Unfortunately the design of the mATX in combination with my ATX does not allow me to use the SATA ports properly (they are sorta sticking out to the side and into the case). So the hunt is on again for a new HTPC setup. Well not everything has to be brand new, I have a working digital tuner card as well as a relatively new graphics card for hardware acceleration. So this was my current setup, which I loved:

• Antec Fusion V2 case
• Gigabyte  MA69GM-S2H motherboard, a bit old but working (could use replacing maybe?)
• AMD Athlon XP2 6000+
• Asus EAH5750 Formula
• 6 GB Dual channel DDR3 memory
• Harmony Remote
• SATA 160 GB Samsung HD
• FloppyDTV digital tuner card
• LG Blu-Ray player

So I’m not looking for anything fancy any more. I will be moving at least the FloppyDTV an LG Blu-ray player over to the new case. And preferably the graphics card unless I can find an onboard one with equal performance and HD decoding skills. So what are my new requirements:

• The case has to be smaller then my current one (I like the Fusion but it is to big for my likings)
• The system has to be as quite as possible (so minimal fans or big fans moving at low speed)
• It has to have an IR port to receive the Harmony signal

I’m sorta already stuck, and I’m only looking for a new case so far. Am I the only one looking for a small case for a HTPC that is at least a bit stylish, that does not need to have a display.

But because the channel changing is very poor and the digital TV support made me cry I decided to try out Media Portal. The change only brought me good fortune. I could finally change channels they way I liked. Being able to see which show was running. And even better have a good TV Guide.

I do have to admit that the first version I used had a few problems:

• Setting up the channels was hell. It took me over 2 hours to build a full channel list. Mainly because there was no dvb file for my region, so I had to create one manually. And once I completed a scan it only found 10 channels. So I had to rescan over and over and over and……
• The damn thing kept crashing if I left it on over night in TV mode, real bummer since I don’t turn of the HTPC.
• Media Portal seems to be unable to record anything if the program is closed, but if left open it crashes.

Luckely for me a new version was released not that long ago. Hoping some problems might disapear I downloaded and installed. Not wanting to do the pain in the ass scanning again I first saved the channel list to an XML file.

It all installed nicely, not much fuss and pretty quick. But when I tried to import the channel list I got really f**ked. The new version did not want to import the channel list. I was really worried that the scanning would take forever again. I was in for a big surprise when I found that I could start a channel scan and at the same time organise them the way I wanted. All within 10 minutes, so a big improvement.

Another big surprise was that the recording happened dispite Media portal being closed. And even better even if I didn’t close it the program no longer crashed after being open for the whole night.

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In the last message I described which hardware I picked for the HTPC. More in detail I gave details about the CPU, motherboard and casing I choose. Well let me say that I made the right choices. The cpu holds enoug power to do basically any job. The casing is as silent as hell and the motherboard has got everything you could ever need on board. (Not much in gaming but I didn’t choose it for that)

So now for some details on the assembly of the HTPC.  The first steps are pretty easy. Make sure you have everything you need. So that’s:

• memory
• cpu
• casing
• motherboard
• harddisk
• screwdriver
• lots of time

For the assembly part that’s all you’ll need. When installing you may need a keyboard and monitor, but that’s worries for later on. So let’s walk through the assembly process.

Unpacking the casing

One of the first things you’ll want to do is unpack the casing from it’s box. And check to see if everything is there. Open the casing and check where everything is supposed to go. In my case the casing is divided in three parts. On for the DVD drive and powersupply. One for the motherboard and one for the harddisks.

After this simple job you will have to connect all the connectors. In my case these were the:

• front side USB and firewire connectors
• Usb connector for the display and volume control
• The connectors for HDD lights and power ligths
• The power switch and reset switch

Unfortunatelly I can’t help you with this step because it varies per case and per motherboard. But there is a diagram in the book that came with the motherboard. And the cables from the casing are always labelled.

Inserting the DVD drive and harddisk

This was one of the easiest cases I’ve ever seen to insert the DVD drive. Simply lift the drive bay out of the casing. Insert the DVD drive and screw it in place. Connect it to the motherboard and the power supply and done. Before inserting the drive bay back in the casing you may want to run the power cable for the harddisk underneath the bay. Saves some space in the casing over the motherboard.

For the harddisks a similar story. Unscrew the top plate over the harddisk bay and remove it. Just connect the harddisk to the motherboard and the powersupply and drop it gently in the harddisk bay. After this place the plate back and screw it in place. After that screw the harddisk in place with the larger screws. These screws are a bit different because of the rubber put between the harddisk bay and the screws. This is to reduce the noise level.

Please note that for this motherboard and casing combination you’ll have to purchase a new SATA cable. This is because the connectors on the motherboard point out and are on the bottom side. Making it impossible to plug in the default cables.

Putting in place the CPU
One of the last jobs is putting in place the CPU. Gently drop the CPU in the motherboard, there is a golden triangle that is to be alligned with the triangle on the motherboard. Never apply any force, the CPU is to fall in place smoothly. If it isn’t you’re probably alligning it wrong.

After the CPU is in place you can put the cooling unit on top of it. Note that for some no cooling paste is required as there is a sticker on the cooler with the paste in it. Attach it firmly with the brackets to the motherboard (some presure may be required).

All that’s left now is inserting the memory and your ready to start up your system. Oh and for fun some more pictures.