HTPC Build - Specs check

nc11

nc11

nc11

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Joined
25 Nov 2006
Posts
74
Hi,

This HTPC will proudly reside under my new Pioneer plasma, connected to a Jamo DMR61 system. It's purpose would be to play some music and occasional internet browsing.

Components are:

ASUS P5L-MX/lga775 Intel945g Ich7 Pciex 16
OCZ (OCZ2A8002GK) 2Gb PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4-4-4-12
NEC AD-5170A-0B 18xDVD±RW DL Black - Bare Drive
Asus Nvidia 7600GT 256MB DDR3 TV out DVI PCI-E
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.86ghz) Socket 775 Fsb1066 2mb Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Upgrade)
Samsung SpinPoint T HD501LJ 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU

Would appriciate any feedback on this.

Cheers,

NC.
 
Your most obvious problem is that the motherboard is not mATX but the case requires a mATX motherboard. Maybe try a ASRock Conroe945G-DVI which uses the same chipset, neither is great for overclocking but it fits and works fine. :)

Do you mean to get Vista Home Premium upgrade? I think you need a copy of XP to upgrade from, you might just be easier buying the full version as OEM software plus it is cheaper. :)
 
Looks over specced to me (memory, graphics)
You don't need RAID 0 for a HTPC :rolleyes:
I'm using a 2.5" 5400rpm and performance is fine.
Don't get vista, stick to MCE or XP with Media Portal
Get the cheaper NSK2400, the Fusion extra cost (VFD, volume) are non functional in normal day to day use.
 
Cheers guys!

This mobo IS a matx board... It is supposed to be This one. Am I reading it wrong?

As I've got sky+ not sure a tuner card is needed. I agree about the possibility of a raid but for an HTPC I don't think it's required. a 500GB of space is more than enough.

As far as I can tell the price difference between the fusion and the NSK is 30 quid. Is it not worth the nice VFD display and the volume knob?

The only thing I'm not sure about is indeed the gfx card. I tried to find something that will have some power for the media center part and HD, yet within a reasonable budget. Have you got any other suggestions?

Thanks guys! NC.
 
nc11 said:
As far as I can tell the price difference between the fusion and the NSK is 30 quid. Is it not worth the nice VFD display and the volume knob?

The only thing I'm not sure about is indeed the gfx card. I tried to find something that will have some power for the media center part and HD, yet within a reasonable budget. Have you got any other suggestions?

Thanks guys! NC.
Click to expand...


I don't look at the HTPC when it's in use, nor use the volume control on the HTPC slider, nor the volume knob on the av amp. So useless.

HD playback relies on CPU power, not videocard. I use low-end Nvidia 6150 and ATI X300 both cope with 1080p.
 
nc11 said:
This mobo IS a matx board... It is supposed to be This one. Am I reading it wrong?
Click to expand...

Sorry, my mistake there, I failed to notice the -MX suffix, you are right it is mATX so should be absolutely fine although as I noted probably not a good overclocker but I doubt that will matter much here. :)
 
Yep, I've got the Asrock one though and it is a superb matx board. the only thing I've noticed the Asus one has is SPDIF out which is why I'd like to get it. I don;t want to invest in a seperate sound card and it's great to have the optical out option built into the board.

Squiffy, I guess this is a matter of personal taste. This box will be visible and will reside under the plasma. I think the fusion does not look out of place with the other AV kit, hence the choice of it.

SO I guess this is pretty much it, although I should re-think the gfx card choice. Perhaps go with the on-board one?
 
I don't know too much about the Intel 950 but it should have enough power for basic tasks such as you outline. The only thing is it does use system Ram but again, you don't appear to be demanding too much from your system overall. :)
 
OK than. I've removed the gfx card and ordered the rest. I can always add anotehr card later, can I...

Thanks for the help!

NC.
 
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