Easy HTPC

Building an AMD HTPC – Capable of Blu-ray HD – Audio Playback

Introduction

It has been quite a while since I last went under the hood of my current Home Theater PC (HTPC), but judging by the gradual degrading performance that I was beginning to see when watching the latest movies, it was pretty clear that an upgrade was in order.

While 720p HD video content plays back relatively well, action-packed and even regular scenes in 1080p HD content struggle quite a lot – the GIGABYTE H971 Home Theater PC, which we reviewed back almost exactly two years ago (here), still impresses us ‘till this day with completely rock solid stability. But when it comes to current day video and audio, it is now sadly dated. Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly fine for DVD playback and DVD quality audio, but now with Blu-ray HD audio from Dolby and DTS tracks out and in truck loads on Blu-ray discs, this HTPC has seen its day when it comes to high-end HTPC features.

With way too much Intel chip action in this office, we decided it was time to get some AMD silicon in play around here. So, we contacted our friends at AMD to see if they would hook us up with a processor to use in our new HTPC build. They obliged rather nicely with not only one, but four of their latest processors to try out – ranging from dual-core all the way up to quad-core – we’ll pick one today based on a range of tests.

We also have a bunch of other hardware to show you in this article, which go into building this AMD based HTPC. We searched long and hard for the right hardware for this Blu-ray playing beast and not only does it do it well, it does it probably better than any other HTPC that you have seen before. For one, it is able to output Blu-ray DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD as it were intended by the movie studios (using bitstreaming). It also does it in style.

Let’s take a look here and see what we recommend for an AMD HTPC build in 2009 and then we’ll put it to the test and see just what it can do and exactly how much power it is going to suck out of your wall, all while entertaining you in your lounge room.

Read the whole build process-

via Building an AMD HTPC – Capable of Blu-ray HD Audio Playback Introduction :: TweakTown.

Small form factor computers have been growing in popularity recently with the introduction of Atom-based nettops. These low cost systems have proven very compelling options for consumers with budget and space constraints, but for the most part are limited to basic computing tasks such as web browsing, document processing and some audio / video playback.

If you are fond of the small footprint but not the low-end specs, however, you might be interested in Fujitsu’s latest addition to the Esprimo Q series. Dubbed Q1500, the top of the range model that was recently shown off at Germany’s IFA trade show sports a 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 processor, 320GB Western Digital hard drive and 4GB of DDR2 RAM. Also inside were a Blu-ray optical drive and an accompanying HDMI port, making this 50mm tall system an ideal out of the box HTPC that uses a mere 19 watts of power when idle.

Intel’s GMA 4500HD graphics chip and Gigabit Ethernet complete the specification, with 802.11b/g/n wireless cards and Bluetooth available as optional extras. Although pricing for the model on display was not disclosed, Fujitsu said cut-down versions of the Q1500 will start at a rather pricey 699€ (about $1,000).

via Fujitsu unveils Blu-ray and Core 2 Duo packing mini PC – TechSpot News

Pundits may argue that the modern day HTPC has no place in the modern day living room, but we disagree. In fact, with the economy still struggling to regain its swagger, folks are staying in and finding entertainment at home more than ever. It’s that truth that spurred us to start this here project: building a fully capable, Blu-ray and TV tuner-equipped HTPC for less than a grand. And lo and behold, we made it happen. If you’re interested in seeing exactly how we pieced together a mighty fine entertainment box for less than the starting price of most pre-configured systems, hop on past the break with your notepad open.

If you’ll recall, we did a similar piece on HTPC building way back in early 2006. A format war and a digital TV transition later, we figured it was finally time to issue a revised edition. With disposable income becoming an increasingly rare commodity, we put a soft $1,000 cap on our model rig, and we did our darnedest to construct a solid, potent media PC that could easily be built by any DIY’er reading this now.

Read More.

Via Engadget.com

Via Videoeta.com

The options for HDTV movie viewing keep growing. Some might say it’s been a long time coming but finally Amazon’s Video on Demand service is offering some HD movie titles. The service goes out to several consumer devices including IPTV by Panasonic.

Amazon’s VoD service has launched up to 500 TV shows and movies in full HD glory with more to be added shortly. You can rent your Amazon vide HD features through your TiVo HD or Series 3 PVRs, Roku Digital Video Players, Sony Bravia Internet Video Link and those new Panasonic VieraCast IPTVs. HTPC users via Windows or Mac will also get the HD movie treatment via the Amazon.com website.

