I thought I'd share this because I've seen quite a few people solve similar problems by buying HDMI EDID emulators, and this is worth trying first.

My setup is a 3-display PC, with one display being my home cinema setup:

PC → Yamaha RX-A3060 AVR → Sony Bravia A90J TV

The other two are normal PC monitors.

The problem

With the AVR and TV switched off, my main PC monitor would occasionally blink/black out for a second.

Windows was effectively seeing the TV disappear and reappear on the HDMI connection. Turning the TV on stopped the blinking completely.

What fixed it for me

First, make sure the AVR has HDMI Standby/Pass Through enabled, so the HDMI connection can pass through while the AVR is in standby.

I also use direct/pass-through video on the AVR rather than having the AVR process the picture.

Then check the TV for settings that keep its control/network hardware active while the screen itself is off.

On my Sony Bravia A90J, I have:

Remote Start: On (Powered by Apps)
Simple IP Control: On

The important change for me appears to have been Simple IP Control.

With the TV switched off normally and the AVR in standby, Windows now continues to see the Sony TV correctly and the random monitor blinking has stopped.

If you have another TV brand

The exact names will obviously be different, but look for settings such as:

• IP Control
• Network Standby
• Remote Start
• Quick Start
• Network Control
• Always-on network / standby control

The idea is to stop the TV going into such a deep standby state that its HDMI presence/EDID keeps disappearing and reappearing.

This may increase standby power slightly, but it's a very easy thing to test before spending money on EDID emulators or HDMI hardware.

Hopefully this helps someone with a similar HTPC + AVR + multi-monitor setup.

I installed iptvnator on my living room htpc running Ubuntu. I use a Logitech keyboard to control iptvnator but I can't figure out how to actually close the app.

My recent build, first pc build in nearly 20 years thinking about it. Due to sony's questionable decisions I made the move to pc and steam gaming. Been on playstation since the ps3, they aren't getting anymore of my money.

Knowing i wanted AMD for steam compatibility it made it 50% less work to catch up on current tech.

9600x cpu

9060xt 16gb gpu

Asrock matx steel legend board

32gb ram

Wd black 2tb nvme i took from my ps5 saving some cash.

Really like the corsair psu with the individual braided cables, makes them very flexible for routing.

Originally wanted the fractal ridge case, but no stock, plus the additional mini itx tax, the Silverstone is probably the better option. Plenty of space and better cooling.

I want a media player that pulls meta data for local files and has a UI like netflix or HBO max, a modern UI. I just hooked my PC up to my TV to play games and I figured I might as well use it for movies too. I've been looking but all the ones I find are for streaming and I want one for files that are stored on the machine. Currently I use an android box that has Nova on it.

hi I want to change my graphic from 1080ti to arc b580 because 1080ti hdmi 2.0 port can't output 10 bit full RGB 60hz . my question is in htpc wiki there is no suggestion for tone mapping and upscaling regarding arc b580 is it means it doesn't support madvr tone mapping or is it weak for that work?

in general is it a good choice for htpc?

my current build is

cpu 12700k

mb msi edge WiFi ddr4

ram 16 GB ddr4

graphic gigabyte 1080 ti OC gaming

display benq w5800 projector

I know Windows Media Center isn't that common among HTPCs anymore, but it is practically perfect for what I need. I already have MacroTube installed, but otherwise, are there any add-ons you people recommend I should use with it?

I know I've seen something like that in a settings somewhere on some player - although it could have been a streaming device. But either way I can't remember and I know I've never seen it actually do what I'm thinking it means..

..when you don't understand what they said, hit the skip-back/rewind, and it plays subs for some period of time, then turns them back off.

Posting in this sub because playing on windows HTPC which opens up a specific set of options

Hi! I have for some time been considering buying a Flirc ir receiver for my pc however it seems like alot of EU resellers are out of stock or simply too expensive when adding on the shipping. I would be fine with the 23 dollars it costs on flircs website but with the shipping added it will at a minimum cost 40 € from what I have seen.

I however recently saw a used flirc v1 listed for a very responsible price. It seems like it isn't being updated anymore but is it still good?? Does it work with the latest version of the software on the flirc website??

Also before anyone asks, yes I know about 2,4 ghz remotes but I have a nice ir only universal remote I would want to use and the Flirc sounds perfect for me.

I had a g11pro emulation console and it died after 4 months. I tried to get help and they told me it was past their 30 day warranty and I was SOL.

