▷ Htpc: what is it, what is it for and best tips for mounting it?

When choosing a multimedia center for your entertainment room, it is not enough to buy any brand or rely exclusively on an affordable price or high power. It is necessary to understand the space in which this HTPC is going to be installed, in order for it to carry out its role correctly, otherwise it will only provide a faulty sound experience in the room, instead of presenting an impressive sound to the play games or watch movies.

The first step is to evaluate the environment in which the home theater will be installed. In case the home is undergoing renovation, it is a good opportunity to hide the cables and embed the sound boxes. Thus, the basic task at first is to check which is the most convenient position to install the HTPC and the simplest and most neat way of passing the cables.

To give us an idea, in a reduced room of up to 15 square meters, the most convenient is a soundbar type home theater, which offers up to 500 W RMS of power. A room with an area of ​​between 15 and 25 square meters will support a type of system with 5.1 or 5.2 speakers, and approximately between 500 W and 1000 W RMS of power. In rooms larger than 25 square meters, the recommended system to fully enjoy the HTPC is with 7.1 speakers. or 7.2, and a power greater than 1, 000 W RMS.

Index of contents

What is an HTPC

A Home Theater Personal Computer ( HTPC ) is a dedicated PC that is used connected to a television or a video project to offer us all its musical quality playing movies, music and digital television.

Furthermore, with this technological device it is possible to run some PC games, use the optical drive to play CDs, DVDs, Blurays; and watch videos from streaming services like YouTube and Netflix, all from the comfort of a sofa.

A computer dedicated to home cinema (HTPC) consists of trying to copy the experience and atmosphere that we live in a cinema, but transferred to our own home.

We take the room into the deepest darkness, with the screen off, the video projector turning on and the speakers displaying the first sounds and dialogues. This is the beginning of a great experience watching a movie, series or music recital.

As a sound reproduction system geared towards reviving movies with high-quality reality, the HTPC comes with surround sound and a volume calibrated to increase the realism of the images emitted by the video projector or television. In this way, you will receive all the sensations and emotions of your favorite movies.

The concept of home theater emerged during the 1990s when the appearance of the Compact Disc Video occurred that provided better image and digital sound qualities than the well-remembered and popular VHS cassette.

Simultaneously, the first HTPC amplifiers arrived that opened the doors to start enjoying ambient sound from 5 speakers. This system is made up of a central speaker that reproduces the voices of the characters, two main speakers that reproduce all the sounds and two speakers at the back that recreate the atmosphere of the film, just like in a cinema.

How is an HTPC formed?

When we talk about HTPC, we are referring to a series of devices that convert the entertainment room of a home into a home theater, with their respective visual and sound sensations. In this way, these devices that make up the HTPC take care of all the cinematic effects in order to fully enjoy an HD or Ultra HD video medium.

Content source

For a HTPC to provide us with all its sound and visual quality, it is necessary to have a source that contains the material that we will see and hear, such as music or movies. Today, the vast majority of people have at least one source for multimedia content.

Sound, being the main feature in all HTPC, requires a digital source with HDMI support in order to exploit to the extreme the latest immersive sound technologies and a picture of great definition and realism. Modern amplifiers allow extensive wireless connectivity, thus facilitating the connection of different audio and video sources, such as the following:

• CD Player DVD or Blu-Ray Player Computer Game Console Satellite Set-Top Box Smartphone USB Internet Memory Tablet NAS Server External Hard Drive Vinyl Record Player And many others

Amplifier

Often called an "A / V amplifier, " it occupies a crucial place in the installation of an HTPC. Making an analogy with the human body, it would be the heart of the HTPC, and whose function is to manage the audio and video signal from a source and distribute it after having boosted it. With the help of HD decoders, it skillfully manages Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD formats, among others.

With multiple channels and tailored power, it easily brings speaker systems to life from the simplest (2.1) to the most advanced (9.2 and up). Amplifiers have more and more options to process audio and video, and similarly, more network functions. Another increasingly common feature in amplifiers is that they are compatible with 3D and up to 4K (Ultra HD) video conversion.

Speakers

They make screen audio playback more effective and present all the acoustic splendor of HD media. In this way, you can access the most widely used audio formats today, which with the help of the amplifier can be reproduced through a set of speakers.

The most basic options start with sound bars (with or without a subwoofer) and 2.1 systems, whose greatest attraction is the space they save by being narrow. The other advantage of soundbars is that they can start to be used immediately, since they come integrated with an amplification system. Therefore, once connected to the display and the source, you can start using it. However, if you want to immerse yourself in the sensations of a movie theater, a 5.0 or 5.1 system is recommended.

