First HTPC Build

xb8browney

xb8browney

xb8browney

Soldato
Joined
19 May 2005
Posts
6,892
Hi all,
I'm seeking some advice with a HTPC build that I plan on starting soon.
It will be used for
  • Film (DVD-Rip)
  • 720P MKV files
  • Music
  • And also I plan on getting a Blu-Ray Drive
I've built computers for years (Desktops) and have no problem specing them but when it comes to HTPC I'm a little stuck

I've decided to AMD instead of Intel and I've bought

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+ 2.60GHz (Socket AM2)

Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB Cache

Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Low Profile CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2







I'm set on the case I've gone for Antec Fusion430 Veris Media Centre case + 430Watt PSU

Motherboard I'm not to sure about it's between the

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro-ATX (Socket AM2)

and

Asus M3A78-EM AMD 780G (Socket AM2+)


other things I've added to my basket are Sony DDU-X10S Blu-Ray Reader





So what am I missing and what should I change any advice is welcome

Thanks.
 
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780G motherboards dont do 5.1 or 7.1 over HDMI, if you have a good AV system, might be better to get a ATI HD 46** and a cheaper board

but the Gigabyte is a good board will do 5.1 over optical
 
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Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro-ATX (Socket AM2) - win for HTPc apparently.

Might ne worth be getting a cheap board and getting a 4350 card. They are fine for blu-ray by all acounts & pass audio over HDMI perfectly with the realtek driver.

4670 is mid range gaming card and overkill for HTPC. 4350 is also passive, just make sure you get one with a hdmi socket.
 
I'm using a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H myself in my HTPC and it's a fine board

The onboard heatsink runs very hot on mine (think mine is the Rev1?)

I'm using CoreAvc combined with MPC and it plays 1080p MKV files with very low cpu usage; I'm using a AMD 4050e CPU Btw
 
Oxy said:
4670 is mid range gaming card and overkill for HTPC. 4350 is also passive, just make sure you get one with a hdmi socket.
Click to expand...

Passive cards e.g

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp... DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail (H365P512GNP)
ATI HD 3650 £62.09 inc VAT will only do 5.1 sound

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...2 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail
ATI HD 4650 £59.79 inc VAT will do 7.1 sound

edit: OCUK don't do the HD4350 but apparently it does 7.1 to and can be had for £35, nice
 
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OK all I need is the motherboard and case tomorrow I am ordering the case but I'm not sure if I should go for the Antec Fusion Remote HTPC Case - Black (No PSU) Antec Micro Fusion Remote 350 HTPC Case - Black/Silver (350W PSU Included) both are about the same price but the micro is cheaper and comes with a PSU What one is better? Any advice is welcomed
 
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