No big surprise with pricing. It’s a bar that’s already been set with HD movie rentals running $3.99 or $4.99 depending on how recent a feature. TV shows purchases will cost $2.99 each. At this time HD movie purchases aren’t available.

Several studios have jumped on board including Warner, Sony Pictures, MGM, Paramount and Universal Pictures. The video resolution depending on your device will be up to 720P. The one drawback is that the audio is only 2.0 stereo. TiVo has said that a majority of titles will playback in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound its boxes.

While this makes Amazon even more competitive against Netflix, for the fussy seeking movie perfection it’s still far from the pristine quality you get from a Blu-ray disc.

Via Audioholics.com

Introduction

Antec are very well known for their high end PC cases and have an impressive selection of PSU’s that are so reliable they carry a 5-Year warranty. Enthusiasts and gamers are not their only target market however as the product catalogue also features a range of HTPC cases. Today we have one of the higher specification models on our test bench, the Fusion Remote Max which is designed to house a HTPC system with no need to cut corners on the component specifications.

Read.

Via Driverheaven.net

Antec HTPC Cases.

Via Videoeta.com

Maybe you noticed already, but in the latest installment of Microsoft’s “Laptop Hunters” ad campaign, 11-year-old Jackson and his mother, Lisa, pick a 16-inch Sony Vaio notebook that’s game-friendly and has something no Apple MacBook is offering: Blu-ray. When mother and son learn the Sony laptop has the feature, they practically give each other high fives, exclaiming in unison, “Blu-ray!”

I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal–but it kind of is. For Microsoft, which was one of HD DVD’s main supporters and fought Blu-ray tooth and nail till the bitter end, using Blu-ray (and, ironically, a Sony laptop) as a selling point in an ad is a sign that perhaps it’s finally ready to bury the hatchet.

Somehow, I doubt this means we’ll see Blu-ray in the XBox 360 anytime soon, but I’m sure a few folks out there wouldn’t mind if Microsoft did offer a premium version of the 360 with a Blu-ray player for $100 more.

And heck, for the price of a MacBook Pro, it’d be nice if Apple also threw in a Blu-ray drive, no?

Via Cnet.com

Okoro Media Systems has made available its 2009 RK Digital Entertainment Servers, with rack-mountable chassis and more media center options.

April 17, 2009 | by Arlen Schweiger

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced the release of its family of data projector products. The P Series (Portable), L Series (LCD), D Series (Data), and A Series (A/V) are a combination of technical innovations that enhances the brightness, color, and accuracy of the projected picture while providing the functionality needed for academic, corporate, professional or home use. The entire line of projectors strives to have the best Front of Screen performance in alignment with our TV, Pro Display and Monitor products.

“Samsung’s Data Projectors focus on what customers are looking for – accurate Front of Screen performance, unique contemporary designs, almost silent operation, and connection flexibility,” said Mr. JH Kim, President, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America Inc. “Our new line of Data Projectors complements our award winning Desktop Displays and powerful Large Format Displays, rounding out our full line of IT visual display offerings.”

The Samsung family of Data Projectors is ideal for those searching for high performance in color and brightness with low operating noise. For impromptu presentations or mobile applications, the compact design of the P Series (P400) makes the ultraportable projector lightweight, less than 2 pounds, with best-in-class brightness, 150 ANSI lumens, from an LED light source, and standardized audio/video connections.

For educational use or corporate environments, such as classrooms and conference rooms, the Samsung L Series (L220 & L300) are complete stand alone multimedia projectors capable of providing sharp color-rich images and sound from any AV or PC source, including HDMI (L300 only). While the L Series’ 3 Chip technology enhances picture quality through realistic color reproduction, its built-in speakers offers stereo sound output to run media-rich video applications without additional audio support.

For larger venues, such as auditoriums and lecture halls, the D series (D300 & D400) uses DLP technology to offer higher brightness in dark or lighted conditions and versatile connectivity, including HDMI.

For the home theater enthusiast or professional who demands the highest quality picture, the A Series (A400, A800 & A900) offers a full movie experience. The A Series creates a vibrant picture with wide-screen resolution, an expanded color palette, and increased color brightness by 50%. The A800 and A900, known as the “Joe Kane Signature Series”, utilizes the Digital Light Processing (DLP) optical engine to offer 1080p Full HD resolution enabling viewers to watch movies as the director intended. Joe Kane is a veteran of the home theater industry and recognized as one of this country’s leading HD experts.

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Via Businesswire.com