plague1392
Banned
I wanted a 1:1 pixel mapping for my HS20 and the only option was a HTPC. Personally Id much rather have a stand alone player, but as it was my only choice I went for it. Last week I ordered the parts and put the PC together on the weekend. I got it set up with Powerstrip and gave it a go.
I was extremely impressed with the image quality on DVD playback. Games looked fantastic, especially first person shooters. MAME gives a real arcade experience on the big screen. Everything is great, but I just dont like it.
First I dont like the sound. While its actually quieter than the HS20 the sound is at a different frequency so it increases the overall amount of noise. Either of them on their own are tolerable but both together is a little too much for me.
Next, I dont like the way PCs play DVDs. Ive tried PowerDVD, TheaterTek and WinDVD and they all produce the same look on every PC Ive tried them on. Ive always used NVIDIA cards so I was hoping the Radeon I got for the HTPC would be better, but its very much the same. The playback with the Radeon is actually a lot better in software mode than with hardware acceleration on, though I have no idea why.
Next I just dont like the general idea of having a PC as a DVD player. Im not sure why but I just dont.
If I was loaded Id keep the PC just for MAME on the big screen, but unfortunately I cant afford both the HTPC and a standalone player. I think Id rather have a slightly lower image quality but a silent player that doesnt have to start Windows before I use it. However, I dont want to loose too much on the HTPC so I thought Id see if anyone would be interested in it.
Its about a week old so its not been used a lot. You can see whats in it from the list below which I made when I was deciding what to order. Ive also put a few pictures of the PC here:
PC case:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PCF1lash.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PC1NoFlash.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PC2.JPG
Back of PC:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/Back.JPG
PC and boxes for components (youd think Id have noticed ones the wrong way up):
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PCBoxes.JPG
Gengar modelling the nice shiny case:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GengarNoFlash.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GengarFlash.JPG
Heres a few pictures of the output on my HS20, though it hasnt really been configured at all for a decent picture. The best results were actually with first person shooters but I forgot to take a picture of any.
Vampire Saviour 2 Running on MAME:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MAME.JPG
2 Fast 2 Furious DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/2F2FA.JPG
Some pictures from Metropolis DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET1.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET2.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET3.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET4.JPG
Some pictures for Ghost In The Shell DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GITS1.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GITS2.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GITS3.JPG
FLCL DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/FLCL.JPG
Windows Desktop (think it was too bright for the camera):
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/Desktop.JPG
A seagull which pecks on my skylight day after day (not included in PC):
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/Seagul.jpg
So, Im just trying to get an idea of whether I should sell it. The total for the orders comes to £660.93. Would anyone be interested and if so what would you consider paying?
-=Overclockers.co.uk=-
Case: Antec Overture Piano Case - £90.36
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Antec_Cases.html
Motherboard: Abit NF7-S V2 - £67.56
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Abit.html
RAM: TwinMOS 512MB DDR PC3200 - £58.75
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_TwinMOS_147.html
Hard Disk: Samsung SP1213C 120GB Serial ATA Hard Disk - £67.56
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Samsung.html
Aerocool Deep Impact 101 (Socket A) Silent Cooler - £23.44
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Aerocool__Scythe___Other_Coolers_18.html
Overclockers.co.uk order shipping - £9.75
Overclockers.co.uk order total - £317.42
-=Komplett Order=-
Processor: Athlon 2500+ Barton - £57.26
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?action=info&sku=116244&p=&t=&l=&AvdID=1&CatID=&GrpID=&cks=SER
Graphics Card: Hercules 3D Prophet 9600SE - £62.28
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...p=&t=278&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=24&GrpID=1&cks=PRL
DVD Drive: Sony DDU1521 Black - £26.72
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...&p=&t=775&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=3&GrpID=3&cks=PRL
Floppy Disk Drive: Sony Black Floppy Drive - £10.79
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...1&p=&t=85&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=8&GrpID=1&cks=PRL
Monitor Cable DVI-DVI M/M 2m - £19.16
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...p=&t=161&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=34&GrpID=9&cks=PRL
Komplett order shipping - £12.53
Komplett order total - £188.74
-=KustomPCs=-
Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 7.1 - £77.00
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=4009
KustomPCs order shipping - £2.95
KustomPCs order total - £79.95
-=Overclock.co.uk Order=-
ATI Remote Control - £25.45
http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=17230&cat=416&page=1
Overclock.co.uk order shipping - £6.45
Overclock.co.uk order total - £31.90
-=TheaterTek Order=-
TheaterTek DVD 1.5 - £44.92 ($82.91)
http://store3.esellerate.net/store/catalog.aspx?s=STR473523819&pc=
TheaterTek order total - £44.92
I was extremely impressed with the image quality on DVD playback. Games looked fantastic, especially first person shooters. MAME gives a real arcade experience on the big screen. Everything is great, but I just dont like it.
