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HTPC Building Series: Choosing the MSI 7411 motherboard
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, PC / Laptop,
Check out our HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.
In this installment of the Home Theater PC building log, we wanted to focus on the core of our system. Previously, we took a look at the process of selecting hardware along with a look at the overall mission to build the best HTPC we can, on a budget. To understand what we are aiming to do, though, I thought it would be best if we were able to take a look at what’s going to be at the center of everything: the MSI MS-7411 Media Live DIVA 7.1 motherboard.
That’s a mouthful, we know - but it’s also an amazing centerpiece for our system. The foundation is MSI’s MS-7411 micro-ATX motherboard featuring AMD’s 780M chipset with UVD support and side-port memory for smooth 1080p playback. This motherboard can be ordered with either pre-amp or amp audio card solutions (one purchase package) directly from your distributor of choice. Note that this motherboard uses the mobile variant of the 780 for additional power savings features that are useful in a home theater environment. It pulls less power, and it doesn’t get as hot, which means much less fan noise. Nothing kills a movie experience like fan noise, seriously.
Click to continue reading HTPC Building Series: Choosing the MSI 7411 motherboard
Gallery: HTPC Building Series: Choosing the MSI 7411 motherboard
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HTPC Building Series: Selecting our hardware
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, PC / Laptop, Videos,
Check out out HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.
In our quest to build a great HTPC on a budget, one thing we need to think about is the hardware and software we are going to use to build and run everything. We are going to be really ambitious here, scouring deal and coupon sites to find great hardware and software at even greater prices. If you come across anything, feel free to leave a comment and let us know.
The first piece of hardware we are focusing on is a motherboard from MSI that integrates the “Maui” platform - the MSI K912GM-FIH. This is one of the biggest leaps forward in HTPC technology, and as such, we are going to build this machine around this board. In case we need to prove our case further, check out this video we did on the motherboard before its release:
Click to continue reading HTPC Building Series: Selecting our hardware
Gallery: HTPC Building Series: Selecting our hardware
HTPC Series: Let’s build a budget HTPC
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, PC / Laptop,
Check out out HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.
Over the next few weeks, we are gonna be working on a special project that we hope you guys will get a kick out of. You see, as gadget enthusiasts, we know that we all love when technology can make our lives easier, or when it is just downright cool. However, recent developments in the economy are going to lead to a tightening of the budget (if it hasn’t already), and we thought we’d try and see if we can build something awesome at a reasonable price. The task? We want to build a great home theater PC (HTPC), made with great parts, for under $1000 USD. You can follow our progress at our HTPC on a Budget page. Or, if you’re too lazy to hit that link, here’s a list of topics:
- Let’s Build a Budget HTPC
- Selecting Our Hardware
- The MSI 7411 Motherboard, and Why It Rocks
- Achieving Great 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound
- Driving multimedia content to the HTPC
- The ATI TV Wonder 650
- Laying Out All The Components
- The Final Tally
So, what are the goals of our HTPC project? Well, besides the aforementioned $1,000 limit, we have a few other things we want out of it. First, we want it to remain fairly quiet. After all, this thing is going to be use to watch movies and television. We don’t need any extra fan noise coming from it. Secondly, we want it to put out a high definition signal, with connections that use today’s technology. Ideally, that means it will have an HDMI out port, so we can get both high definition and surround sound out of this thing.
Click to continue reading HTPC Series: Let’s build a budget HTPC
Gallery: HTPC Series: Let’s build a budget HTPC
It’s Sony’s turn to join in on the inexpensive, YouTube loving camcorders. The Webbie produces up to 8.5 hours of HD MPEG-4 video or thousands of 5 MP images. At a size of 2.4 x 1.7-inches, it houses a CMOS sensor and records on the company’s ultra-small Memory Stick PRO Duo media. The Webbie also features a 2.5 swivel screen, an 5x optical zoom and simplified software at a price of $199.99. This spring, they will also have an upright Webbie available for $169.99.
Read More 
| Sony Style
Gallery: Sony Webbie HD Mini-Camcorder
Panasonic VIERA CAST Adopts Amazon VOD
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Internet, Movies,
Watch out, Netflix, you have some competition. Panasonic has now announced that it is teaming with Amazon Video On Demand on their 2009 VIERA CAST enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray products. Grab yourself one and you will have access to over 40,000 titles. In addition, you can get YouTube, Picasa, Bloomberg News and weather. We have to admit we like VOD as they often have some freebies and that is a good thing. Look for the new VIERA CAST early this year.
