Building a Budget (very small) HTPC...advice required

zootfloot · 9 Mar 2010 at 10:16

As above, i am building a HTPC/media player, nothing special i am just sick of writing discs etc.

The parts that i have are as follows:

Mobo: http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=M3A790GXH/128M

CPU: Sempron 140 http://www.amd.com/us/products/desk...AMD-sempron-processor-product-comparison.aspx

PSU: Antec 380w

Case: Cheap generic desktop (hidden in cupboard anyways)

Remote: MCE Remote 1039

Parts required: RAM, Optical Drive (dont need blu-ray)

1) Do you think that the onboard graphics of this Mobo will be ok...its only outputting to a 26" panasonic LCD TV through HDMI

2) Gonna have W7 installed and just use media centre for the movies etc and use the MCE Remote for everything...is there a better (free) solution? i also have a wireless keyboard with touchpad available if need be.

3) I was thinking of getting this kit http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-234-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1516 i am sure that 2GB of RAM will be more than enough for this little project, and i dont think i need anything special...or do i?

Cheers for the help.

IIGAZI360II · 9 Mar 2010 at 10:51

Looks like a good selection of kit. The on-board graphics will be ok, but don't forget it will take upto 512mb of RAM from the rest of your system, so if you plan on having 2gb of RAM, you will only have 1.5gb left, which might be a little low, depending on what else you plan on doing.

I'd maybe suggest getting one of the low end 5000 series, and as you are using windows 7 you can take advantage of the DX11 if you wanted. Something like the 5450 series would be better than on-board graphics, and doesn't break the bank.

As for the RAM, 2gb seems enough for what your doing just about, I normally suggest using at least 2gigs nowadays due to programs becoming more and more resource hungry.

zootfloot · 9 Mar 2010 at 11:06

IIGAZI360II, all the system will be used for is to store and play movies, it wont even be connected to the internet.

I got the bits from other different systems and this is what i had spare, obviously if i want to use it for other things then i can always add in a graphics card and more RAMand connect it up using a homeplug or something similar.

pcoltrane · 9 Mar 2010 at 11:11

The 785G (especially with the 128M sideport) will be fine. The only reason to get a discrete card is if you need the additional audio features.

2gb will also be fine for a media centre machine.

There are free alternatives to media centre - but, it's come a long way since the Xp and vista days. It's really slick and reliable now.

The only things I'd add are a dual tuner tv card - you might as well make the most of what media centre does best!

Also a scythe ninja so you can happily run the cpu passively assuming reasonable case fan position (and also the ninja is one of the few heatsinks that doesn't ever clog with dust)