Cheap HTPC

ash_91

ash_91

ash_91

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14 Jan 2006
Posts
544
Hello, I am looking at upgrading my machine as it is struggling to play .mkv hd files with 5.1 surround sound and it takes far too long too convert them to watch on the 360. (3ghz P4, 2gb ddr, x1300)

Basically I already have hard drive, dvd, psu etc am looking to just upgrade the basics.

I need a new mobo, ram, grx card and possible processor although hopefully that can wait as i currently have a P4 531 i think it is, 3ghz, socket 775.

This is on a very limited budget, £150 max looks like i can get 2gb of ddr2 for £20 quid ish but looking for advice on the rest of the setup.

Cheeers.

Edit: Been looking at something like this for graphics card, Sapphire HD 3450 256MB.

Around 25 quid, how would that do for hd on a 37" lcd?

Mainly just looking for motherboard and possibly cpu advice now.
 
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the ATI card come highly recomended for HTPC's due to their advanced video decoding over nVidia card, and that 3450 is passive cooled aswell if i remember rightly.

For mobo and CPU you can get a P35 based mobo and any intel CPU. Budget may mean something like the E2200 and a decent cooler and OCign it to 3Ghz (easy), although noise may be a factor.

RAM, well, 2GB DDR2 or maybe even 4 depending on your budget, its so cheap.

for your complete £150 you could get a P35 mobo/Intel E2200/Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro /2GB DDR2 PC2-6400
 
Cheers, have already got the artic 7 so would just need to get some thermal paster for it.

How would that processor compare to my current one?

Worth the upgrade?

Also is there anything cheaper than the iP35 chipset boards?

Hoping for something a bit cheaper if possible, if not the processor will have to wait.
 
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there are cheaper alternatives to the P35, but the P35 is considered an extrememly good chipset. Its up to you really. the P31 is cheaper, but not by much.

Well, apart from the E2200 at 3Ghz having 2 cores to the P4's 1, the whole arctitecture is different. Im no expert, so Ill leave this up to someone else to explain.

You could always look second hand? the Members Market might throw up some usefull stuff.
 
Yea but thats right at the top end of the budget, trying to avoid that.

How would my current processor be with HD3450 + 2gig ddr2 and cheap mobo, baring in mind it an be overclocked nicely.

What about something like this for the mobo, Gigabyte GA-945PL-S3P i945PL.

Any good?
 
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your not going to get a semi decent full upgrade for £150, and your going to hold yourself back a lot if you leave the proccessor or board as is.

Theres no point in buying bottem end new components. your just restricting yourself.

If you need to, just wait a month or so and save up a bit more. a C2D/DDR2/Mobo/GFX combo can be yours for £180ish...
 
I understand what your sayin, but saving more isn't really an option as im paying off a debt at the moment and this is some spare money ive got.

I already have the AC7 so was thinking i could get a cheapish half decent mobo, 2 gig of cheap ddr2 and the gfx for now then get the cpu later on.

Would i see no benefit with the new kit compared to my current kit.
 
ash_91 said:
I understand what your sayin, but saving more isn't really an option as im paying off a debt at the moment and this is some spare money ive got.

I already have the AC7 so was thinking i could get a cheapish half decent mobo, 2 gig of cheap ddr2 and the gfx for now then get the cpu later on.

Would i see no benefit with the new kit compared to my current kit.
Click to expand...

If you are currently paying off large debts, you shouldn't really be building a new PC for watching HD movies.

if you want budget.

look into an AMD setup, with onbord HDMI.

motherboard - Abit AN-M2HD nForce 520 Micro ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

MB-137-AB_400.jpg


£58.74 inc VAT

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4800+ 2.50GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail
CP-201-AM_400.jpg

£56.39 inc VAT

RAM - OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK)
MY-072-OC_400.jpg

£28.19 inc VAT

Total £143.32 withing budget

edit the above will play virtually everything, and in the future when you get a blueray drive, if its starts to struggle you can pop in a GFX card to help it along
 
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Its not a large debt and its too my dad, i've already discussed this with him and it benefits me and my brother as my brother can have my current pc.

Dont really want to go the AMD route.

Still would like to know what you thought abouth the motherboard and card i said about earlyer then upgrading the cpu in a few weeks once ive finished paying my dad.
 
Specially the 780G boards... phoar. The onboard when OC'd a little = the 3450's and is ultralow power and the motherboard is £60ish, and thats mobo + graphics combined. Rest you can spend on a nice set of RAM and a CPU.
 
i have a P4 HT 3ghz, 1.5gb ddr ram, Sapphire HD 3450 256MB in my htpc, and it handles 1080p .MKV files no problem, CPU usage is about 30% using this card, mine was passive but it wouldnt fit my case properly so i sawed off part of the heatsink( the bit that stuck up) and installed an akasa amber 60mm fan on it, with the fa on it sits at 45oC playing a vid, without the fan it sits at 750C

get the card and see what its like for you, that way if its ok you save quite a bit of money
 
afrer reading arecent review i think the new amd setup kicks somes ass they have a new mobo with onboard gfx with built in hd decoder to take all the pressure of the cpu.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=mb-115-gi&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=807

and this is the review on tomshardware
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/amd-780g-hdtv-blu-ray,review-30420.html

review tells you all about it and hwo they coud run hd movies with a 3200 semperon. how there is a hidden bios option to overlcokc *** gfx. and that you can even crossfire it if you so wish with a nother cheap gfx.
 
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