Is that place u quoted from perth (trying looking around but can't seem to find an address).... Edit: Nevermind, phone # not from WA.. $1000 is about right for a Microsoft build... I hate HDCP.. It's in Sydney, but shipping is very reasonable - $226 shipped to Perth, cheaper than anywhere else I looked AND they had stock which is the main problem.
matt200sr Posted September 1, 2009 Author Posted September 1, 2009 Cheers for the comments guys. I am still as confuse as ever I was hoping to get a package like this below but the specs dont appera to as good as you could do if you were to build yourself. http://www.ple.com.au/?p=fiveseries&s=...pbi41rd9jt90nk7 I might look at a media player like popcorn hour or WD Media Player but that has just opened up a while new paradox of choice! I just want to play HD Mkv files so this may be the better option. I see the popcorn hour even has a Torrent client built in. I have a wireless network at home and I think the popcorn hour can access my pc over the wireless connection.
50mxe20 Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 Another vote from NetPlus. My daughter just bought an ASUS laptop from there. Seemed a pretty good deal to me and didn't have to put up with a bunch of salesman telling me porkies. Stephanie, at NetPlus, is very easy to work with.
Vortical Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) Another vote from NetPlus. My daughter just bought an ASUS laptop from there.Seemed a pretty good deal to me and didn't have to put up with a bunch of salesman telling me porkies. Stephanie, at NetPlus, is very easy to work with. +1 To both NetPlus & PLE. We have dealt with Stephanie @ Netplus for years now with all our Office machines and some of my family's pc's and never had a complaint. Although they can get very busy in store due to their popularity I also deal with PLE a lot to since they were a tiny store back in the 90's. I've had issues with RAM and various optical drives over the years and they both have a very good returns policy. Edited September 1, 2009 by Vortical
Silas Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 Cheers for the comments guys. I am still as confuse as ever I was hoping to get a package like this below but the specs dont appera to as good as you could do if you were to build yourself.http://www.ple.com.au/?p=fiveseries&s=...pbi41rd9jt90nk7 I might look at a media player like popcorn hour or WD Media Player but that has just opened up a while new paradox of choice! I just want to play HD Mkv files so this may be the better option. I see the popcorn hour even has a Torrent client built in. I have a wireless network at home and I think the popcorn hour can access my pc over the wireless connection. Hi, I have both a HTPC and the popcorn hour and if you 'just' want to watch the HD MKV files, go for a popcorn hour, BUT and this is important, you may find that wireless is not suitable for streaming of HD content, I cannot confirm or deny this as i made sure I put at least 2 cat6 cables into the room before I did any building and use one of them for the popcorn hour. As of this moment I do not have the HTPC in the HT as I have just installed Windows 7 Ultimate release and am rebuilding it, but it probably wont end up in the HT as I hate the bloody noise mine makes and the popcorn does it anyways
50mxe20 Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 I might look at a media player like popcorn hour or WD Media Player but that has just opened up a while new paradox of choice!I just want to play HD Mkv files so this may be the better option. I see the popcorn hour even has a Torrent client built in. I have a wireless network at home and I think the popcorn hour can access my pc over the wireless connection. Yes, I agree with this too. The PCH is a very good option and plays (just about) everything one throws at it. I have not used the PCH torrent option but I know it is there. Can't speak for the WD and other media centre units like this abut they are all pretty much the same chipset and all probably do pretty much the same thing.I enjoy fiddling with PC's and ripping files etc etc but I have not committed to the HTPC movement. I may some day but as AJM says it's a hobby in itself.
debruis Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 I have done a bit of a search on this but can't find any recent posts with definitive answers.Does anybody know of somewhere where I can buy a HTPC in Perth? I have looked online and can find plenty of parts to build one myself however I am not very tech savvy when it comes to computers. Also what can I expect to pay for something with 2 HD tuners and a Blu-Ray combo drive and 2tb of storage? Do HTPC's need a super fast processor to run them? What is the best operating system? $2850 2HD Tuner /Bluray / 3TB Silverstone Case Media Centre Remote and Keyboard Vista Home Premium For reliable operation I suggest HTPC should not be used for emails and general internet browsing. Only internet use should be for driver updates patchs etc. Regards Debruis
Trigg Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 I know this isn't really what you are looking for , but it looks sleek! http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=wH1q2VTqyLXaCw1f
debruis Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 I know this isn't really what you are looking for , but it looks sleek!http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=wH1q2VTqyLXaCw1f They are rather neat. Wish they had internal TV tuner not USB which I have found less reliable than internal. If you like the ASUS you like the models on the link below http://www.pointofview-online.com/showroom...;category_id=81 Regards Debruis
ajm1503559545 Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 I enjoy fiddling with PC's and ripping files etc etc but I have not committed to the HTPC movement. I may some day but as AJM says it's a hobby in itself. Oh thank God!! Someone is listening
myrantz Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 Nobody likes MSY? Brand new operation in WA and a website to cry for. I get most of my stuffs from Altech, DMA and Netplus (All in that same area osbourne park).. Only been to MSY, PLE, Austin and Storm Computers a couple of times but AFAICT they're pretty decent too... I know this isn't really what you are looking for , but it looks sleek!http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=wH1q2VTqyLXaCw1f My father in law has one... He likes it... Might get one myself too when I have the chance... Oh thank God!! Someone is listening Just my 2c but things have really improved quite dramatically from years back... DVB-T on linux just works (it has come a long way and is really very usuable and feature rich now), and my oh my the potential of Windows 7 (still can't get audio or 24p working, and I'm still baulking at the potential costs of software though)..
ajm1503559545 Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Just my 2c but things have really improved quite dramatically from years back... No doubt, things were bad in ye olden times I'm sure I give the impression that I'm 'anti' HTPC but the truth is I'm a big big fan. I do tend to concentrate on the negatives when people start these threads but thats mostly because people tend to only think of and mention the positives. When I first bought into the HTPC it was when the very first DVB-T card was released in Aus and I was fully aware of the pitfalls because we were all experiencing them together. Some were lured by the idea of a machine that could do it all, some liked the cost effectiveness, some liked the quality of output that could be gained. Some stuck with it, others got frustrated and moved on. It helps to have a clear idea of what can be achieved and how easy or hard these functions are to implement. It also helps to have a clear idea of what you're capable of or willing to learn. There really is no escaping the fact that, above all things, the HTPC has always required a degree of commitment and patience. If you're not prepared to invest more than money in the machine then the HTPC is absolutely not for you. ..... in my opinion...
myrantz Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 (edited) No doubt, things were bad in ye olden times Yar and blue is my least favourite colour! ..... in my opinion... i agree.. I guess I still love to live on the 'bleeding edge'.. I use MythTV trunk (and I update daily) and most software I use have a beta/alpha/rc tag.. when there's a firmware update for anything out there, i gotta upgrade it.. Media players are too stable for me.. it is as you said, a hobby.. But what a great hobby! And lately it has turned into a hobby to enjoy, rather than a frustrating time waster.. Edited September 2, 2009 by treblid
Guest clay_tone Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Oh thank God!! Someone is listening Haha, I was always listening, just not always paying attention. I went in to the whole HTPC build knowing it would be a 'hobby' and a constant work in progress. Perhaps the mistake I made initially was trying to get MediaPortal to function 100%, before all my video was stable and working in Vista. I am just taking a break from it for a few days, and start again, with a much clearer workflow in my mind to follow. There is another shop, DNY in East Perth, which is well priced and easy to deal with. Good for those who work in the CBD and can't always get out to the suburbs.
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