Thank you for your reply, Adrian. The timings Graham has given are here http://www.avforums.com/forums/showpost ... count=2355 and his recommendations for an HTPC are here http://www.avforums.com/forums/showpost ... count=2370

I'm so pleased Fifth Element looks great in HD on this plasma as it's my all time favourite movie. I already have it on DVD and Superbit DVD, and it will be my first Blu-ray disk.

I hope to use this case:

Case: Silverstone Grandia GD01B-MXR
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=518649 £123.36

which is quite roomy and will accommodate both optical drives and more hard drives than I'll ever want to install.

More details on my proposed build is here http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647458 though it's very much liable to change.

I will also be using Vista Home Premium 32bit as I actually quite like Vista. However, I've been reading quite a bit about Nvidia Vista drivers not supporting custom resolutions and other problems that people are having. Graham from Fujitsu swears by Nvidia, so I just don't know which way to go. I think I have a lot more research to do.

I would really appreciate any advice you can give me.

I think I found this forum from a reference in a thread on AVForums.

Thanks,

Teresa

Thanks - more reading

Thanks Teresa,

The link to the timings resolved my 1360x768 glitch...

My screen is now at the ersolution of 1360x768

All I need to do now is to save the profile, when i can find the profiel editor in the recent update for the driver.

I willl have a look at your specs later, but i have posted my freinds specs on antohter thread in the hardware forum at this site.

Adrian
Adrian

Hi Teresa,

Had soem fun and games last night with the HTPC and plasma.

I have set the resolution now to 1360 by 768. Using the timings that Graham said was the real clincher, in getting the system to work, in particualr changing the default timer settings to either GTF or DTF. I cant remember which I settled for in the end.



One issue I did have though was the alignment of the new resolution, it was skewed heavily to the right, though I was able to re-centralise it using the Fuji's settings.

One thing to note is that within Nvidia, youcan set the Nvidia software (Im using the October 29th XP HD driver) to either use the Nvidea scaling or the screens. I have not yet really compared the two.

It would be interesting to see which is the better at upscaling SD DVD in particualr.

Adrian

Adrian, it's really interesting to hear how you are getting on with the Nvidia settings for the Fujitsu screen. I think the Nvidia XP drivers are better for custom resolutions than the Vista ones as I've read a few complaints about them. I really want to start with Vista on my HTPC but I need to make sure that I can set exact timings, preferably with the Nvidia drivers. I could try Powerstrip, but Graham from Fujitsu has dire warnings about using it.

I think I may end up just biting the bullet and building my HTPC. Then I'll have all the fun of tweaking it to get the best possible picture. If the worst comes to the worst, I can always change my graphics card.

It looks like an HTPC build goes far beyond just putting the hardware together and will keep me busy for a long time to come. However, I enjoy tinkering and I'll learn loads about how video and audio is processed.

Teresa

Indeed it is the case.

I built my current HTPC in June/July this year, and I am still tinkering with the software, updating drivers etc.

Unfortuantely this appears not always appear to be for the better.

TO be honest, whislt the new functioanlity of the XP Nvidea drivers is better, I am not convicned that the hardware accerlerated support for HD is a better picture, it seems slightly grianier and foggy in dark parts. Last night, i was watching the BBC One sessions (PaulSimon and Norah Jones) that I have recorded on the HTPC.

PQ is sharp and detaield as usual, but in dark areas, the picture can appear grainy.

This corrleates to when I set DVD Power Ultra to use hardware decoding when palting back the fifth element on Blu-Ray. When this box is checked, the CPU usage does fall, but the picture becomes grianier, including the black bars above/below the picture.

But I still need to tinker with the system, and liek you learn.

Unfortuantly this can, whislt be enjoyable become addictive with the need to constantly tinker.

Soem times I do have to force myself to leave the system be and enjoy it for what it is, a very good universal media system....

Saying that I am contempalting installing Vista over the Christmas period. IF I do, I will install on a seperate Hard Drive, and swap as and when so Ihave a configuration that I know works

CPU Upgrade!!


Just Upgraded the CPU to a 5600 beast...

Adrian

Cool ... defo gonna see an improvement there ... enjoy

Vista 64 Bit (ultiamte) Installation...

Recently, I have invested in the 64 bit OEM version of Windows Vista Ultimate and a Samsung 750 GB Hard Drive, making the total number of drives to four, the other being 500 GB

I wanted to explore Vista, and was under the impression that 64 bit version comes with 32bit as well. Whislt that may be true for the full package, my OEM package only had the 64 bit version. However, I may try and download and install a copy of 32 bit using my registration details.

So I have two boot up drives, and using the F8 bootup menu I can change the default boot up drive from XP to Vista. Works well.

Once I had the software installed (had some wierd glitches) it was time to down load and install the Vista 64 bit drivers from Asus...

The PC kept crashing during the down loads. This was overcome by booting up in XP and saving the files, before rebooting in Vista and installing.

