Newbie hardware HTPC questions

[markrb]

I am looking into putting together an inexpensive HTPC having in mind to upgrade as I get money to better equipment. Starting out with higher end pieces that are the least likely to change over time and the most important (PSU, Mobo, sound card, mainly).

I have 2 questions at this point. Yes they are newbish and I tried a search, but man you guys know your stuff and the basics seem to miss me.

1. How do I connect the video card to the component in of my TV?
My main system's video card (Nvidia 7800GT (not using on the HTPC) came with a black pastic box that has component outputs. It connects to a S-Video looking connector on the card. Is this type of device which comes with the video card the main means of connection or do people use something different?

2. I have been reading about remote control and it seems I want a USB-UIRT, but I can't seem to find anything listed as that at any of the online vendors.
Is there a brand name or something I should be looking for. Can someone provide a link to what it is I need to use my Harmony 880 with my future HTPC?

I am sure I will have a million more questions, but for now I think those 2 will get me started.

I have been working in IT for years, but when it comes to this stuff I am pretty new to it.

Thanks a bunch,
Mark

[Kupakai]

[QUOTE=markrb]I am looking into putting together an inexpensive HTPC having in mind to upgrade as I get money to better equipment. Starting out with higher end pieces that are the least likely to change over time and the most important (PSU, Mobo, sound card, mainly).

I have 2 questions at this point. Yes they are newbish and I tried a search, but man you guys know your stuff and the basics seem to miss me.

1. How do I connect the video card to the component in of my TV?
My main system's video card (Nvidia 7800GT (not using on the HTPC) came with a black pastic box that has component outputs. It connects to a S-Video looking connector on the card. Is this type of device which comes with the video card the main means of connection or do people use something different?

2. I have been reading about remote control and it seems I want a USB-UIRT, but I can't seem to find anything listed as that at any of the online vendors.
Is there a brand name or something I should be looking for. Can someone provide a link to what it is I need to use my Harmony 880 with my future HTPC?

I am sure I will have a million more questions, but for now I think those 2 will get me started.

I have been working in IT for years, but when it comes to this stuff I am pretty new to it.

Thanks a bunch,
Mark[/QUOTE]

1. That doogle should work with nVidia cards that support it. It's not an S-video plug so it won't work with other cards, if that's what you are asking. Best way to connect a computer to an HDTV would be through DVI or VGA or HDMI (depending on the TV's input), but component would probably be ok too (I haven't tried that one myself).
2. Try pcalchemy.com. Since the forum rule is supposed to be no vendor links, go "Remote controls" section and at the bottom you will find it. Another place that sells HTPC components is digitalconnection.com. Newegg.com is a good place for general computer part (you probably already know that one).

[markrb]

Thanks for the info.

My video card question was more general in nature. My mistake for making it sound specific when I mentioned the 7800.

Let me reword it a bit.
Since I have to go component what would I need to go from the video card to the component input of my TV?

Is it just card specific like the dongle I have for my 7800 or is there something more specific?

If I were to buy an ATI or Nvidia card do I need to get one that has HDTV out so I can use component or can I get almost any card and use some sort of adapter? If so what kind of adpater do I use?

Would I get better PQ with the Nvidia or simalar ATI dongle or am I better of with something else? Keeping in mind I can only go component.

Hopefully I have better explained myself. As I said when it comes to HTPC I am beyond Noob.

Thanks for the pointer. My problem is that I don't have the slightest idea what a USB-UIRT is or looks like. In my case I just wanted the link to see what it was. I will then take the info and find a place to purchase myself.

Thanks so much, I am sure many more questions to come and this is after days of reading the forum.

Mark

[jflatt]

The USB-UIRT is $50 USD. I suggest you get something else.

[alpax]

[QUOTE=markrb]I am looking into putting together an inexpensive HTPC having in mind to upgrade as I get money to better equipment.
...
2. I have been reading about remote control and it seems I want a USB-UIRT, but I can't seem to find anything listed as that at any of the online vendors.
Is there a brand name or something I should be looking for. Can someone provide a link to what it is I need to use my Harmony 880 with my future HTPC?[/QUOTE]
I'm about to enter the home theater arena too. As I'm limited on budget at the moment, I decided to start with what I have now, get a couple of essential components, and assemble a real machine later.
I've started with Hauppauge PVR-150 to capture TV shows (I don't believe with all my interest in digital technologies I'm still using a regular old VCR from time to time :)). MPEG files get transferred to my Xbox, which works now as a "read-only-without-TV" HTPC with XBMC running.

But the point here is - I've got not just a PVR card, but an MCE bundle - it comes with MCE remote and IR blaster, which I'm planning to use when I'll build a normal HTPC for my living room. I haven't tried my Harmony 520 remote with it yet, but AFAIK MCE remote is in the list of supported ones.

Some Hauppauge cards (350?) come with their own IR-receiver, which is also supported by Logitech/Harmony.

[Kupakai]

[QUOTE=markrb]
If I were to buy an ATI or Nvidia card do I need to get one that has HDTV out so I can use component or can I get almost any card and use some sort of adapter? If so what kind of adpater do I use?