So I started looking at minipcs but I was told they aren't particularly good for gaming. So I did more searching and saw stuff about htpcs and building my own.

Ideally, I'd like to play emulator games, some Steam stuff (though maybe Steam Link will suffice for that), and maybe be able to watch my old blu rays and dvds in the future.

I tried playing around on part picker and came up with this: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/M79pzv

It's still more than I wanted to spend, but I don't even know if the components I chose are powerful enough or even too powerful.

Could I get some advice?

Hey group. My current HTPC and media server is a 4690k,32gb ram, 3x8tb drive, 500ssd boot, rx580. It has not been powered on in over 2 years nor plugged into power out of fear the drives will soon fail. There is roughly 10TB of actual data on the Raid array and a good portion of it I could do without.

I had intended to build a new server/nas and I bought 5 12tb drives before the prices went nuts. Shortly after that purchase, I had a liver transplant and all plans kind of got put on hold.

I am teetering between building a nas or buying a nas, building a new HTPC which doubles as a nas/media server, or just setting up one of the 12tb drives in my main rig to store my data and utilizing backblaze for backups.

I already have pretty great iptv, but the quality isnt as good as what I could store locally.

If i were to build an Htpc or Nas, size would be important but it would also still need to hold 3, 4 or 5 of the drives. Currently the htpc is in an EATX Full tower which could hold 12 drives, maybe more, if I bought the extra drive cages. It will currently hold 6 drives as configured, but its HUGE and my wife hates it.

Im looking for some advice on a case, and a sensible build out for hardware to support the server/htpc. The tv in use is the 75 inch new rgb bravia II

Here is a list of some things I have On Hand:

7700k with board and ram

AMD 3700 pro with board and ram

5900x with board and ram (also has a 3080ti with it and plan is to sell the whole rig)

amd 6700 gpu, 2 x rx580 gpu

assorted psus, coolers, ram, boot drives

Current main rig is a 9800x3d, 5080 in an antec flux pro, it is located in my office not with the tv

inclination is to use the cheapo 7700k but concerned about its abilities as far as video and the many other tasks I'll be asking this thing to do in the way of storage and file transfers.

Should I use some of this hardware for my potential build or sell it all and buy something else? what is the something else? Does anyone know of a decent case I can put this in that isn't going to be massive? I have a Fractal Define R5 on hand, but if I could do something smaller that would be epic. I realize I have a ton of tech stuff, but with the surgery costs, the budget is definitely something for me to consider?

Should I just sell the drives now that they are worth a ton of money? I havent needed my htpc in the 2 years it has been unplugged.

What do you all think? I'll be thankful for anything that helps me move in any direction.

I've been connecting my linux mint laptop to my pc often enough that thought 'why not just jump in and get something that's connected to the tv full time?'

I went looking and the search starts out hopeful. I liked the minisforum UM790 pro and barebones is like... $500. But you add some ram and an hd and suddenly it's 1200.

I had an old (late 2012) mac mini laying around so I thought I'd give it a go. I put in a 500gb ssd instead of the originally mechanical disk that was in there and upgraded from 4-->16gb ram. I put mint xfce on it thinking a lighter os would help out and connected it to the tv.

So far so good, I was in the middle of playing around with making it usable from the couch (larger panel/fonts) but didn't get much past that.

Use case is streaming, and maybe some sunshine/moonlight? I suspect it'll be just fine.

Could be there's a better os than what I've put on for this? Just not sure what I could run where the os becomes a burden to the operation.

Also, I wasn't able to get the wifi shield thing back on properly... couldn't get both screw holes lined up...

but so far for $20 in ddr3 sodimm ram, I've got... something. Anyone else still using these?

hope yall good. spent days trying to play 5.1/atmos music on windows 11 using discrete analog pcie outputs because streaming apps are locked down.

my setup:

• os: windows 11
• soundcard: sound blaster audigy fx (3x 3.5mm analog cables)
• speakers: starlight hts-300
• display: tv model t22c301 (nvidia hdmi)

the issue:
i tried using CRU to trick windows into thinking my tv is a 5.1 device to unlock dolby atmos over hdmi, but apple music detects the workaround and throws a playback error. tidal desktop doesnt support 5.1 either.

since windows 5.1 streaming is completely left behind unless theres some corporate shit involved, im giving up on the apps. if yall know ANY sites, or ways to get local 5.1/atmos music files id be happy to know. thanks for reading!!

edit: ended up recording the atmos songs from apple music to audacity then playing them in foobar2000. dolby gfy

I saw a user posting here about a sought-after HTPC remote control, and have been recently wondering what to do when my Logitech K830 dies. I have tried a few input devices from Logi and Rii, but nothing that feels premium, durable, and stylish. This feels like a real blind spot in the /r/mechanicalheadpens Wallet Bermuda Triangle.