Read More | Akihabara News
Gallery: Panasonic VIERA CAST Adopts Amazon VOD
LG LH-85 Series Wireless HDTVs
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2009, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless / WiFi,
LG is displaying an LH-85 series of wireless LCD TVs at the CES 2009. The HDTVs include the 47-inch 47LH85 and the 55-inch 55LH85 with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 60gHz radio and multi-element antenna array. It also features its 10 point IRE system, color management, and a new picture wizard for calibrating the TVs. The new series should be available in May. Contact LG for more information and price range.
Read More | cnet
Gallery: LG LH-85 Series Wireless HDTVs
Netflix streaming hits VIZIO Connected HDTV [UPDATED]
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, CES, CES 2009, Corporate News, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies,
VIZIO is launching a new platform that they’re calling “Conneced HDTV,” and with it comes confirmation of the second Netflix direct-to-TV partnership. VIZIO’s Connected HDTV platform is designed to compliment traditional television viewing. You just connect the television to your home network, and if there’s nothing good on, you can go into Netflix, and I am sure there will be other services (YouTube? Hulu?) that you’ll be able to pull up as well. This is a trend we are definitely liking, let’s eliminate set-top boxes while providing more viewing options for the consumer.
EDIT: Okay, we just got more details on this. Aside from Netflix, the VIZIO Connected HDTV platform also brings Amazon Video on Demand, Pandora, Flickr, Blockbuster OnDemand, Rhapsody, Adobe Flash content, games from Accedo Broadband, and the Yahoo! widget engine. Very, very interesting!
Read More | MarketWatch
Gallery: Netflix streaming hits VIZIO Connected HDTV [UPDATED]
Sharp build Blu-ray players into BD-series Aquos LCD HDTV line
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2009, HDTV, Home Entertainment,
Sharp is aiming to help eliminate at least one set-top box from your rack with their BD-series Aquos LCD HDTVs, which come with a Blu-ray player packed in to the television unit, announced today at CES 2009. If interested, you can pick one up later this month in 32-, 37-, or 42-inch flavors, or if you need something larger, next month the 46- and 52-inch models drop. These also bost the Superlucent ASV panel technology which means less glare in the end, and a brighter picture. It also does 24p through HDMI, in case you have an old HD DVD player you have lying around that you want to use (since the included Blu-ray technology doesn’t use up an HDMI port.) QAM and ATSC tuners along with RS-232C inputs round this one out. Full release after the break.
Click to continue reading Sharp build Blu-ray players into BD-series Aquos LCD HDTV line
Gallery: Sharp build Blu-ray players into BD-series Aquos LCD HDTV line
RCA announces EZ209HD, their slimmest Small Wonder camcorder ever
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, CES, CES 2009, Handhelds, HDTV, Movies, Portable Audio / Video,
We are loving just how prevalent small HD cams are becoming, and the RCA EZ209HD looks to be an impressive unit when it comes to that category. This is the company’s slimmest and “sexiest” (their word, not mine) Small Wonder camcorder ever, and captures high definition video while sporting a 2-inch display. Even better, though, unlike some of the other handheld HD flash camcorders we’ve seen, the EZ209HD even has an HDMI port, so you can plug directly into a television to watch your home movies. The rechargeable battery lasts for two hours, which is also nice, and the camera even supports a 60fps Sports Mode for fast action. Once your recordings are done, you can easily upload them to YouTube and Box.net. You’ll be able to get your hands on an RCA EZ209HD by the end of this quarter, and it’ll sell for $119.99.
Full press release available after the break, which includes details on the EZ207 as well.
Click to continue reading RCA announces EZ209HD, their slimmest Small Wonder camcorder ever
Gallery: RCA announces EZ209HD, their slimmest Small Wonder camcorder ever
VIZIO busts out $200 VBR100 Blu-ray player at CES 2009
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2009, HDTV, Home Entertainment,
So, you know how VIZIO was working on switching from being a discount player to wanting to be seen more as a high end manufacturer? Well, looks like they are looking to merge those two together with their VBR100 Blu-ray deck, which they announced today at CES 2009. Here’s a look at the features of this 2-inch thick Blu-ray player:
- Video outputs: HDMI (1.3), component, and composite
- Audio outputs: 7.1 channel analog audio, coax and optical digital audio, and analog stereo (RCA)
- Dimensions: 17 X 11 X 2”
- Includes Remote Control (Oh rly??)
In addition, when watching a standard DVD, you can set the player to upconvert to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p, and it has on-board Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA decoders, and that can be output from the unit’s 7.1 analog outputs. You can pick this one up in April for $199.99.