First I dont like the sound. While its actually quieter than the HS20 the sound is at a different frequency so it increases the overall amount of noise. Either of them on their own are tolerable but both together is a little too much for me.
Next, I dont like the way PCs play DVDs. Ive tried PowerDVD, TheaterTek and WinDVD and they all produce the same look on every PC Ive tried them on. Ive always used NVIDIA cards so I was hoping the Radeon I got for the HTPC would be better, but its very much the same. The playback with the Radeon is actually a lot better in software mode than with hardware acceleration on, though I have no idea why.
Next I just dont like the general idea of having a PC as a DVD player. Im not sure why but I just dont.
If I was loaded Id keep the PC just for MAME on the big screen, but unfortunately I cant afford both the HTPC and a standalone player. I think Id rather have a slightly lower image quality but a silent player that doesnt have to start Windows before I use it. However, I dont want to loose too much on the HTPC so I thought Id see if anyone would be interested in it.
Its about a week old so its not been used a lot. You can see whats in it from the list below which I made when I was deciding what to order. Ive also put a few pictures of the PC here:
PC case:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PCF1lash.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PC1NoFlash.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PC2.JPG
Back of PC:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/Back.JPG
PC and boxes for components (youd think Id have noticed ones the wrong way up):
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/PCBoxes.JPG
Gengar modelling the nice shiny case:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GengarNoFlash.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GengarFlash.JPG
Heres a few pictures of the output on my HS20, though it hasnt really been configured at all for a decent picture. The best results were actually with first person shooters but I forgot to take a picture of any.
Vampire Saviour 2 Running on MAME:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MAME.JPG
2 Fast 2 Furious DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/2F2FA.JPG
Some pictures from Metropolis DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET1.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET2.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET3.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/MET4.JPG
Some pictures for Ghost In The Shell DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GITS1.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GITS2.JPG
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/GITS3.JPG
FLCL DVD:
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/FLCL.JPG
Windows Desktop (think it was too bright for the camera):
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/HTPC/Desktop.JPG
A seagull which pecks on my skylight day after day (not included in PC):
http://www.richard.craig.dsl.pipex.com/Seagul.jpg
So, Im just trying to get an idea of whether I should sell it. The total for the orders comes to £660.93. Would anyone be interested and if so what would you consider paying?
-=Overclockers.co.uk=-
Case: Antec Overture Piano Case - £90.36
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Antec_Cases.html
Motherboard: Abit NF7-S V2 - £67.56
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Abit.html
RAM: TwinMOS 512MB DDR PC3200 - £58.75
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_TwinMOS_147.html
Hard Disk: Samsung SP1213C 120GB Serial ATA Hard Disk - £67.56
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Samsung.html
Aerocool Deep Impact 101 (Socket A) Silent Cooler - £23.44
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Aerocool__Scythe___Other_Coolers_18.html
Overclockers.co.uk order shipping - £9.75
Overclockers.co.uk order total - £317.42
-=Komplett Order=-
Processor: Athlon 2500+ Barton - £57.26
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?action=info&sku=116244&p=&t=&l=&AvdID=1&CatID=&GrpID=&cks=SER
Graphics Card: Hercules 3D Prophet 9600SE - £62.28
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...p=&t=278&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=24&GrpID=1&cks=PRL
DVD Drive: Sony DDU1521 Black - £26.72
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...&p=&t=775&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=3&GrpID=3&cks=PRL
Floppy Disk Drive: Sony Black Floppy Drive - £10.79
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...1&p=&t=85&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=8&GrpID=1&cks=PRL
Monitor Cable DVI-DVI M/M 2m - £19.16
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?...p=&t=161&l=2&AvdID=1&CatID=34&GrpID=9&cks=PRL
Komplett order shipping - £12.53
Komplett order total - £188.74
-=KustomPCs=-
Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 7.1 - £77.00
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=4009
KustomPCs order shipping - £2.95
KustomPCs order total - £79.95
-=Overclock.co.uk Order=-
ATI Remote Control - £25.45
http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=17230&cat=416&page=1
Overclock.co.uk order shipping - £6.45
Overclock.co.uk order total - £31.90
-=TheaterTek Order=-
TheaterTek DVD 1.5 - £44.92 ($82.91)
http://store3.esellerate.net/store/catalog.aspx?s=STR473523819&pc=
TheaterTek order total - £44.92