I planned on building a new HTPC to replace my 4 year old one when I came across Pioneer's UHD Blu-Ray drive and I thought it would be great. Wouldn't need to buy a separate UHD player. Then I was hit with all these confusing requirements inorder for the drive to function and play UHD Blu-Ray movies. What I only get was you need a Kaby Lake processor, HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2. Would appreciate if someone could give me a list of parts and why they're necessary for this build. Thanks!
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What parts do I need for a UHD Blu-Ray HTPC build?
- Thread starter ljcool_17
- Start date
So there is very select few motherboards that have HDMI 2.0 on them, and those are quite expensive.
So the more cost effective approach:
Pentium G4600 (this is bassicaly an i3 minus a couple unimportant instruction sets). This is the best bang for buck cpu right now
B250 motherboard
8gb of ram
GTX 1030 gpu
350w or better PSU of decent quality (Seasonic or Corsair CX would be my choice for that power level).
So the more cost effective approach:
Pentium G4600 (this is bassicaly an i3 minus a couple unimportant instruction sets). This is the best bang for buck cpu right now
B250 motherboard
8gb of ram
GTX 1030 gpu
350w or better PSU of decent quality (Seasonic or Corsair CX would be my choice for that power level).
You will need to run windows if you plan on playing UHD discs.
You will have constant problems with licensing on the discs with Linux.
If you are going to be doing local content as well as the discs then I would suggest you checkout Kodi as your front end.
If you are just using discs then I really don't see the need for a PC vs a cheaper disc player.
You will have constant problems with licensing on the discs with Linux.
If you are going to be doing local content as well as the discs then I would suggest you checkout Kodi as your front end.
If you are just using discs then I really don't see the need for a PC vs a cheaper disc player.
I also plan on using the HTPC for gaming. I do have Plex and plan on transferring my existing library that to the new system. The player btw is the Pioneer BDR-211UBK. There is an external version BDR-XD06J-UHD but it only seems to be available in Japan right now. Most likely be going for a minimum i5 though and will also be using Windows 10. My main problem is the GPU and Motherboard. I have a GTX 1080 I kicked out of my main system but not sure what type HDMI ports it has or will I need to be watching UHD Blu-Ray through the CPU's internal GPU. And will I be needing a special type of motherboard for this? Thanks.
Your 1080 will have HDMI 2.0 on it.
Kabylake has the ability to do 4k in 60hz but most boards went cheap on the actual HDMI spec of the port and thus limits it to ver 1.4.
Thus you will just use the 1080.
For gaming with a 1080 then you are pretty much looking at an i7 or ryzen system.
Kabylake has the ability to do 4k in 60hz but most boards went cheap on the actual HDMI spec of the port and thus limits it to ver 1.4.
Thus you will just use the 1080.
For gaming with a 1080 then you are pretty much looking at an i7 or ryzen system.
Ryzen would be nice but there wouldn't be able to support some sort of encryption that's currently only available on Kaby Lake chips and UHD Blu-ray currently will not work on dedicated GPUs. Only on Intel internal GPU and that's if there's a board with HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2 support.
Finally found a board with HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 ASROCK No choice but to go Kaby Lake i7. Will be getting an enclosure for the UHD Blu-Ray drive. Now what I need to know is if it's possible to connect the 1080 and internal graphics to my TV on different HDMI ports at the same time. Like if I need to game I just switch to the HDMI input from the 1080 and if I wanna watch 4k Blu-Ray I switch to the iGPU.
Is the issue with using a dedicated GPU specifically something related to that UHD drive??
Any 10xx series card with HDMI 2.0 an HDCP 2.2 should be able to output the protected video unless there is some specific issue with the drive itself (or more likely the software it comes with not supporting anything but intel HWA).
The switching back and forth is going to become a major hassle.
You can enable a setting in bios to allow simultaneous usage of both the onboard and dedicated GPU so you wont have to reboot into bios every time you want to watch a movie.
It would be best to setup the second connection to the TV as an extended display otherwise you will also have the problem of applications (unless that specific application allows you to select) will automatically play on the default video device which will always be the dedicated GPU.
So you will then need to launch your application from the correct display (and since both use the same TV you wont be able to see both simultaneously).
The next issue you will have is audio. When gaming you will want default audio to be the dedicated GPU and for movies the integrated which means switching it at the application control panel.