Depending on the type of HTPC you want to install, a speaker kit and subwoofer will be required. Generally, speaker packages are made up of 2, 5, 7, 9, and 11 speakers.

The 2.1 system may be more appropriate for those who do not want too many cables in the living room. These powerful systems sometimes manage to reproduce 3D sound (surround sound) simply from the two front speakers. Regardless, for a true home theater dive, a 5.1 system is advised.

If you also plan to use an amplifier to listen to stereo sound, choose carefully the two large speakers located on the front. When using the Home Cinema mode, these speakers are responsible for immersing you in the cinematic atmosphere, while the dialogues are transmitted through the center speaker.

In summary, the peripheral speakers are dedicated to reproducing atmospheres, sensations and ambient sounds, such as the sounds of explosions, cars and airplanes.

The subwoofer, which handles only the bass, provides the essential sound intensity effect to get the adrenaline out of the home theater experience.

Screen or TV

You can choose between two types of screens that rival or can complement each other perfectly. In the first group we find televisions that use LCD, LED, QLED or OLED technology. In this case, it is recommended to choose a large television to benefit from a magnificent image.

With a 50-inch TV at least, you get the best details and high sharpness of UHD images. In addition, the most suitable rendering can be chosen through the image processing options and the different display profiles.

The second type of screen we can choose is a cinema-like solution, with a projection screen and a video projector. This is the very essence of a cinema, and it can be transferred to a room with screens that can be installed manually or electrically and that provide an unmatched surface (with screens up to several meters in size).

We recommend reading the best monitors on the market

Also, a projection screen can provide images up to 4K / UHD. Being a configuration restricted to a few high-end devices, this high resolution provides impressive quality in terms of contrast ratio and colorimetry.

A 16: 9 format projection screen is recommended, either retractable, manual or motorized. This way you can watch movies with the best quality and without problems in terms of images that are cut at the edges.

As for the image, it is clear that a cinematic rendering is going to be unbeatable if you choose a video projector in conjunction with a projection screen. To choose the projector, you must take into account the brightness and dimensions of the room, as well as the budget.

We recommend reading the best projectors on the market

You do not necessarily have to choose one or the other configuration. If you wish, you can equip your theater with the two options (television and projection screen), since a projection screen can be rolled up to use the television, while the video projector includes quite discreet supports that can be hidden easy in an interior decoration.

Choice of hardware for HTPC

Now we are going to see different hardware components that are integrated into an HTPC and whose functions determine the quality that the home theater will have and the use that will eventually be given.

This guide provides all the information you need to build a brilliant new HTPC that is powerful enough to efficiently handle workload and entertainment, all at the same time in a compact and quiet way!

Mounting your own HTPC instead of buying a pre-built one means you're going to get the exact performance and design you're looking for, with higher-quality components and fewer pre-installed software.

Processor

As with most desktop computers, the CPU is also one of the most important components when it comes to setting up a home theater.

We recommend reading the best processors

However, some very important issues need to be considered in order to make all components work well in a small box. So, we can choose between three types of CPUs.

Low-end CPU

In this range, we can find processors that consume a maximum of 35 W of energy. In a user-mounted HTPC, this means that the processor will not emit as much heat as other processors, something that will benefit the cooling, which will not force you to work intensively, which will keep everything quiet..

Added to this, the low power consumption makes it possible to choose a power source with more freedom and variety. Such a processor would be a basic start for mounting an HTPC. But it is worth clarifying that if you are looking for something more powerful to carry out multiple tasks, this processor could limit you.

Currently recommended models (article creation):

• AMD Athlon 200GE AMD Athlon 220GE AMD Athlon 240GE Intel Pentium G5400

Mid-range cpu

In case you have a bigger budget, your choice should be for a 4-core 8-core CPU, which despite being priced higher than the low-level processor, will offer superior performance for more advanced tasks.

But here a concern already arises: a mid-level processor is only capable of going down to 46W, which is why you should take it into consideration when it comes time to choose the PSU and the cooling. Having clarified this, such a CPU is the ideal choice for multitasking and 4K playback. Recommended models:

• AMD Ryzen 5 2200G and AMD Ryzen 5 2400G

High-end CPU

Finally, leaving aside the concern for cooling and power consumption, and for an even higher price, at this level you can choose a next-generation Intel CPU, for example. This is one of the CPUs indicated in this range if you are most interested in using your HTPC for games.

