Home Theater PC.

[Stunseed]

I'm considering coming back to PC use more regularly, and joining the PC MasterRace. I'll be using my old desktop for primary games as rare as those are.

I'm also wanting to build/acquire a setup that can go up to 4k and use Modbro/Kodi. I realize this is going to mean a good ( great ) graphics card and a sound card that can handle at least a 7.2 dolby sound scenario.

I can build, but if someone has purchased already built and has feedback, I may be willing to listen.

Ideas and/or suggestions welcome.

[drauz]

I'm considering coming back to PC use more regularly, and joining the PC MasterRace. I'll be using my old desktop for primary games as rare as those are.

I'm also wanting to build/acquire a setup that can go up to 4k and use Modbro/Kodi. I realize this is going to mean a good ( great ) graphics card and a sound card that can handle at least a 7.2 dolby sound scenario.

I can build, but if someone has purchased already built and has feedback, I may be willing to listen.

Ideas and/or suggestions welcome.

Have you considered using a TV? I use a TV as my monitor. My graphics card supports sound, so I just hook up my sound system thru my TV. I only have a soundbar but it works well.

[Androidpk]

I'm considering coming back to PC use more regularly, and joining the PC MasterRace. I'll be using my old desktop for primary games as rare as those are.

I'm also wanting to build/acquire a setup that can go up to 4k and use Modbro/Kodi. I realize this is going to mean a good ( great ) graphics card and a sound card that can handle at least a 7.2 dolby sound scenario.

I can build, but if someone has purchased already built and has feedback, I may be willing to listen.

Ideas and/or suggestions welcome.

If you want to game in 4k then get a 1080Ti or a Titan xp.

[chalion]

dual GTX 1080 or a single depending on budget.
Get a higher end motherboard w/ optical out and feed to a dedicated receiver to decode Dolby etc. (https://usa.denon.com/us/product/hometheater/receivers/avrs720w I have the 5.1 version and its pretty solid)

My current setup:
Core I7 6850k
MSI X99A Godlike MS-7883
32gb
Dual Reference 1080s
SSDs etc.

The video cards I'm sure there is better for the price now compared to when I built this a little over a year ago. Depending on how old your current receiver is you may be able to leverage that, otherwise get a new dedicated receiver and use that for audio processing.

[Mogonis]

I read it as he won't be gaming on this HTPC. You don't really need a beefy GPU for 4k video playback. If you wanna go above 30Hz, you'll need HDMI 2.0. Otherwise, even Intel's built-in HD Graphics 630 can push 4k at 24Hz and slightly less than 4k at 30Hz.

The AMD route is more HTPC friendly right now, but I just built a new Mini ITX HTPC with the Z270 chipset and no GPU (at least for now).

If you have an audio receiver already, you could run HDMI or optical through it. If not, you might be surprised by the onboard audio of modern motherboards.

[Taernath]

I read it as he won't be gaming on this HTPC. You don't really need a beefy GPU for 4k video playback.

This. If you're in it to stream Netflix at 4k, a good projector or TV will get you where you need to be more than a high end gpu.

[Stunseed]

Have you considered using a TV? I use a TV as my monitor. My graphics card supports sound, so I just hook up my sound system thru my TV. I only have a soundbar but it works well.

I do have a 4k TV with wonderful refresh rate and many bells and whistles. My issue is I don't have much faith in a modded Fire stick ( though some kind of super Roku box maybe, eh ) being able to handle quality stuff, which is why the thought moved to a HTPC. I can build now one now based on today's technologies and in theory be good for the next 5 years with minimal modifications. My current PC isn't equipped to handle anything decent ( it shakes like Michael J. Fox holding a Slim Fast can ) as relatively dated games like Pillars of Eternity have "fun pauses", so the investment to a new device is imminent.

I have a Roku 2 box for the living room that is kid friendly, but not willing to attempt to mod it as I've been out of practice for far too long.

[Parkbandit]

I do have a 4k TV with wonderful refresh rate and many bells and whistles. My issue is I don't have much faith in a modded Fire stick ( though some kind of super Roku box maybe, eh ) being able to handle quality stuff, which is why the thought moved to a HTPC. I can build now one now based on today's technologies and in theory be good for the next 5 years with minimal modifications. My current PC isn't equipped to handle anything decent ( it shakes like Michael J. Fox holding a Slim Fast can ) as relatively dated games like Pillars of Eternity have "fun pauses", so the investment to a new device is imminent.

I have a Roku 2 box for the living room that is kid friendly, but not willing to attempt to mod it as I've been out of practice for far too long.

Get an Amazon Firestick, put Kodi on it and boom, done. $40

[Whirlin]

Well... what is the end goal?

Steambox? DvR? Media Center? Streaming box?

If your goal is Steam PC Master race center, then you'll need to invest more into a good GPU...
If you want it to replace a DvR and function as a media center, you'll need like, all the HDDs...
If you just want to stream, I'd take Parkbandit's recommendation and just grab a fire stick.

[Androidpk]

I always thought the term PCmasterrace involved gaming on a PC, not just using a PC.

[Stunseed]

Well... what is the end goal?

Steambox? DvR? Media Center? Streaming box?

If your goal is Steam PC Master race center, then you'll need to invest more into a good GPU...
If you want it to replace a DvR and function as a media center, you'll need like, all the HDDs...
If you just want to stream, I'd take Parkbandit's recommendation and just grab a fire stick.

100% stream is the idea. I suppose I can try a fire stick, just cautious of garbage in/garbage out.

[rolfard]

Stream use Chromecast

[ArchSenex]

anything less than 4 video cards is just phoning it in.

[Parkbandit]

100% stream is the idea. I suppose I can try a fire stick, just cautious of garbage in/garbage out.


Friend of mine has one.. looks great on his 4K TV. I can't tell the difference between a DVD and the Firestick streaming

[Fallen]

http://deals.kinja.com/save-10-on-googles-4k-and-hdr-capable-chromecast-ultra-1792297393

That may be of use to you.