One much simpler alternative then dedicated and integrated graphics:
1) rip UHD movies to plex and then use plex player or kodi for front end
Options to make the streamlining of the switching easier:
1) See if you can play UHD disc through Kodi software where you can easily set the video and audio output device. There is addon to connect kodi to plex ssource as well.
2) You may be able to find some software that can either run a script or even directly control audio output device when the UHD drive software is launched.
If you truly cant use dedicated GPU for the UHD drive I honestly would build 2 different boxes. The hardware needed to playback the UHD disc is not that much and would just toss that in a mitx case (or ml04/ml03 matx case by silverstone).
Any 10xx series card with HDMI 2.0 an HDCP 2.2 should be able to output the protected video unless there is some specific issue with the drive itself (or more likely the software it comes with not supporting anything but intel HWA).
The switching back and forth is going to become a major hassle.
You can enable a setting in bios to allow simultaneous usage of both the onboard and dedicated GPU so you wont have to reboot into bios every time you want to watch a movie.
It would be best to setup the second connection to the TV as an extended display otherwise you will also have the problem of applications (unless that specific application allows you to select) will automatically play on the default video device which will always be the dedicated GPU.
So you will then need to launch your application from the correct display (and since both use the same TV you wont be able to see both simultaneously).
The next issue you will have is audio. When gaming you will want default audio to be the dedicated GPU and for movies the integrated which means switching it at the application control panel.
One much simpler alternative then dedicated and integrated graphics:
1) rip UHD movies to plex and then use plex player or kodi for front end
Options to make the streamlining of the switching easier:
1) See if you can play UHD disc through Kodi software where you can easily set the video and audio output device. There is addon to connect kodi to plex ssource as well.
2) You may be able to find some software that can either run a script or even directly control audio output device when the UHD drive software is launched.
If you truly cant use dedicated GPU for the UHD drive I honestly would build 2 different boxes. The hardware needed to playback the UHD disc is not that much and would just toss that in a mitx case (or ml04/ml03 matx case by silverstone).
Yes, but specifically it's on the UHD Discs themselves. Because I read somewhere something about GPU cards needing to update their drivers inorder to support UHD Blu-Ray. Currently only Intel iGPUs support them. NVidia has announced they will be releasing an udpate to support this but it hasn't come out yet. It's not really the software but something about the DRM.
Want I wanted to do was what you mentioned, extended display, both GPUs will be working but will be connected on different HDMI ports on the TV. So all I would need to do is flip the remote to switch HDMI ports depending if I wanna game or watch movies. So I can't set default sound device dedicated to each HDMI connection? I'd have to switch it manually everytime?
Right now UHD ripping is still in development as I've searched around. Although there has been a few movies circulating that seem to have been ripped from UHD. They just won't disclose how it's done.
The only software that currently supports UHD Blu-Ray playback is PowerDVD 17. Although Plex is capable of playing UHD Blu-Ray rips. I may try to make my own script for switching audio device if I can't find any and maybe get a USB IR Receiver that triggers the script.
My friend suggested me to get NUC because it has everything needing for the UHD Blu-Ray drive without the hassle. And I just might go that route, but I'd like to take on the challenge first.
I was doing more research into the matter and saw about the drivers after I posted.
It is always amazing how many ridiculous hoops you have to jump through in order to try to do things legitimately vs just pirating content like many do.
Here is some info on batch file to toggle audio output device: https://superuser.com/questions/1054594/switching-default-audio-device-with-a-batch-file
You can use MCE remote and then customize one of the buttons to launch your batch file.
I did away with IR for my whole house using iRule remote software (turns iOS/Android device into touchscreen wifi remote) and some globalcache IP2IR gateways. My Kodi boxes, file server, and AV receiver are all IP controlled so then I use the globalcache gateways for the IR only devices. There is also a TCP/IP version of MCE remote so you can just install the software on the PC, and set a command to equal launching your bat file.
FYI i have all but given up on TV IP control. First few generations of smart TVs do not send power to the nic/wifi card so you cant actually use IP to turn them on; and the newer generations actually use proprietary session/authentication keys thus simple HTTP commands wont work either.
Unfortunately 4k has been a tediously slow rollout to full adoption and anyone wanting to do anything fancier than plug standalone UHD player into TV is left out in the cold. Even trying to run Plex on a samsung UHD player is a no-go because it wont take HD Audio from any non HDMI source.
In all honesty I would just build the gaming HTPC, get a standalone UHD player and then do what you want once software/hardware supports it better.
It is always amazing how many ridiculous hoops you have to jump through in order to try to do things legitimately vs just pirating content like many do.