This processor is capable of supporting basically any heavy game currently available on the market, just as it has enough power to manage all the software and functionality you are looking for with your HTPC configuration built by you. The drawback to note here is that due to the noise and power consumption of a processor of this level, special attention must be paid to cooling in general. It is also recommended to accompany a dedicated graphics card:

• Intel Core i5-9600Intel Core i7-9700KAMD Ryzen 2600

These processors are not very common for these purposes. But if you have money left over and you want to treat yourself… go ahead.

Graphics card (GPU)

Choosing a graphics card also means thinking that the entire HTPC system is balanced. As a first point, the use of a discrete GPU translates into greater graphics performance for playing videos and games.

We recommend you read the best graphics cards

Despite this, using a GPU also causes some drawbacks related to heat generation inside the case, high power consumption and several fans running constantly at maximum, making such a structure not as quiet as you were looking for.

In most cases, it may be feasible that a system oriented only to play videos does not require a graphics card, even more considering that many CPUs come with integrated graphics processors with which you can watch high resolution videos (APUs). or the Athlon behave very well). Still, a GPU can provide extra display options, particularly if you plan to use HTPC to run games.

Low-level GPU

At this level the integrated graphics that come with the CPU are chosen, because it is capable of fulfilling its function well in an HTPC that is intended for music and video playback. Our recommended models:

• Nvidia GT 1030AMD Radeon RX 550

Mid-level GPU

For a HTPC to be used for 1080p gaming and 4K content, a consistent choice is a GPU's combination of performance, low power consumption, and low noise levels. To increase the experience we recommend the Nvidia GTX 1050 or GTX 1050 Ti of 2 or 4 GB.

High-level GPU

In the third level we find all the HTPC systems in a theater that will need to use 1440p, so the indicated option will be a powerful graphics card. Although it is worth mentioning that at this level, all care regarding noise, portability, size and power consumption will have to be left in the background. Any GTX 1660 or higher is already worth us.

Refrigeration

As previously stated, one of the vital issues to consider when assembling or purchasing an HTPC is refrigeration. Generally, the boxes are small and compact inside, so there is no option to choose large and robust refrigeration systems.

In case you are not demanding the CPU to the extreme, and you only assign light tasks of video playback and Internet browsing, in that case the basic cooling alternatives that AMD and Intel can provide could suffice. Although it should be noted that they will not offer completely silent operation, even being heard when they are at work.

It is also good to mention that depending on your CPU usage, liquid cooling will not always be the best option, and perhaps air cooling is better.

This is essentially because while these configurations take up less space around the CPU socket, this advantage fades away when the fan has to run extremely hard to cool the smallest radiator. In this way, more noise is generated in the hardware, which is why you should consider whether you are looking for a reduced design that takes up little space or an HTPC system that does not produce annoying noise.

In summary, optimal cooling will mean that the HTPC system has larger fans and heat sinks, while better space management will usually translate into more noise from the cooling system, since you will have to constantly work to achieve low temperatures in the system. Manufacturers like Noctua, Silverstone or Cooler Master have very good low profile or low profile heatsinks.

We recommend reading the best heatsinks

Motherboard

The Mini-ITX form factor, while designed to optimize size, will cause multiple RAM and PCIe memory slots to be lost in order to offer a super small footprint. Despite this, these motherboards will be more than enough even if you plan to play. Although these motherboards are not recommended if you plan to use the HTPC for gaming with a 10.1 sound system with additional cards.

Because they are highly efficient in saving space, Mini-ITX motherboards become the best natural choice for small size HTPC boxes.

We recommend you read our best motherboards

However, what is gained in space is lost on the other hand, since mini-ITX boards have the disadvantage that they come with only one PCIe slot. Although if your goal is to use the HTPC only for games and playing videos, you will not have any problem with this type of motherboard.

However, in the event that later you want to use the HTPC for more tasks or update it, you will have to find another solution because they are usually more expensive than other formats. To achieve this, the way forward will be to choose a Micro ATX motherboard, which are similar to Mini-ITX motherboards, although they are a bit longer to be able to place complementary PCIe slots, which means that you will have to study very well what kind of plate do you need for this case.

Once you have already chosen a form factor that is compatible with your box, the next step with the motherboard is to make sure that it is compatible with the CPU. This compatibility will be determined by the manufacturer, the model and generation of the CPU, but it is a fact that you will easily find among the specifications of the motherboard.

RAM

One positive point is that if you will be using HTPC for entertainment only, you won't need to install a lot of RAM. With about 8 GB it would be more than enough. Anyway, if you start using games later, you can take the RAM to 16 GB. On the other hand, it would be advisable and a good decision to opt for higher speed RAM, because these chips will take better advantage of speed increases.

