advice on htpc from spares

JLJ · 12 Jan 2011 at 19:47

I have a Shuttle SD37P2 which appears to have died and wont post. tried a cmos reset and replaced battery but no joy.

So on to plan b.. I'm hoping the remaining bits

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Retail
Corsair Value Select 2x1GB PC3200
Powercolor Radeon X1950 PRO Extreme
still work and I want to put together a htpc.

Any recommendations for mobo and case and anything else would be appreciated.

ta
jon

RJC · 12 Jan 2011 at 19:51

Would you need a HTPC case or will a tower do.

JLJ · 12 Jan 2011 at 20:03

something compact like the shuttle would be nice. cheap, cheerful and easy on the eye if possible.

JLJ · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:32

i was considering getting the buffalo linkstation to stram stuff through my xbox.. but htpc seems like a more versatile solution.
probably need a blu ray drive and need to deal with HD video.

JLJ · 13 Jan 2011 at 14:27

would this motherboard support my existing hardware?
ASUS P5KPL-AM EPU - Intel G31 -Socket 775 - PCI-E (x16) - DDR2 1600/667/800 - SATA 3Gb/s - Micro ATX - VGA

JLJ · 13 Jan 2011 at 15:56

Is there any easy way to find all the boards that support this chip?

Cookeh · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:22

JLJ said:
would this motherboard support my existing hardware?
ASUS P5KPL-AM EPU - Intel G31 -Socket 775 - PCI-E (x16) - DDR2 1600/667/800 - SATA 3Gb/s - Micro ATX - VGA

That wouldn't.

Are you sure your RAM is PC-3200? :confused:

Cookeh · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:24

JLJ said:
Is there any easy way to find all the boards that support this chip?

Nope. Although, if a board says in its description that it supports Core 2 Duos and DDR (not DDR2 or DDR3) then you're fine.

JLJ · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:38

I think I'll go for the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Motherboard Intel Core 2 Extreme Socket 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Gigabit Ethernet.
Just have to decide on a case and fingers crossed it shows up on saturday and every thing works!

JLJ · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:55

Corsair Value Select 2048Mb (2x1GB) Kit 400MHz 184Pin PC3200 CL3
it states its ddr2.. will this not work?

Cookeh · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:56

JLJ said:
I think I'll go for the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Motherboard Intel Core 2 Extreme Socket 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Gigabit Ethernet.
Just have to decide on a case and fingers crossed it shows up on saturday and every thing works!

By all means, buy that motherboard.

But if your RAM really is 3200 speed then it won't work.

You need a DDR ram socket 775 board - which are very rare and very costly.

Cookeh · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:57

JLJ said:
Corsair Value Select 2048Mb (2x1GB) Kit 400MHz 184Pin PC3200 CL3
it states its ddr2.. will this not work?

I've never heard of DDR2 that slow. Slowest DDR2 is 533 or smth similar. Its DDR ram, not DDR2.

400MHz and 184pin are both attributes of DDR ram - I know, I have it

JLJ · 13 Jan 2011 at 17:02

ah hah .. its 184-Pin DDR2 but DDR1 type... confusing.
bugger, so new RAM too..
beginning to wonder if its even worth salvaging the CPU and Graphics now vs a new atom chip HTPC setup..

Ch3m1c4L · 13 Jan 2011 at 17:41

can you take a picc of the sticker on the ram, or a screenie of cpu-z stating the ram specs?

The cpu will do 720p fine, but unless it can offload to the gpu it wont cope with 1080p, my laptop with a 2.2ghz core 2 duo (t7500 or something) with 3gb ddr2 and an 8600gt can only do certain 1080p rips, some of them lag. Not sure if its just ive not set it up right but meh.

JLJ · 13 Jan 2011 at 18:07

I just assumed the graphics card would cope... looks like this idea is a bust.
Thanks for info guys.
I think I'll reconsider the linkstation solution with xbox which is currently dealing with mkv files fine via my laptop

JLJ · 14 Jan 2011 at 13:55

What do you guys think of Zotac GF9300-I-E ITX WiFi Motherboard
Seems to have some heat issues but hopefully they have been resolved having been out so long.