Would I get better PQ with the Nvidia or simalar ATI dongle or am I better of with something else? Keeping in mind I can only go component.
[/QUOTE]
Check your PM

You can get a transcoder to convert VGA or DVI to component, but they are not cheap. It would probably be easier to get a video card that has component out. I haven't tried that route, so I can't tell you what the PQ would be like. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that issue.

[markrb]

Thanks for the info.

Right now I have no plans to do a tuner/dvr setup.

Mostly I want to be able to use it as a media server, but with the ability to
do so much more in the future if I so desire.

Hopefully someone that has expierence with the dongle type setup can offer further insights.

Thanks,
Mark

[Andrew Hornfeck]

WHAT display (TV set) are you connecting to? EVENTHOUGH it may have component input, it could still be standard resolution 480i and marked YCrCb instead of a HDTV-capable set that uses YPrPb and 720p/1080i timing signals. Give us the TV make/model and we'll tell you.

IF it is SD you'll not see any real improvement over S-video... I said REAL. IF it's a HDTV-capable monitor then feeding it with a HD signal will be your best picture. I use an ATi AIW 9600XT and a hack s/w that enables YPbPr (component) video directly from the VGA connector... I use a break-out cable HD15 to RCA. I paid around $150 for the card and I'd guess that's about normal for a card with Directx9 capability.

Let us know about your TV

[Puwaha]

[QUOTE=markrb]Let me reword it a bit.
Since I have to go component what would I need to go from the video card to the component input of my TV?

Is it just card specific like the dongle I have for my 7800 or is there something more specific?[/quote]

Yes, it is very card specific. Some cards even though they use the same GPU may not offer the Dongle for component out. Since it sounds like your card came with the dongle, then all you need to do, it setup your display to 640x480@60Hz (this is what is called a 480p timing in 4:3 [not widescreen], which should work with practically any TV that takes a progressive signal.

Then turn off the PC, plug the dongle into the Video card, unplug your computer monitor, use standard Component video cables to go from the dongle to the component input on your TV.

Switch your input on the TV to that Component input... boot the computer. Viola. The Nvidia cards seem to be the least amount of trouble for hooking up a PC to a TV.

From there, depending on if your TV is HDTV capable, you can go into the Advanced Display settings and setup for 1080i or 720p output depending on what your TV can handle.

Now, if your TV is an SDtv with component inputs, then it might not take anything higher than a 480i input.



If I were to buy an ATI or Nvidia card do I need to get one that has HDTV out so I can use component or can I get almost any card and use some sort of adapter? If so what kind of adpater do I use?

You can get a VGA -> Component transcoder. DigitalConnections sells them. It will work with any VGA card, but you will have to tweak to get it setup right for your display.


Would I get better PQ with the Nvidia or simalar ATI dongle or am I better of with something else? Keeping in mind I can only go component.

My TV (a Toshiba direct-view tube HDTV) only has component inputs as well. I started out with an ATI Radeon 8500 back in the day because it readilly had a dongle to output component.

I then upgraded to an MSI-brand Nvidia 6600GT (which has a similar dongle to the one you described) which dramatically improved my picture quality, as well allowed me to see the BIOS/boot screens. So in my opinion the Nvidia cards with component output seem to be the best bet when it comes to picture quality over component... especially when paired up with Nvidia's PureVideo MPEG decoder.

[markrb]

My TV is a Mits 55413 that definetely does do 1080i over component.
It does have one DVI input, but I am using that and can't ATM change my setup.

I picked up the 6600GT with the HDTV component dongle from the egg.

I played a little with my 7800GT and my upstairs TV. It looked great.
Can't wait to get my HTPC together with my downstairs setup.
Have to though as the card and other stuff won't be here for a week.

I am currently researching PSU's and the like for the next stage of making it quiet.
For now my Antec will do, but I am looking into the Seasonic 430 based on silentpcreview.

I also picked up the USB-UIRT. I decided that even though I don't need the IR out right now when I do get video in I will want it.

It's coming together, at least in theory, slowly, but I will get there.

Thanks,
Mark

[Andrew Hornfeck]

www.mitsubishi-tv.com/common/getfile.asp?uuid={2B712BCB-BD9D-410B-B2B9-979BD3DC6FBC}


GUYS -- should he consider the RGBHV input as an option? It's be easy to use a T-switch between his VGA monitor and the Mit 55413... use 1777x1000i 1080i timing and he'd be set!

BTW, there is a HUGE post about custom rez/timing that addresses Mitsu connections... have you read it?

[close1]

I'm building an HTPC. The motherboard supports an AMD 462 processer and I purchased the quietest CPU fan I could find (Zalman CNPS7000B). The mounting hardware for the fan will require me to drill into the motherboard as there are no predirlled holes to support it.

My question is should I be drilling holes in the motherboard?

Here's a link to the CPU fan and there's also animated installation instructions.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=145&code=005

TIA

[Ozy666]

You linked to the 7700, which doesn't state support for socket 462.

Which one do you have, the 7700 or the 7000?

Ozy

[close1]

Sorry about that. It's this one:

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=142&code=005

CNPS7000B-AICu

Thanks!