Here is some info on batch file to toggle audio output device: https://superuser.com/questions/1054594/switching-default-audio-device-with-a-batch-file
You can use MCE remote and then customize one of the buttons to launch your batch file.
I did away with IR for my whole house using iRule remote software (turns iOS/Android device into touchscreen wifi remote) and some globalcache IP2IR gateways. My Kodi boxes, file server, and AV receiver are all IP controlled so then I use the globalcache gateways for the IR only devices. There is also a TCP/IP version of MCE remote so you can just install the software on the PC, and set a command to equal launching your bat file.
FYI i have all but given up on TV IP control. First few generations of smart TVs do not send power to the nic/wifi card so you cant actually use IP to turn them on; and the newer generations actually use proprietary session/authentication keys thus simple HTTP commands wont work either.
Unfortunately 4k has been a tediously slow rollout to full adoption and anyone wanting to do anything fancier than plug standalone UHD player into TV is left out in the cold. Even trying to run Plex on a samsung UHD player is a no-go because it wont take HD Audio from any non HDMI source.
In all honesty I would just build the gaming HTPC, get a standalone UHD player and then do what you want once software/hardware supports it better.
Nvidia has promised an update but so far they haven't released it yet. So the only way to watch and rip UHD Blu-Ray currently is through Intel iGPUs.
They sure have made it extremely difficult to watch UHD Blu-Ray on the PC. Too many confusing requirements that are hard to keep up with and would require a totally brand new system.
Thanks. I think I've used this batch file in the past to open/close my dvd drives. Can't believe it's still around. Will try this out once I get my build underway. Will stick with IR though as it's probably simpler. Although I do use Harmony coz it's convenient.
True, 4K has been difficult to adopt to. It's only been lately that UHD Blu-Ray discs and players came out. I have thought of getting a samsung UHD player since early this year but I didn't wanna give up the convenience of having movies pre-loaded on my HTPC and all I'd really need to do is search and play. That's why I wanted to build a new HTPC with UHD Blu-Ray, or atleast something that is capable of playback, so that I will be able to rip and save my UHD Blu-Ray discs in the future.
Yeah way to many applications are coded to only use Intel HD graphics.
Still waiting on my NVR software for my security camera's to add NVIDIA hardware acceleration. Built a server out of AMD parts and then after the fact added the camera software (Blue Iris) so I am using 40-50% cpu for the cameras.
It is amazing how all the DMCA protections grossly overcomplicates the ability for anyone to do anything legitimately, but in no way has decreased the level of piracy. If anything it makes the pirated content more convenient and more capable for advanced playback systems.
Still waiting on my NVR software for my security camera's to add NVIDIA hardware acceleration. Built a server out of AMD parts and then after the fact added the camera software (Blue Iris) so I am using 40-50% cpu for the cameras.
It is amazing how all the DMCA protections grossly overcomplicates the ability for anyone to do anything legitimately, but in no way has decreased the level of piracy. If anything it makes the pirated content more convenient and more capable for advanced playback systems.
That's a pretty high usage rate. How many and what type of camera and resolution/frame rate are you recording at? I remember Blue Iris needs like a minimum quad-core.
So true. They've always found a way around DRM. The biggest fear is that there will be a time when the ridiculousness of security might drive away consumers. At this point it's already hard to keep up with the various requirements.
2 3MP hikvision running @ 720p, 4 huacam 1.3MP running @ 1280x960 all at 15fps.
It is doing direct to disc recording, but is handling motion detection logic.
It is running on FX-8320 cpu.
The "server" is handling everything for the house, so all our media is on it, kodi database, networked files, and quite a few other functions (even has 3 network interfaces with 2 of them nic-teamed). At this point it is the 2-3 days downtime to reinstall and reconfigure everything that is the deterrent over the cost of an i7+motherboard.
If BI has not gotten NVIDIA HWA done in the next year or two I will probably just build a tower just for blue iris.
It is doing direct to disc recording, but is handling motion detection logic.
It is running on FX-8320 cpu.
The "server" is handling everything for the house, so all our media is on it, kodi database, networked files, and quite a few other functions (even has 3 network interfaces with 2 of them nic-teamed). At this point it is the 2-3 days downtime to reinstall and reconfigure everything that is the deterrent over the cost of an i7+motherboard.
If BI has not gotten NVIDIA HWA done in the next year or two I will probably just build a tower just for blue iris.
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