Monthly Archives: November 2007

New Media Center (HTPC) Computer

Projects, Technology

I always wanted to build myself a media center (HTPC) computer for my Sony Bravia 32″ LCD television but never got around to it. Well, that’s not entirely true, as I was trying to cut costs down and build a computer out of existing parts (a Celeron 2.4GHZ, 256MB of RAM, 20GB hard drive and basic on-board stereo sound). This setup was fine for Xvid playback over the network and I never had any surround-sound speakers until I finally found the deal of the century and picked up a LG LH-T9654MB “HTIB” from Futureshop for 230$ CDN taxes in (it was supposedly below the cost price). Since I got myself a simple surround setup, I enjoyed the audio more and more… playing movies in stereo sound was boring. What more, I was finding myself diving in 720p and 1080p content and Xvid just wasn’t cutting it. After trying everything I could to make 720p playback on the Celeron computer work smoothly (tried over-clocking, bumping up the RAM, etc) it simply did not work. I decided to get a new computer but I didn’t want to spend more than 500$ on the whole setup. I basically needed a CPU that could do 1080p playback, a motherboard that had an onboard SPDIF audio output connector and enough RAM to satisfy anything I can throw at it.

Doing a quick check on Google, I came across Tom’s Hardware Guide 2007 CPU charts for 1080p playback. Being an Intel fanboy, I found the right CPU for the right price: a Core 2 Duo E4600 CPU (2.4GHZ dual core with 2MB of cache, 800MHZ FSB). While not listed on the chart, it should be sufficient as the E4300 processes 1080p at 58.1% processor usage. Logically, this processor should do full HD processing at a lower usage rate. Since I sell computers, finding the CPU at cost price wasn’t that big of a deal, but the main problem was finding the motherboard and RAM at a low price. I mostly sell business computers, so finding those “enthusiast” hardware components at a cost is a challenge (not really difficult, but I was impatient to wait for everything to arrive). I decided to hit up NCIX and see what they could offer. I found the Asus P5K-VM motherboard that had everything I needed, except a TOSLINK connector (they had Coaxial audio only). For the RAM, I found the OCZ Platinum PC2-6400 2GB (4-4-4-15) dual channel memory kit. The memory was overkill but since it was on special and dirt cheap, I picked it up without thinking twice. Finally, while I was about to check out, I came across the Western Digital 500GB 16MB cache 7200 RPM SATA2 NCQ hard drive for 97$ (special of the week, couldn’t pass it up!). I added two of those babies for the media center computer as I knew I would be needed them for all the 720p/1080p content. Total of this order with taxes and shipping came up to 469.00$ CDN. Oh, there was a 35$ mail-in-rebate for the RAM, so this brings down the total to 434.00$.

After some billing issues (damn CIBC/VISA froze my account temporarily, more on that in another post) the parts came in and I quickly assembled the computer. I installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and setup Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) for the X264 playback. The results were superb: 720p and 1080p played back really, really well. No stuttering and the audio was perfectly in sync unlike the Celeron setup. Watching these high quality videos on the television was a treat and a half! The components I chose were definitely the right ones for the job; I was quite worried that the CPU wouldn’t be powerful enough to decode the streams, but thankfully, they surpassed my expectations. Only drawback/con of this setup: the Asus P5K-VM does not have an SPDIF optical output jack (but can be purchased separately, I hope). I’m using an Aureal Vortex 2 for the job right now, but there are no proper Windows XP drivers for it so the surround doesn’t really work. I’ll be fixing this very soon to get the proper audio setup.

Closing off, I’m happy with my purchase and look forward to filling up the hard drives with content. I hope this guide serves someone who’s looking into building a low-cost 1080p media center machine. All the components I have purchased in this guide were bought from NCIX, minus the case, power supply and CDROM drive (I had those laying around). Good luck!

New Car Audio Hardware

Projects

I know a friend of mine will be enjoying this post, as she’s into car audio (I think) and will probably be glad that I’m not writing about supplements for once!

For the longest time I have been driving around with some good audio hardware, but it’s due for an upgrade. My first car audio setup included components in the front powered by a separate amplifier, an aftermarket head unit and dual 12″ subwoofers in the back (I kept the rears stock). I ran the entire setup with 2 and 4 gauge wiring. If anyone is interested in the hardware that I used, here’s the list:

  • Pioneer Premier DEH-P770MP headunit, 70W RMS
  • JBL GTO75.2 II, 2 channel amplifier, 60A, 90W RMS per channel
  • JBL GTO606C components in the front
  • JBL GTO1201.1 II, subwoofer amplifier, 120A, 1300W~ RMS
  • 2x JBL W12GTi Mark II subwoofers, 700W RMS each
  • Tsunami 5 Farad capacitor, including 2 and 4 gauge wiring where appropriate

This setup served me well as an introduction to car audio. My friend and I spent a Sunday afternoon once installing this gear in and the overall experience was awesome (for me anyway). The sound quality was superb comparing it to my stock radio; driving my then Camry was always a pleasure! Now that I have a brand new car, it’s time to install some fresh new gear and make more heads turn. 🙂 I will be keeping this car for four years, so I can’t live without some proper, clean sound. I drive my car everyday and travel all over Montreal servicing clients, so I would like to keep my ears happy. The stock system in the car is terrible: distortion reigns all over. The highs are severly lacking, and there’s no such thing as clean, distortion-free bass. The stock CD/MP3 player was garbage; scrolling through songs was a long, pain-staking process and the overall quality of the sound was butchered up. Thankfully, I managed to replace my stock radio with the Premier DEH-P770MP. That’s one upgrade down, a few more to go!