Although it is generally thought that buying a single 16 GB RAM module saves money, the truth is that many times they have the same price as two 8 GB modules. Due to fluctuations in the market, it is advisable to take a look at the HTPC RAM to obtain the best price and quality options between the 8 GB and 16 GB modules.

We recommend reading the best RAM memory

Storage

If we refer to the uses that are given to an HTPC, the extreme speed is not transcendental for most of the users. Although this changes when talking about capacity, it will be important the bigger it is (video files and games usually need a lot of space).

We recommend reading our guide on the best hard drives and best SSDs

Hard disk drive (HDD)

Related to this will be the amount of digital media (USB memory, consoles, smartphone, etc.) that you will use together with the HTPC, because about 2 TB could be enough for you. This is the storage for those looking for a large storage capacity.

When it comes to an HDD, choosing a model larger than 4TB could be out of the question of cost and benefit, as in this terabyte range the price per GB rises again and the value of the purchase.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

If you plan to use an SSD for your home theater, it is recommended to use it as a boot drive that will speed up all the main operations of the HTPC. The good thing is that you do not need too many GB to act as a boot disk, because what you are looking for with this is to optimize the performance of the software.

Power supply (PSU)

Despite the fact that few people think about this at first, the truth is that you have to take into account the power consumption when mounting the HTPC. Higher power consumption will require a larger power supply for management, which at the same time needs to be cool, which could lead to more noise.

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However, since there are several CPUs that consume low power levels, it is easier to achieve low power consumption and quiet performance. In case you are looking for a more powerful configuration to enjoy multimedia and games on the HTPC, you will need an option with coolers.

Although if you have chosen to mount a lower level configuration, several high-volume, low-volume power supplies are available on the market.

The most important thing at this point is to understand how much the fountain fan will need to work when required. Using an example, a CPU that is close to 100W will not require a lot of work from the PSU, so with a 450W model it will be enough so that the fan does not have to run at full capacity, causing overheating.

Power supplies without fans

Models that come without fans typically reach 600 W; so if you need more power, you will have to choose another active solution. Personally, if the use of the equipment is minimal, a passive source is sufficient. Buy a quality one and avoid buying cheap brands, which will then degrade the health of your components.

Power supply with silent fans

There are also several sources available that do come with fans, but quiet. Although you lose a bit in terms of silence, you win on the price and power side. So a good purchase can be made if total silence is not your priority.

Box

Several models of boxes for an HTPC stand out for their designs and optimized sizes. On certain occasions, you can find models that are mostly made of glass or that include a touch panel. However, the usual boxes are not these, so we will mention below the most common models.

Mini-ITX boxes

There are many options for mini-ITX boxes, which stand out for their internal design and for allowing sufficient air flow.

If you have a somewhat limited budget, but you are looking for a box with good air flow, there are several alternatives for this type of box, while on the other hand, in high-end boxes, you can find models with a brightness of brushed aluminum, for example, that will give a greater style to the room.

As you may have noticed, this type of box was designed exclusively for home theater systems. Thanks to their slim size, these boxes adapt very well to the room space and can be placed next to other devices that make up the HTPC, such as game consoles and Blu-ray players.

We recommend you read the best PC cases

How to choose the amplifier

The HTPC amplifier is an essential part of the installation, and must be connected to some content source, such as a USB memory, game console or NAS, for example. You also have to pay attention to its connectivity, verifying that it is compatible with the devices you want to connect.

Among the various connectors that an amplifier can include, the main ones are: Stereo RCA, USB, DisplayPort, IEEE 1394 cable, Mini Jack, S-Video (5-pin), optical cable, coaxial cable, SCART, DVI, component (RCA red, green and blue), composite (RCA yellow), VGA and HDMI. Of course, everything will depend on the amplifier model in question.

Among the most advanced amplifiers, you can see that they include a function called "upscaling", which is a process by which the resolution of an image or video is improved. With upscaling, you can process video formats of previous generations, such as a camcorder, to optimize the quality of reproduction, obtaining with this a HD quality of 1080p.

Tips to avoid classic mistakes when mounting an HTPC

The entire audio system in an HTPC is not very complex, although it has differences compared to a high fidelity (Hi-Fi) system. Indeed, an HTPC system is made up of at least five speakers and a subwoofer, so we are dealing with a 5.1 system, which means that it may have some difficulties if measured with a Hi-Fi equipment that would only need two speakers.

