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HTPC: the requirements
Microsoft's first attempts to bring Windows computers to the living room with the XP Media Center Edition (MCE) were not successful. The PC could only be connected to TV via TV-Out - with correspondingly poor image quality. TV reception via satellite or cable was not supported at all under Windows XP, and later, with Windows Vista, only half-hearted.
Self-build HTPC: the hardware
This has fundamentally changed with Windows 7, TV sets with HDMI input and a new generation of TV cards. This now also works for HD reception. Even with digital cable and encrypted TV stations, a MediaCenter PC will do a great job.
TV card with CI extension
Many users are no longer satisfied with what the TV program provides them with. They also want to access internet offers in the living room. And they want to bring digital media to their TV in all possible formats. Compared to TV sets, set-top boxes and media players, the PC has the advantage that you can easily install codecs for different video formats and that all functions are combined in a single device.
Expand the Media Center PC with software
In addition, a remote control is enough for everything. When you access the Internet, you are not limited to the services offered by the manufacturer, but you have full access to all websites, even those with HTML 5, Flash and Silverlight
HTPC stands for Home Theater PC, ie a computer, which should find its place in the living room and a TV device as a monitor uses. For this, our own-build HTPC has to fulfill a number of requirements: The housing must fit optically to consumer electronics devices. The PC must be quiet and economical. It must have an HDMIA output and can be controlled by remote control. Quite cheap is our self-built HTPC with 1.132 euro is not, but we did not spare the equipment.
We chose the Fusion Remote from Antec. The compact desktop housing fits well into the living room with its aluminum front and the large volume control. In addition, there is a micro ATX mainboard, an optical drive and up to two hard disks space. For the operating system we use an SSD (solid state drive) with 120 GB of memory. This type of memory is also available in USB sticks and allows much higher write and read speeds compared to conventional hard drives. As a result, the whole computer will be faster.
For storing data, on the other hand, a standard HDD disk (hard disk drive) - in our case a 3 TB HDD from Seagate. The front display of the Antec housing is controlled by the iMEDIAN HD software from iMON. Alternatively, an ergonomic MCE Remote can be used as an alternative to the enclosed remote control.
As a processor we use an AMD A6-3650. Since the Radeon HD 6530D is integrated into the Quadcore processor, you save yourself a separate graphics card. This integrated graphics processor is not only fast enough for 3DBlu-ray, but it is also sufficient for many games.
The basis for the processor is the motherboard Gigabyte GA75M-UD2H. It supports SATA3 as well as USB 3.0 and is therefore fully designed for fast data transfer. HDMIA is also on board.
The memory comes from Kingston. The 4 GB DDR3-1866 SDRAM module benefits our ADM processor significantly.
Cooler for the graphics card is the flat, quiet Gemin II M4 from Coolermaster. The Silent Pro Hybrid has the advantage that it operates passively and silently at a power output of less than 200 watts.
The most important component of an HTPC is the TV card. We chose our self-built computer for the Cine S2 V6 from the American manufacturer Digital Devices. It is equipped with a double tuner for digital satellite reception in HD quality. Since the card supports Unicable, both tuners can be connected via a satellite cable if a corresponding LNB (Low Noise Block Converter) or multi-switch is used.
The basic equipment
This is important if only one satellite connection is present in one room and a second one can not be retrofitted. In addition, the card has an integrated bridge chip with two expansion jacks. They can be connected to a further tuner module and a common interface extension, which then do not need a slot on the mainboard.
Our HTPC can be equipped with a CI module, in order to be able to receive private persons such as RTL, ProSieben or SAT.1 also in HD quality. For this you need an HD-Plus smartcard. However, one moves thereby legally in a Grauzone. The use of the smartcard in non-approved devices is contrary to the terms and conditions of the operator.
Upgrade the electronic program guide and movie archive
The CI-Plus module, which is bundled with HD-Plus cards, does not work in the PC. You need to use a special Conditional Access Module (CAM). These so-called Graumarkt-CAMs are often also used in set-top boxes and TVs.
For users of cable television, the DVB-C card Cine CT V6 from Digital Devices is recommended. Here, too, one moves in the legal border area when a CI module plus smartcard is used to decrypt programs.
Although the Media Center under Windows 7 now works very well, without additional software is not enough. Few video formats are supported, the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is lean, and films on the hard drive can be poorly managed and presented.
Recording remote control
The best German-speaking source for add-ins and tips is the site mce-community.de. Other good sources of information are thegreenbutton.com, now part of the Windows Experts community, and thegreenbutton.tv.
There are some tools and programs that can not be missing on any PC with Windows 7 Media Center: the Media Center in Windows 7 brings an H.264 codec for HD recording and playback of TV programs, movies to Blu-ray -ray can not play the operating system without additional software. Programs such as Cyberlink PowerDVD 12, Corel WinDVD Pro 11 or Arcsoft TotalMedia Theater 5 are necessary. The top variants also support 3D Blu-rays and the conversion from 2D to 3D.
With the Win-7 codecs from Shark007, the HTPC can also play video formats that are not supported by Windows 7 itself. Virtual Clone Drive opens disk images in a virtual disk
Even if the MediaCenter already has an EPG, the WUSELEPG program can be easily extended by the electronic program magazine in the MediaCenter. The software available for a donation equips the preview image for films and many TV shows available only at the American Media Center after. The TVMovie Clickfinder can serve as a source for additional information. In addition, WuselEPG also unlocks the disabled in the American Windows 7 version.
With the freeware Remote Potato the HTPC can be programmed via web browser. Clients are also available for various smartphones and tablets. Recorded programs can also be streamed.
With live TV is only with DVBLink of DVBLogic possible. The commercial program replaces the TV module in the Media Center and has more features.
AMD A6-3500: 70 €, Gigabyte GA75M-UD2H: 75 €, Kingston 4GB DDR3-1866 kit: 36 €, ADATA S510 SSD 120: 89 €, Seagate Barracuda 3TB: 152 €, LiteOn iHBS312-31 (BD- RW): 97 €, Antec Fusion Remote: 135 €, Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid: 200 €, Cooler Master Gemin II M4: 30 €, Digital Devices Cine S2 V6 with CI extension: 248 €
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