HTPC News

[UncleBob]

I thought I'd start a thread on breaking stories in the HTPC arena. Post whatever items you find, whether it's software, hardware or otherwise. We will have a place to post news istems to help keep abreast of what's going on.

Today in the news it's: Microsoft has hooked up with network technology giant Alcatel in an effort to deliver TV to broadband Internet users and give the nascent IPTV market a boost worldwide.

In hardware: the Hauppauge PVR-150 l.p. Review at HTPCNews

[wiregen]

good site - i just started in the MCE craze

[UncleBob]

Welcome!

[UncleBob]

Family Of Intel-Based Platforms Moving Into Digital Home

[UncleBob]

Tweak MCE PowerToy for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Tweak MCE gives you access to systems settings and options not normally exposed in the Windows XP Media Center Edition user interface.
Overview
Tweak MCE gives you access to systems settings and options not normally exposed in the Windows XP Media Center Edition user interface, including remote control settings, Skip and Replay time customizations, user interface options, and more. It also helps you to optimize Media Center Extender for plasma and non-CRT displays.

Anyone tried it yet??

[UncleBob]

Check it out: ATI Launches Chipset Designed for Windows Media Center

ATI Technologies Inc. said Friday that customers had begun shipping boards based on a newly announced chipset for the Pentium 4 platfrom, the Radeon Xpress 200.
The Asus P5RD1-V board has begun shipping, ATI said. As of now, the chipset is the only qualified chipset for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, the company said.

Not so sure about that, however.


This, though, does sound good to me:

ATI is pitching the chipset at Entertainment PCs; chipset uses the Radeon X300 "core technology," the company said. Features include support for DDR-2 667 memory, DirectX 9.0 pixel and vertex shaders, and ATI's LCD Enhancement Engine. The Radeon Xpress 200 will support Intel's 775-pin processors, including its upcoming dual-core models........
Motherboards based on RADEON XPRESS 200 for Intel are now shipping from Asus, with the newly introduced P5RD1-V multimedia platform.

[UncleBob]

More info on the ASUS P5RD1-V: http://www.xpcgear.com/asusp5rd1v.html

The P5RD1-V Deluxe will include a TV tuner as well! http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=1882&s=1

The ASUS page has all the details, but no pic: http://www.asus.co.jp/prog/spec.asp?m=P5RD1-V#

The specs are here:
CPU LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium 4/Celeron CPU Compatible with Intel 04B and 04A processors Intel Hyper-Threading Technology ready Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology(EIST)

Chipset ATI®RADEON XPRESS 200
ULI®M1573

Front Side Bus 800 / 533 MHz

Memory Dual channel memory architecture 4 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support max. 4GB DDR 400/333 non-ECC memory

VGA Integrated ATI RADEON X300 GPU
xpansion Slots 1 x PCI Express x16 slot for descrete graphics card
3x PCI Express x1
3 x PCI

Storage / RAID ULI M1573 South Bridge:
*2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33
*4 x Serial ATA support RAID 0,1,0+1,JBOD
*Each RAID 0 or JBOD can support up to 2 hard disk drives.

LAN Marvell 88E8001 Gigabit LAN Controller, featuring AI NET 2

Audio Realtek ALC 861 High Definition Audio 8-channel CODEC
support Jack-Sensing, Jack-Retasking functions and S/PDIF out interface

USB Max. 8 USB2.0 ports

Overclocking Features AI NOS™(Non-delay Overclocking System) AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
CPU, Memory, and PCIe x16 voltage adjustable
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from 100MHz up to 400MHz at 1MHz increment
Adjustable FSB/DDR ratio. Fixed PCI/PCI-E frequencies.
ASUS AI Booster utility
ASUS CPU Lock Free
ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
ASUS AI Proactive Features AI NOS™ (Non-delay Overclocking System)
AI NET2 network diagnosis before entering OS

Other ASUS Special Features CrashFree BIOS 2 MyLogo2

BIOS 4 Mb Flash ROM,AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ASUS EZ Flash,

Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x Parallel
1 x VGA
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
1 x 8-Channel Audio I/O
1 x RJ45
4 x USB 2.0/1.1

Internal I/O Connectors 2 x USB 2.0 connector supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
CPU / Chassis / Power FAN connectors
Chassis Intrusion
CD audio in
TV-out connector
24-pin ATX Power connector
4-pin ATX 12V Power connector

Support CD Drivers
ASUS AI Booster
ASUS PC Probe
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility
Anti-virus software (OEM version)

Accessories User's manual
2 x Serial ATA cable
1 x SATA power cable for 2 SATA
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1 * 2-Port USB 2.0/Game Module
1 x IDE cable
1 x FDD cable
1 x I/O shield

Form Factor ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6"(30.5cm x 24.5cm)

So, here are pics of the P5RD1-V, courtesy of OCW forums:

[BIGDADDY51]

I don't have a link, but I just got my new DVR from Directv, and the guy that installed it said the usb ports on the back are HOT! I will try and see what I can find out. Isee a DVDRW, in a little powered box, in my future BD51

[DarrenDiego]

More info on the ASUS P5RD1-V: http://www.xpcgear.com/asusp5rd1v.html

The P5RD1-V Deluxe will include a TV tuner as well! http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=1882&s=1

The ASUS page has all the details, but no pic: http://www.asus.co.jp/prog/spec.asp?m=P5RD1-V#

The specs are here:
CPU LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium 4/Celeron CPU Compatible with Intel 04B and 04A processors Intel Hyper-Threading Technology ready Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology(EIST)

Chipset ATI®RADEON XPRESS 200
ULI®M1573

Hmmm...seems like a neat deal, but I still don't think the X300 compares to the nVidia GeForce 6 series cards.

[UncleBob]

For just over $100, it bears looking into!

I know my TIVO had a great picture and I'd bet it had something less than a 6 series GPU!

[DarrenDiego]

Good point I guess...

I guess I've become partial to the nVidia cards. I have always wondered who makes the video processor for TIVO systems.

It's tailor made- I do know that much and that's why the picture looks so great. I suspect HTPC's will surpass them.

Have you ever seen "FFDShow" put to test?

http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=ffdshowdvd_1

I haven't really messed with it but I hear it's a must for die hard picture quality buffs.

[UncleBob]

Lian Li has entered the HTPC market. This case isn't available yet but was at CBit. More pics:
http://translate.google.com/translat...ial_s%26sa%3DG

[UncleBob]

Good point I guess...

I guess I've become partial to the nVidia cards. I have always wondered who makes the video processor for TIVO systems.

It's tailor made- I do know that much and that's why the picture looks so great. I suspect HTPC's will surpass them.

Have you ever seen "FFDShow" put to test?

http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=ffdshowdvd_1

I haven't really messed with it but I hear it's a must for die hard picture quality buffs.

I like it. I'll give it a try!

[UncleBob]

AnandTech Reviewed 5 top TV tuner cards:
* ATI's eHome Wonder
* ATI's TV Wonder Elite
* AverMedia M150
* eMuzed Maui-II PCI PVR
* Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250
* NVIDIA's dual tuner NVTV

http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2393
Of note at the end of the article in the "Final Words" section:

By the end of this year, Windows XP Media Center Edition is supposed to have CableCard support, which will enable complete HDTV support for MCE boxes above and beyond the disappointing limitation for only over the air broadcasts that's in MCE 2005. Hopefully, this roundup will be a farewell to SD as we eagerly await the first HDTV tuners with CableCard support later this year.

All I can say is...Bring it on!!

[UncleBob]

Design Technica Covered the 2005 Home Entertainment Show. Severla noteworthy items:
ELP Laser Turntable starting at $14,999 (not a typo, they go all the way to $18,999)
Outlaw Audio 990 A/V Controller (nice )
ACoustic Research DMP3000 Digital MediaBridge
Read on,there's TV news from RCA, Samsung and yes, HP.
http://news.designtechnica.com/featured_article21.html