From here there are several questions about how to choose the right speakers and the speaker, where to locate them in the room, what amplifier to buy, and several other questions. Having said that, we will mention the most recurring errors that should be avoided to start off correctly in the amazing universe of HTPC.

Neglecting the importance of the center speaker

Almost all of the audio that a movie emits circulates through the center speaker, indicating that you should pay special attention to this speaker, more than the others. This makes us think of the high quality that this speaker must have, in addition to not having a smaller size than the other speakers that make up the audio system.

Choosing the wrong subwoofer

The center speaker next to the subwoofer are the linked components that must work together in a 5.1 system. If one of these two components does not deliver good quality in your task, it will affect the overall performance of the entire HTPC.

A good quality subwoofer is considered to be a speaker that will produce dry, non-exhausting bass. Otherwise, it will be annoying to hear the audio of a movie, in which case the box would have to come into play. For a subwoofer that is not up to the expected sound, choosing a box with integrated acoustic correction may be the solution.

A disproportionate front

Often we find asymmetric configurations consisting of a central speaker and two columns of larger speakers at its sides, something that is totally not recommended. The best thing is that the three front speakers are the same size, if possible the same brand and model.

Thus, when you are working on mounting your HTPC, try to choose three similar speakers on the front stage. In case you want to keep the column speakers you already have, go for a center speaker proportional to the left and right speakers.

Misplacing the front speakers

Sometimes inexperienced people place the front speakers two or more feet high, which is a very bad idea. What is recommended is that the tweeters be located near the middle of the screen or at ear level. The front right and left speakers should be placed on both sides of the screen and trying to be centered with respect to it.

An incorrectly located box

Another bad decision when mounting the HTPC is to place the box in a corner of the room, as this causes serious problems in sound quality and can generate unpleasant resonances. It is advisable to try different positions for the box, trying to watch movies or listen to music to find the perfect location.

Misplaced surround speakers

Particular attention should also be paid to the effect speakers, as an incorrect distance from the ears will create a bad sound experience. A prudent distance is to place them one or two meters from the ears, always avoiding that they are too close or too far.

Also, to reap the benefits of these surround sound speakers, directional speakers should be avoided as they would be limited to emitting sound in only one direction, wasting all of the room's space and immersive capacity. Therefore, you should choose bipolar or dipole speakers.

Locate the sofa very close to the back wall

Placing the seat closer than 70 centimeters will be a bad idea. It is recommended that they are centered between the side walls and about 70 or 100 centimeters from the back wall. As a second step, choose seats that have low backs, since a high back could cause noise interference, interrupting sound circulation and impairing its quality.

To avoid distractions as much as possible, try to make the seats comfortable, to avoid having to stand up from time to time because your back hurts.

Front speakers located on the roof

Placing surround speakers on the ceiling is not a problem, as it can help improve the ambient sound in the room. However, the same is not the case with the front speakers.

In effect, all sound flow coming from the front should be directional, so if you place them on the ceiling and point them to the ground, the sound will not be directional. In this case, the speakers would be too high above the ears and not oriented towards the ears.

Not looking for a suitable environment for acoustics

A home theater is generally mounted in a living room, which is why unsuitable environments that impair sound quality should be avoided. Large windows, tiles, or a plasterboard ceiling represent elements that do not go well when looking to get good acoustics in the room.

If this is your case, you have the option of using an acoustic technician to guide you in the best configuration of the environment in the room. As a second option, you can choose an amplifier with adequate acoustic correction.

Final words and conclusion about HTPC

The HTPC is having more and more prominence in the living rooms, and all the emotions that are lived in a traditional cinema can now be transferred on a smaller scale to a room prepared for this.

The mentioned components are only a part of all the options available on the market. The assembly of a customized HTPC will depend on each user and their budget. This guide serves as the basis for building the HTPC you have in mind, taking into account performance, space, sound quality, and cooling.

The assembly of an HTPC begins with the choice of the box. With a Mini-ITX motherboard you get a single PCIe slot and little room to add new components or cooling. On the other hand, if you choose a Micro-ATX motherboard, you will get more space and additional functions, although you will lose portability.

To achieve a good configuration of the HTPC it is enough to take as an example what is done in the cinema, that is, the three speakers located in the front must be the same. As for the surround speakers, considering that it is difficult to replicate what happens in the cinema, opt for bipolar or dipole speakers, which will help to achieve good ambient sound in the room.

Finally, higher budgets will achieve higher results in overall performance, being able to choose better elements and guaranteeing that the HTPC can be updated over time.