HTCP

[xerouk]

Which ATI card is best value for money? Only need it for Blu-ray and HD video playback through HDMI.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Biffa]

If you are building from scratch the best value for money is to use a motherboard with a AMD780G chipset. This has a HD&BR offloading ATi gfx card built in (essentially a 3450) that means even with the slowest AMD CPU its only using 10-15% CPU

If adding a gfx card to an existing HTPC then I'd go for a 3450 card.

 

[xerouk]

Esata

Thanks for the good information. I have looked into your idea only thing i cant find is a micro atx board with an Esata port just wondered if anyone new of one.

Thanks

 

[Biffa]

Heh, the shopping list gets longer and longer eh? You might have to limit your options, especially with mATX motherboards, they are smaller for good reason and often you have to sacrifice some big desktop style features to get the smaller size required for a decent size htpc kit.

However the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM S2H does have a 780G chipset and a esata port

The other option is to look for a HTPC case that takes a full size motherboard, there are many but notably the Silverstone range of HTPC cases offer that feature.

You might have to look for an external card to get that box ticked on your option list

 

[xerouk]

Thanks again for your help, i am building a HTPC for my father and i just wanted an extra port for storage as he wants a small case but it would be nice to be too limited on fast storage options. so far i have the below in mind:

LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4600+ 2.40GHz (Socket AM2)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache
Silverstone Lascala LC10B HTPC Case
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro-ATX

i already have 2 pcs with 4gb of ddr2 in each so i can use some ram from one of those.

Any more thoughts you have would be most appreciated.

Thanks

 

[AbsenceJam]

I'd get one of the 45w X2's as they use less power and run cooler, a 4050e will be more than enough. Not sure if you can run the stock HSF passive but I know it's dead quiet if you reduce its voltage, otherwise there are plenty of options for heatsinks that definitely will be happy passive.
If you want a less fancy case the Antec NSK 2480 is rather good and comes with a PSU.

 

[xerouk]

Logitech Harmony 1000

I will also be using this remote so need to check that if the case has an internal remote sensor they will work together.

 

[Biffa]

I agree on the 4050e and I'd go for the silver Antec Fusion HTPC Case with 430HE Watt PSU

If you go for the silverstone you will need a psu