HTPC Questions

mast3r

mast3r

mast3r

Soldato
Joined
28 Jan 2007
Posts
2,558
Location
Wilmslow, Cheshire
Hi all,
I have been meaning to ask this for ages now, i recently built me a new Media PC, i had loads of bits laying about etc.

Antec Fusion Case
Asus M3A78-EM board (please let me know if i cant link to manufac sites - http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=KjpYqzmAd9vsTM2D )
Phenom 9650 X4
8gb DDR1066 Ram
WD500gb Eco Green
WD1000gb Eco Green
Asus 300mb fancy wifi card (had it laying about for a project i never started)
Nvidia 9400GT Silent, 512mb card
Asus Blue-ray Reader/Writer
Vista Ultimate 64

Panasonic Viera 42" Freesat (top end model)
Logitech Z-5500

OK:
The board, is it any good. it reads ok, looks very good and seems to perform as well. It has onboard VGA, DVI, HDMI and Display Port, 8 Chan out etc, Optical out. Has ATI HD3200.

I am using 9400gt rather than the onboard, what will give me the best display, 9400 has an HDMI port on and res - 1900x1080.

I am using the Optical out to the Z5500, would this be beaten buy Direct cables? If i were to buy a new sound card would i see much improvement on sound quality etc, if so spec me up a sound card. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE :D

Many thanks.
 
I have loads of Vista OEM's laying about but no WIn7 (i have just picked one up, will reload with that over the weekend)
I have a Thermaltake CPU Cooler atm, a 120mm ICG400, will be looking for a scythe tho.

I have that rig built up and in use but i am willing to swap and change should i need to, i have an 9600GT i can use but it has a fan, i am trying to keep this baby quiet.

Any idea on the Soundcard question mate?
 
Do you have a server or just another PC that you leave on most/all of the time? Alternatively, could you build a small file server out of any old bits and pieces you have?

If so, I'd be hugely tempted to get a very cheap SSD or even just use a flash drive for a stripped down OS+media centre, then put all the files on the server/home PC.

I find that by far the most irritating thing about my PC when it's acting as a media centre is the hard drive noise. Just set all your fans to constant speed and you'll find that the constant noise doesn't matter over the sound of the tv, but a hard drive clicking is noticeable.
 
Ausigex, Hi. I do have a server at home, i have a rack in my loft. lol.

I have got the WD ECO Green Hard drives. they are amazing, so quiet its untrue.
 
that amazing the 1tb drive keeps conking out, can be on for a few hours then my movies / epps just stop and stutter, as if im streaming on a 56k. Seems the hdd has taken a poo.
 
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