What's new

What is HTPC??? (1 Viewer)

Fernando Schaeffer

Auditioning
Joined
Aug 10, 2001
Messages
11
Would anyone mind telling me what a HTPC is? I've read several threads about "HTPC with Radeon Card and HiPix" connected to a projector, but don't have a clue as to what it actually is.
 

Vince Maskeeper

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jan 18, 1999
Messages
6,500
HTPC:
Home Theater Personal Computer
You see, modern video projectors, most of the at least, are designed to take computer resolutions (1024x768 for example). The modern projector was designed to to computer presentations, so basically using them as video projectors means a lot of usable resolution going to waste!
Someone, somewhere got the bright idea that using a high buck video card in a PC and DVD-Rom drive, and connecting it to the projector via the VGA connection- well that might make a good dvd player. You could scale the DVD playback to really High resolutions, and support the smooth refresh rates of a projector.
Turned out, they were right! The scaling possibilties of software based computer coupled with higher buck super-dooper video game video cards put a serious hurt on $10,000 video processors, for less than $1500! This is the best way to get DVD image, if you have a projector that supports VGA or better resolutions...
So, once it was started the quest began and the tweakers came out of the woodwork.
Guys who were good with computers anyway saw the potential- and many specific applications have been written making computers the ideal player for DVD if you have a projector that can handle really high resolution output! There are applications that let you dial in resolution to the pixel- meaning you can find the beast possible "sweet spot" resolution for your projector.
The image is really really good, much smoother and more film like. The scaled output from decent HTPC smacks to poop out of any stand alone dvd player and the majority of expensive scalers, up to and including systems costing $10,000+
So, you can read the HTPC/PC area here on the HTF: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Computers+and+HTPC+Area&number=8
AIM: VinceMaskeeper
Interested in moving into FRONT PROJECTION with huge 6-10 foot widescreen? Buy my whole HDTV-ready CRT based front projection system delivered, cheap! Click here
[Edited last by Vince Maskeeper on August 15, 2001 at 11:02 PM]
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Forum statistics

Threads
356,815
Messages
5,123,799
Members
144,184
Latest member
H-508
Recent bookmarks
0
Top