Can anyone please help me build an atom based HTPC?

[jooragi]

Hello

I have been a long time browser of these boards, and had forgotten that I had registered last month.

For a long time now I have wanted to build a HTPC and have been doing some browsing online and just cannot find anything with my specs. I was wondering if any of you experienced guys or girls could help me. If you can help me spec this thing that would be awesome!!! I would love to hear anyone's views?


This is what I am trying to build:

I am looking to build an ION based mini itx HTPC using the dual core N330 1.6ghz chip and I want to overclock it to 2.1ghz.

My max budget is £400, obviously the cheaper the better, if I can get all the following £150-£250 then that's awesome.

I like the ASRock ION 330 but want something even better

I know that from reading the Nvidia 3d vision blog that the ION 330 and other Atom PC's can run 3d vision, there good for 3d movies and pictures, not so much for games unless I use a 3d compatible nvidia card in an external enclosure, but not sure just yet if that works with atom PC's.

I know that the ASRock ION 330 can be overclocked from 1.6ghz to 2.1ghz, the company that make the ASRock have a OC tuner software. A lot of people have done it and say it makes a big difference and really is quite amazing. I believe there are other atoms that can be overclocked as well as they all seem to use the same tech.

I would prefer the ION 330 but I am open to other possibilities.

I like the ASRock as it has instant boot into windows in under 4 seconds, that's good as I will be mainly using it to boot into windows for quick access into XBMC for all my 1080p h.264 bluray movies.

But if I can do it all with a Athlon II Mini-ITX HTPC. or similar then I would love to see what can be put together.

I wouldn't say that I want to pawn an atom 330, I am not after a truly power hungry system. Ideally if I could stay within my budget.

I am hoping that I can fit this all into a case similar to the size of an atom 330 if possible!

I don't mind if the build ends up as a mini itx or if it ends up like 30cm in length and 15cm width like the popcorn hour a-110 and new c-200. Just that it has my specs inside it and has a low power consumption rather than a desktop PC. I am looking to go for a mini itx small form factor. But if I can't get it in that small form factor I would go bigger, just as long it's not bigger than a popcorn hour.

I really like the ASRock ION 330, I basically want similar spec, well at least the same kind of RAM, low power consumption (Energy Star 5.0 level if possible), all solid capacitor design, Silent acoustic below 26 dB.

Power on/off from cold boot and standby from a IR or bluetooth remote control if possible!!!

A IR receiver at the front of the case to take commands from a IR remote. If possible!!!

system fan
light weight
1 x S/PDIF (Optical)
2x PCI-E X16 slot (1 is okay but 2 better - with good spacing between)

(instant boot in less than 4 seconds, an overclock tuner like the ASRock ION 330 if possible!!!)

A top Production & Quality Control product
Small (2.5L) if possible!!!
Stylish glossy outlook
gigabit LAN

I need a dual channel memory design. DDR2 800 MHz dual channel memory. I want 1x 2GB RAM stick and later upgrade with another 1x 2GB RAM stick for 4GB total.

I want the highest capacity 2.5" HDD on the market inside but not at first. I will be streaming for the time being my movies from my PC over a network. I am trying to keep costs to a minimum. Further to keep costs down, for my personal experience I do not need all the latest video and audio connection standards.

DVI out
HDMI HDCP for up to 7.1 channel sound. So I can watch my 1080p movies with dolby digital 5.1 sound/AC3/DTS.
Optical out
No VGA needed, as I can just use if I want an HDMI/DVI to VGA adapter
Memory card reader for SD, Micro SD, Mini SD, SDHC
No need for compact flash, or sony memory sticks.
A PCMCIA expansion slot that can be used with express cards 54/34 module.
A PCI-E X16 slot for twin TV tuner card

Bluetooth on the motherboard as I do not want to use a bluetooth usb dongle. I need bluetooth to pair a bluetooth remote such as the official PS3 bluetooth remote and the wii mote, as well as a wireless bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

10/100/1000 RJ45 ethernet
802.11 B/G and N wifi (if possible without an antenna like the apple tv from sticking out the back) I want to be able to add at the back an antenna if I want as a later upgrade, but work without it.

