Hey everyone, im going ahead with this HTPC build and would like some help choosing the last few components that i need. The requirements for the build are: - Want to be able to surf the net on the TV - Must be able to use wireless mouse + keyboard - Must be able to stream you tube videos + similar on the TV - Must be able to output to a 7.1 speaker system (im a bit clueless how this bit will work) - Ability to play blu-rays (not sure if there is any point on a 720p TV?? your thoughts are welcome) - Ability to play all DVDs - Ability to play all video files we throw at it - Want to be able to use it as a bit torrent client. - Must have at least 4 usb - The case should look at home in the lounge, something similar to an Antec Fusion maybe. The TV it will be connected to is a 720p 50" Plasma (Samsung) I already have the following: GA H55-UD2H mobo Core i3 530 500gb SATA II 7200rpm (samsung) CX400 PSU (might not end up using this depending on the choice of case) 2x 2gb DDR3 Corsair 1600MHz. Soooo i need some suggestions on the following: Case (black, m ATX, remote switch on/off) Preference would be sub £80 Cooler (im going to get a stock one at first, but bit concerned this might be loud? Sound card?? (do i need one of these if i want to connect to TV 7.1 surround sound?) MCE wireless Keyboard & mouse (i want these for use with XMBC) I think thats about it, unless you can think of anything?! Any suggestions on what parts to go for here? Really appreciate your input everyone.
Yup good point....hmmmm let me see il copy/paste what i have. Didnt know if this stuff would a) physically fit in a HTPC case, and b) if it would be powerful enough. AMD Athlon 1.24GHz CPU, sitting in an Asus A7N8X mobo with Nvidia Nforce2 chipset AMD sempron 2600+ 1.83 GHZ with foxconn cooler. Board is a Foxconn 741m01c (or Winfast). Athlon XP 1300MHz on an Asus A7N8X mobo. nvidia Nforce 2 chipset Memory - All non name brand stuff... hynix 2x 256mb DDR 333MHz CL2.5 elixir 1x 256mb DDR 400MHz CL3 PC3200 Pmi 1x 512mb DDR 333Mhz HDD... 1x Maxtor Diamond 9 Plus 9 120GB IDE HDD.
Ive added the older gear ive got laying about. But i also have some S775 mobos lying around. Could always stick a C2D in there i spose. But i thought this stuff would all be too big to fit into one of those smaller HTPC cases. what you all think?
I think for HTPC builds you really need to decide on the case first if it is going to be visible. This will then drive the ITX/mATX/ATX decision which then determine if you are able to reuse old parts or whether you have to buy new. For example, you could spend £300+ on a fancy aluminium media case or you could spend £25 on a cheap and cheerful steel box. With a max budget of £250 I don't think you are looking at the latest new parts, you would spend that on CPU, m/b & RAM alone. I'm assuming it will be Windows 7?
I almost made a new build... Also just realised that the motherboard has onboard 7.1 so scrap the soundcard coming to £265... What sort of 7.1 system is it you got? As you may just be able to do it through an optical cable to the tv which then goes to the 7.1 system. Another possibility is an atom mini-itx in a htpc case, which would probably cut down the cost enough to get under that £250 mark.
Thats a sweet looking build. We dont have 7.1 yet, but i thought that if i spec'd it to handle it, then im future proofing a little. This is one particular area i have very little experiance in, so once the core components are decided i may throw up and A/V thread to bottom out exactly what i need to get the sound running. I take your point about the case Fingers... Something like the one that Trance suggested above, or the fusion would be cool. Basically something that looks like a hifi, rather than a PC lol. With regard to OS......Ive got many a XP home license kicking around, so to save on cost i could use that. But yet, Win7 is so much better lol, espcially with media centre. A couple of questions: Does media centre play most files? The way that VLC does? (without the need to convert) Ive seen a few mini mobo / ITx come up on the marketplace recently, isnt that the sort of thing that will suit me?
Cool, that would mean i could use XP Home for a while, just for the surfing/you tube etc. Then use XBMC to play movies etc. Can you use a remote tho? Or xbox pad?
Just wanted to post here what I said in my PM... What is your existing m/b? If it has X4500 on board graphics then that is all you need for HD, If you don't have this then you may need a GPU to handle the HD movies. If you bought a Gigabyte GA-EG41MF-US2H (£52.18 @ Scan), it comes with X4500 and DVI, VGA & HDMI so you wouldn't need a discrete GPU - would that make the build cheaper? This assumes you have a S775 CPU to use. I don't know what equivalent AMD on board GPU you would need for HD playback.
Have you thought about one of these? Zotac Z-Box AMD Congo Mini-PC Barebone Zotac ZBOXHD-AD01-B, AMD Athlon Neo X2 L325 Dual Core 1.5GHz, AMD 780E, DDR2, On Board VGA, SATA II http://www.scan.co.uk/products/zota...core-15ghz-amd-780e-ddr2-on-board-vga-sata-ii £156 @ Scan (might be cheaper elsewhere), all it needs is some 200 pin DDR2 RAM, a 2.5" HD, an O/S, optical drive and keyboard/mouse. Or alternatively, one of these: Asus P6-P5G41E Barebone System Asus P6-P5G41E, Sok775, Intel G41, DDR3 800/1066/1333, PCI-E (x16), SATA 3Gb/s http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus...g41-ddr3-800-1066-1333-pci-e-(x16)-sata-3gb-s £110 @ Scan, all it needs is some DDR3 RAM, a HD, an O/S, optical drive and keyboard/mouse.
il get back to you on the mobo question.... But those pre-built systems look really nice. Would also need to factor in blu-ray + wireless dongle... Do you think they are powefull enough for Audiosurf? & beat hazzard? Not a must have, but would be cool.
I'd personally recommend an Antec Fusion case, a Gigabyte 780g board, an Athlon 4850e, 2GB memory, a DVD drive, 1TB Samsung F1 and a freesat card, decent PSU, MCE remote and wireless keyboard... Which just so happens to have been taking up valuable rack space switched off in my lounge for the last 6 months. Drop me a PM if it sounds interesting and I'm sure I can figure out a price for you.
I'm selling my zotac geforce 9300 itx mobo, which has two sata onboard. Geforce 9300 onboard graphics. Pm me if you're interested mate. Its socket 775 btw
Thanks for the offers lads - ive pm'd Mr tad. I might still give you a shout Neilieboyee so thank you for that
Ok - So ive updated the op, as ive got hold of some parts and i only need a few things now. Have a read and see if you can help with the remaining parts thank you!
Any thoughts on the Antec Micro Fusion Remote 350 Mini Desktop HTPC Media Centre Case - 350W PSU http://www.awd-it.co.uk/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=4602 Seems reasonable for the price
Cheaper at Scan but on pre-order: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ante...SU+2+Drive+bays+Front+IO+4x+Low+Profile+Slots. There are also these: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130945. Around the same price but without the VFD or remote control included. Edit: this place also has the Micro Fusion slightly cheaper and apparently in stock: http://www.excelitservices.co.uk/shop/micro-fusion-remote-350-p-5665.html. Never heard of the company though.
Yeah i spotted it on scan first, but noticed it was on pre-order. Seems like a decent case. Do you think the remote would be compatible with MCE + XMBC?