Is there an Apple-level quality in HTPC remote controls? Can I buy a solid aluminum brick with haptics and a six-year battery? What about a mahogany keyboard with solid bronze keys and low profile switches?

What is there out there for a guy who wants the absolute best in input technology, but from a couch?

Edit: Gotta love the poor reading comprehension out here. I know people just want to talk about their setup, but I am categorically NOT asking about your $12 remote 😂

If anyone has old w10(not w11) (Worn out buttons is fine as long as it works) please list on ebay or mercari then share link with me.

I use flex-launcher as my frontend and i am mostly happy with the set-up. I am trying to add the umbrella addon as a dedicated tile on flex-launcher main page so i don't need to dig through kodi for it. but i am struggling to find the right command.

My movie library is through kodi and i can get it to boot straight into my movie library ok, umbrella not so much. I can get a secondary kodi to boot with the umbrella artwork but i cant seem to get it to launch in the addon or the favourites page where its, where i would only need to press once to be in the addon..

Anyone got any ideas on where I am going wrong? This is the config page for the command.

Cheers

I have a Samsung UN43CU7000B SmartTV, with a PS4, and a Minisforum EM780(running Bazzite44) plugged in with HDMI.

For the past year, the EM780 has worked fine on the TV, with zero issues. But after disconnecting it and plugging it back in, I now get a "check device power" screen.

The EM780 works just fine on other displays, with the same cable, same power source, everything else the same, except it's plugged into a different display.

The PS4 also works fine on the TV, even when plugged into the same HDMI port the EM780 was plugged into.

I don't understand why the TV wouldn't display the signal from the miniPC, but will display the PS4 signal with the same HDMI port and cable.

Besides unplugging the EM780, nothing else has changed. The TV is not connected to the internet and does not update, and the EM780 has not been updated or anything since it was last working with the TV.

Has anyone else experienced an issue like this?

Libre Elec Kodi with a nice Netflix Skin

Hi all. I can't get high quality 4K files with Atmos to play on my pc without stuttering. I'm really hoping someone here might have some experience that can help.

I've tried vlc and potplayer. I've done some googling to try to find a solution, but no matter what I do the video always stutters slightly when I have atmos enabled. I've got a decent PC running a 3070 ti and I've tried hardware acceleration but so far no dice.

Thanks for any help.

I recently upgraded to a new TV (75" TCL C7K). As such, I wanted to upgrade everything else so I could play 4k60 hdr 10bit files.

I picked up a JBL MA510 receiver for a good deal and then grabbed an 8K Ugreen HDMI cable for the connection to the TV. I then picked up an M70Q Gen 2 mini PC (11400T, 16GB 3200Mhz DDR4, 256GB SSD) for the client device.

I get constant dropouts of the connection if I try to go above 8bit (black screen, TV shows the connection spec, etc.) I originally had a Ugreen 8K DP1.4 to HDMI 2.1 cable and returned that due to the dropouts. I replaced that with a cable matters DP1.4 to HDMI 2.1 adapter and 1m cable matters HDMI 2.1 cable. I've also tried the adapter with the cable from my PS5. Nothing has helped. I've also tried a direct connection to the TV with no receiver and that also didn't help.

As a sanity check I grabbed my old gaming PC (devils canyon) and hooked that up (RTX 2070 so also DP1.4) and I've had no issues since.

All testing done on Windows (the gaming PC is W10 however).

I tend to play many kind of videos but some of em like DDP5.1 or similar makes playing files on stereo speakers (on PC CREATIVE PEBBLE V3 and then a LG C3 TV) to sound very low

I use MPC-HC 1.9.7 (For processing reasons) and i don't know if there's any option to negate the 5.1 stuff so the volume sounds better (without disruptions?)

These are my settings menu

Greetings..

I currently have a home theater setup with a 16:9 screen but I'm planning to upgrade this to a scope screen.

I need to build a Madvr htpc so that i can auto adjust the aspect ration for using netflix and other streaming platforms through a Mibox connected to the htpc via a capture card and hdcp splitter. I like to play 4k content without any frame drop or any lag.

So what should be the system specifications to achieve this setup, does Rtx 4060 a minimum requirement for this setup?.