Microphone IN, headphone jack
6 USB 2.0 (4 on back, 2 on front)
1 sata port
1 e-sata
An empty tray in the front so I can put in the future a slimline BD rom
I want to be able to install windows vista home premium, windows 7, XP and linux
either black or white in color

Can i really get anything like that, what components would I need, I am newb to all this?

All help much appreciated

TIA


P.S I love the forums, the mods do such a great Job here...

 

[Aod]

Hi Mate, you've posted this in the wrong forum, it should be in either General Hardware or Small Form Factor. don't post it again though, i've asked a Mod to move it for you.

btw, PCMCIA (aka PC card) and Expresscard (54 and 34) are completely separate interfaces. PC cards don't work in expresscard slots and expresscards don't work in PC card slots.

 

[Raikiri]

Non Atom spec:

The motherboard has WiFi, 6 USB ports on the back, PCI-e 16x, decent built in graphics etc. However I think a PCI slot would be moe useful for a HTPC than a PCI-e 16x for things like TV tuners.




You can use one of these: http://i32.tinypic.com/10qyxpl.jpg to add internal Bluetooth.

 

[jooragi]

Hi Mate, you've posted this in the wrong forum, it should be in either General Hardware or Small Form Factor. don't post it again though, i've asked a Mod to move it for you.

btw, PCMCIA (aka PC card) and Expresscard (54 and 34) are completely separate interfaces. PC cards don't work in expresscard slots and expresscards don't work in PC card slots.

Thanks for replying

Sorry for posting in the wrong forum, I thought this was general hardware but I noticed an hour later that this was general discussion. It was late when I was posting. Thanks to the mod that moved it into 'small form factor'!!!

about the PCMCIA and expresscard, I would then need a motherboard with both slots, can that be fitted into the specced system that Raikiri did for me?

Non Atom spec:

The motherboard has WiFi, 6 USB ports on the back, PCI-e 16x, decent built in graphics etc. However I think a PCI slot would be moe useful for a HTPC than a PCI-e 16x for things like TV tuners.




You can use one of these: http://i32.tinypic.com/10qyxpl.jpg to add internal Bluetooth.

Many thanks for your reply

That is an awesome spec, I just need to ask. Who makes that bluetooth thingy me jig? Does that plug into a PCI slot?

The system looks great except the case, the dimensions are way too big, I am looking for something as big as the ASRock Ionstar ION 330 case. Or something long and has the same thickness as the new popcorn hour c-200. Ideally as big as the ASRock case?

I researched the zotac motherboard anf found article that said 'The GeForce 9300 chipset isn't as powerful as the 9400 used in Nvidia's Ion system, but partnered with a proper desktop CPU it won't have a problem with HD video. With VGA, DVI and HDMI outputs, this is an attractive board for a media centre'.

I know that the ION 330 uses an nvidia 9400M but you cannot add an additional graphics card as there is no PCI slot. So this specced system you have done has a PCI slot and so I can add at a later date a more powerful GPU, I take it I can put in a ATI or Nvidia card, but it would have to be a notebook sized card?

Lastly, I would like 1 PCI-E X16 for a graphics card and 2 PCI Slots (1 for tv tuner and the other for bluetooth card).

Is there a possibility to have all these features?

I hope you can please answer my questions.

Thank you very much!!!

EDIT: Here is a video of the ASRock Ionstar ION 330, this would be the ideal case if all my features could fit inside here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EasgaiZswoY



EDIT: How do you embed youtube video and photos into forum posts?

Can a mod make my links embedded please, thanks!!!

 

[Raikiri]

Unfortunately no, it's not possible. The Mini ITX boards only have space for a single PCI/PCI-e slot.

What you want is a board with decent onboard graphics (9300 or 9400) and a standard pci slot for a tv tuner. The internal USB thing plugs into a seperate connector on the board.