I also had to install soem other drives, one evening the PC kep crashing with a BSOD. It happened every time I quickly double clicked on one of the mouse keys. The 64 bit version drivers seemed to rectify that, and seems a stable system at the moment (fingers croissed, touch wood)!

I then followed the 2008 guide that Phil has on this website, and despite following his instrucvtions, soem of the parameters seemed to ahve got changed.

But whislt I ahve not tinkered much, I can do as Phil describes in media player and MP.

I have also managed to get both WMC and MP to recognise the TV cards and can watch record TV, though again not really tinkered.

Also downloaded DVBviewer and was able to get the PC to record and view the BBC-HD channel.

So whilst a relatively simple install so far, It seems to be going well for the most part.

I have a problem with KMplayer but I need to use the vista version more often.

Things that I need to continue with include

1. Configure Vista for netorking
2. Install PowerDVD ULtra for HD discs
3. Install my movies option for MCE and MP and get my movie database working
4. Install TheatreTek?

I am also planning to try and get PowerDVD working in conjunction with Deamon Tools to overcome the drive issue, but also need the time.

So there is the latest update.

Please ask me any questions, or make any suggestions as appropaite

All the best

Adrian

Was there a particular reason for going with Vista x64 edition or did you just fancy playing witth it?

Becasue I was under the impression that it came with 32bit as well!

No other reason really....

With hind sight a possible mistake.

Adrian

I thought it came with 32bit as well. Maybe because you got the OEM version.

I've just checked my MSDN subscription and the license keys are the same for the versions. However license keys are specific to language, type i.e. OEM or Retail so if you manage to get a 32bit version from somewhere make sure it is an OEM version.

I think you can purchase a 32bit version from Microsoft for a nominal fee. I could send you a version I have on DVD but I don't know if the license key you have will work with an MSDN version.

Either that or stick with 64bit and just overcome the issues. You probably won't see any benefit from 64bit for a while yet.

Cheers

Need to see if I can either download or ask some one with a copy to send me a 32 le

Adrian version I guess..

But I might perservere for a while but it would be good to ahve a plan B available

Adrian

Sound Fun:

Having recently received a 6 channel audio switching unit, I finally found the time to connect the HTPC to the Av amp via Audio leads as well as the Digital SPDIF connection.

It took some tweaking of the AC3 filter and other software, to output the sound, but yesterday, I was successful. This is only on the XP install so far.

As to the sound, whislt I am not sure it sounds better, it does sound slightly different, a bit more oomph in the lower frequencies, and most importantly a wider sound field.

I need to continue experimenting, and ensuring all software is able to output sound via the audio leads as opposed to the SPDIF connection, but I am impressed. In particular the DTS version of Wish you were here in KMplayer was pretty good. Generally, Mrs Sapper has commented on the difference in sound recently. Again she agrees it isn’t necessary better but it is different.

So I have taken the plunge and ordered a Hi-end sound card, as Angeleyes swears it is a noticeable improvement over the default sound card.

So more fun over the Easter Holiday

Adrian

Vista 32 Bit Update:


Having had instability problems with Vista 64, I thought Iwould try with Vista 32 bit. As my software package only came with 64 bit Vista, I had a quick search at piratebay.org.

It was apparent very quickly that most of the Vista software on there appeared to be 'hacked'. However I perservered and found a torrent of a 32bit retail Vista ultimate that needed activating.

SO I downloaded, and with soem help from here, found out how to burn the ISO Image onto a DVD.

The software installed quickly and I was able to use my 25 bit software registration/activation number...

This is where the troubles started. It wasnt that Vista would not install, it installed very quickly, and hassle free.

It was actually installing additioanl software and drivers that was the issue, and several times (for reasons I cannot remember) I opted to re-install.

After the origianl teething issues, my main problem was with vista and My TV. After vvarious installs and restores (both from the restore point and back ups of my WHS system) I was able to determine what the pattern was. As a result of identifying the pattern, I possible cause was suggested (thank you Ian). For reasons unknown a file directory had a permission setting that Vista did not like and would crash.

Upon rebooting, my TV would not work with a "componenet failure" error message.

I had further issues with soem of the updates, but now I am running a relatively simple HTPC and it appears to be relatively stable.

I have four internal hard drives, two 500 Gb and two 750 GB (all Samsung SpinPoints).

I also have three operating systems, XP-MCE, Vista 64 and currently Vista 32 as the default.

I have removed the Satellite card to my WHS for recording BBC HD duties, and that seems to be working well at the moment

The only issue I have not that I have looked into it is the sleep mode, and gettign it to wake up to record, and to wake up with human intervention. Though this is early days and I need to read further into the topic when time allows.

I have VMC working well with Mymovies and PowerDVD integrated for HD films.

I also have KMplayer working for my Hi Def recordings and other software.

Future plans include:

Installing Theatretek to integrate with My movies,
PowerDVD suddenly refusing to play in 1080P mode on projector but will do so on Plasma
Get TT to upscale with FFDshow possibly
To change the default VMC front end

As i said a quick update to my media PC, and all things considered it is working well at the moment.

Adrian