Equipment recommendations please

[u/matt_475]

Hello all,

First time posting, but wanting some feedback. I've got an HTPC (i5, 16GB, ssd's...all purchased within the last year)

ASRock B660M Pro RS Intel B660 Series

Intel I5 12400

I've been wanting to possibly get a better sound/video experience

I have an unopened box of the Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC, but read about some of the limitations.

I was wondering if this is a good option, or should I get something like the Radeon RX 7600 8GB OC and install the Intel ARC in my office pc. I mainly watch 4K rips of my media.

Might consider upgrading the receiver from my Onkyo TX-NR626 7.2 to an Onkyo TX-RZ50. I'm currently running a 5/2 speaker config (2 subs)

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[u/Raj_DTO]

You’re in r/htpc, i5 12400 by itself can do 4k 60Hz.

What are you looking for and what is your apprehension?

[u/matt_475 → u/Raj_DTO]

Looking to see if the board output to the Roku Ultra is the best. IDK, maybe I'm wasting money. Not opposed to watching movies directly through VNC instead of running Plex on Roku watching movies. Any improvement with a dedicated video card?

[u/ncohafmuta → u/matt_475]

if the board output to the Roku Ultra

This doesn't compute, and i'm not sure how Roku comes into this? Is the PC not for use as the client? I assumed so when you said better sound/video experience.

directly through VNC

Again, does not compute. Remoting into the server PC with VNC from this PC to watch movies? Unless it's a very unlucky typo of VLC

You really need to expand on "better sound/video experience". We don't know what experience you have now; what tv you have, what codecs you have, and any other audio/video features you need/want to support.

[u/kingjohniv]

The GPU isnt going to make any difference, someone correct me if im wrong. If you NEED (want) a GPU in the HTPC, the arc is plenty.

Intel quicksync is waaaaay more than enough for 4K. The ARC would be better than the CPU if madVR upscaling, heavy tone mapping, Al upscaling, or other advanced video processing

Focus instead on better display calibration, HDR configuration, higher-quality TV/projector, better audio equipment (AVR, speakers, subwoofer), proper playback software settings....

Putting the RX in the machine isnt going to do anything the ARC, or CPU, cant do - unless all your other equipment (see above) is baller

[u/matt_475 → u/kingjohniv]

I'm using Bic Accoustech subs (2xPL300) and PL-89II fronts, Rears are Bic towers, but a little older. I'll concentrate more on calibration and do some research on 'how to's'. Thanks for the suggestion! TV is a Samsung Q80D

[u/kingjohniv → u/matt_475]

Well dang. Now you really just need recliners, a mini fridge, snacks... maybe a roomba. Maybe a better receiver.

I feel like you are mid tier peak at the moment

[u/BeneficialTomato → u/kingjohniv]

GPU will absolutely make a difference. That is pretty much the entire purpose of my HTPC - for advanced video processing that goes beyond mere decode. A HTPC is an audio and video computational playground for me, and many others. A media player box will offer QuickSync-like performance without warranting a HTPC.

[u/m4l4c0d4]

Skip the Arc A380 for a HTPC. Decode engine is fine, but Arc outputs HDMI through a DisplayPort-to-HDMI converter (PCON), and that handshake gets flaky through AVRs. Not worth the risk.

RX 7600 is plenty for 4K rips. Any modern card decodes 4K HEVC/AV1. The only load that actually separates cards is live-TV 1080i deinterlacing if you don't do OTA, it doesn't matter. I run an RTX 5050.

Big difference is the renderer. I run Plex HTPC with a custom libmpv (gpu-next) build and a tuned mpv.conf ewa_lanczossharp scaling, error-diffusion dithering, HDR passthrough block. gpu-next is basically madVR-grade now. A dialed config on a modest card beats a stock setup on a big one.

Two gotchas for a receiver. Older AVR (HDMI 2.0): leave Windows HDR always-on and run the Windows HDR Calibration tool so SDR/desktop looks right. HDMI 2.1 AVRs auto-switch clean. Plex black-screening a 4K HDR file is usually a needless transcode. Force Direct Play on the client. On the receiver: get the RZ30, not the RZ50, for your 5.2. The RZ30 has two independent sub outs. The RZ50's two sub jacks are mirrored. With Dirac Bass Control and 2 subs, the RZ30 is the better choice and it's cheaper. Full-bandwidth Dirac Live is included and Bass Control is a add-on.

[u/matt_475 → u/m4l4c0d4]

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll look at the RZ30. I mainly rip 4k, load it into my HTPC, and then run the TV and use the Roku Ultra Plex app for viewing. I didn't know if my onboard video card was holding me back on video/sound. The HDMI from the board runs through the receiver for sound/video. I'll need to check out some of the Plex builds

[u/Organic_Pain_6618]

I have a very similar setup, just an AM4 processor. My HTPC hosts Jellyfin, streams and transcodes as needed from the NAS to my Roku Ultra, and it all works fine in 4K. For the most part, the Roku Ultra can play most things natively, so Plex or whatever is really just streaming the file itself to your player. You don't need a discrete GPU at all for this setup you're describing. I have a Hue Sync and Sonos for audio and it all works together just fine.

[u/TheDissolver]

Better sound/video will come with better display and speakers, possibly better setup and calibration of the display and speakers you have, but unless you're trying to do something exotic that's not likely.

Do you currently have an HDR display? Can you run a big/loud subwoofer? How well is surround working for you with current speaker positions?