This month, I should be acquiring my new hardware. This is what I’m getting:

  • 2x JBL Power Series P650C components, 90W RMS
  • JBL Power Series PX300.4, 4 channel amplifier, 123.7W RMS per channel

This time around, I will be replacing the rears of my vehicle with some components to keep the passengers in the back happy. I am keeping the subwoofer setup the same, but seriously considering adding another GTO1201.1 II and driving separate amplifiers to each subwoofer (so each driver has its own proper amplifier, a full 1300W RMS available at all times). I will most likely have to add another battery to my car soon along with an alternator upgrade if I ever go down that route.

That’s it for now. I will be posting installation details (along with a guide) once I get the gear and do the setup… but I’m pretty discouraged right now as it’s cold outside and the first few snow flakes have already dropped. Anyone have an indoor garage with enough room to perform a car audio install? 🙂

Controlled Labs GlycerGrow Review

Reviews and Rants, Supplements

I would like to inform everyone about GlycerGrow by Controlled Labs. I’m beginning to sound like a paid spokesperson for the company now (I assure you I am not!) but I love this stuff. I wish I had found about this supplement sooner as it’s giving me an incredible amount of a “pump” while I train. What is GlycerGrow you ask? Here’s a short blurb from the manufacturer’s website:

GlycerGrow is the most advanced standalone cell volumization breakthrough ever to reach the market. GlycerGrow combines a proprietary and synergistic blend of pharmaceutical grade ingredients to increase cell volume, aid the osmotic effects of creatine, and enhance the natural anabolic responses of weightlifting. 

Basically, the “cell volumization” is what’s giving you the pump while you train. You can just say it’s rushing more blood through your veins, hence the volumization part. Controlled Labs claims that stacking this with creatine (Green Magnitude or Bulge in this case) is an excellent way to increase your intensity while you train. I have to totally agree with this last statement, as it’s doing wonders for my workouts. I come home after work mentally exhausted everyday, and I feel discouraged from training. Luckily for me, I force myself to go and I end up not regretting my decision. An hour before I leave for the gym, I take 5 scoops of GlycerGrow and mix it with some fruit yogurt. It’s a bit of a challenge to mix this supplement with water, so the yogurt way is a great method (you also get a bit of protein from it too, why not!). Within 30 minutes, I can feel this tingling sensation in my body and before I know it, I’m wide awake and ready to pump some iron ala Arnold. Really now, it gives me this mental focus I have only experienced with caffeine (reminds me of NO-Xplode, that was crazy). While not as intense, GlycerGrow definitely is giving me this small rush of energy to go out and train, and I really enjoy using it. I stacked it with Green Bulge for a bit and the effects were a bit increased. Since I finished the creatine last week (ordered a new batch along with White Blood) I am still having some great workouts and I can’t see myself training without it, like Purple Wraath. All in all, I give this supplement a 9/10. I just wish mixing it wasn’t such a nuisance, but I’ll live with the yogurt method for now.

Final Take on Controlled Labs Purple Wraath

Reviews and Rants, Supplements

Last week, I managed to finish my Purple Wraath tub (all 2.39 lbs of it, see the first initial review) and I must say training without it is totally different. Since I stopped using it this past week, I noticed a slight decrease in endurance and stamina. I could very well say I was more tired than usual after my workouts, and I really didn’t feel like doing any cardio on the teadmill whatsoever. I also realized that I wasn’t sweating as much. I am very well aware of the thermogenic properties of the supplement, so Purple Wraath definitely is doing some magic there. I never knew I would be saying this, but I really do miss its taste now, even though I had said it is incredibly disgusting. The trick to consuming Purple Wraath is to mix it with a lot of water (I put a scoop with 32oz of water in a bottle) and then let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to an hour (so prepare your workout drink an hour before leaving to the gym). You will quickly get used to the taste, so don’t fret. You will also realize how great it is for post-workout cardiovascular exercise (it gives you energy!). I am so happy with this supplement that I am going to try another batch. I placed the order on Bodybuilding.com a few days ago, so I should be receiving it tomorrow morning in the mail.

Birthday Celebration at Stereo Nightclub

Montreal, Nightlife, Reviews and Rants

Yesterday night I went out to celebrate my birthday. A friend of mine invited me to go to club Moomba, so I agreed to join her (since I had nothing else planned). I got into the line at about 11:45 PM and waited for about 40 minutes until I decided to leave and meet up with another friend (I was too impatient to wait in line for any longer). I wasn’t really in the mood to go clubbing anyway, so I just left, even though another 15 minutes could’ve gotten me inside. I met up with Raf at Foufounes Electriques for some cheap beers and it was probably the best choice. Since it was Daylight Savings Time today, we managed to benefit another hour of drinks. It was nearing 3 AM now, so Raf and his friends had to leave (Raf worked the next day). I was really loaded at the time and I was so hellbent on going to an after-hours that I just did that. It had been over a year since I last went to Stereo, and since it was close-by, I walked to it from Foufs. Cover was 40.00$ as Derrick L. Carter was playing as the main attraction. I quickly tried to recall who he was and if he was any good, but I didn’t care really. Fourty dollars on the table, I was walking into Stereo afterhours. Remarkably, there were a few people inside already dancing away. I picked up a can of Red Bull from the bar and started chugging it down. Within minutes, I was on the floor dancing to some wonderful house music. Man, it had been a while! Stereo hasn’t changed much (and so hasn’t the clientele) and that’s a good thing. I would have to say that Stereo is a one-of-a-kind place: the people, the music, the staff and the overall vibe is amazing. You don’t need the drugs to enjoy it either. I was sobering up fairly quickly at the time, but with the caffeine kicking in, I managed to last until 6 AM when I decided to call it quits for the night. Overall, I had a great night at Stereo, and I’m considering going back there every weekend or two for the experience.