HTPC Quetsions

mo786

mo786

mo786

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Joined
12 Sep 2005
Posts
215
Hi,

Going for a HTPC new build.

Anyone recommend the best MICRO ATX Mobo to get? (I am gonna get the ANtex Fusion case - unless anyone knows better)

Also whats the bast processor to use? I am building in advance for HD DVD - I am thinking of a standard Athlon 64 CPU but unsure on graphics card as well..

Also are there any MATX Mobos that can be used fanless (to cut out on noise?

Also can anyone explain hwo to get a rmeote working? Do you need some add on on the back that will accept an IR signal?
 
Thanks for the reply.

Some of the prices are a bit out of my league! I wouldn't spend £200+ on a case for example.

Anyhow, the biggest stumbling box is that I may not be able to get SKY to work 100% properly with a DVB-S card unless I get extra stuff with it - so I possibly won't bother unless there is a proper workaround available!

Reviews of the Antec Fusion seem to be very favourable...?
 
I need it to:

Play DVDs (HD DVD in the future of course
TV - Record one channel and watch another.
Connect to the upstairs PC and be able to save films from the upsatirs PC via wireless (xvid ones)
Have it for rare useage of internet - via XP desktop

My own - very rough spec...which I just made up now!

Antec Case: £130
Abit NFM2-nView nForce 6150 Micro ATX £70
Athlon 3500 - £65
1 GB memory £75
Windows MCE Control - £20
DVD RW - £25
Samsung 300 gb HDD - £70
TV Card £70
Wireless stuff £50

At the moment thats - £575

The only real thing I think is missing is a seperate graphics card which I may or may not get depending on if the one with the mobo is good enough - but £70 should be sufficient for that..?
 
WJA96 said:
Well, if you're sure - the only thing I would strenuously try and convince you to do is swap the Athlon for a Core2Duo - the ASRock 945G-DVI and an OEM E6300 would put the price up about £70, but I think you would see the benefit if you wanted to use 2 streams at once.
Click to expand...

whatst he equivalent AMD? I have always been an AMD fan for some reason - or is the Intel better by miles in its price point?


EDIT::: Thinking about it, what do you think is the min spec I should have for what I wanna do? I think it makes more sense to upgrade my main PC (which I use everyday (a lot) and use my old components in the HTPC - obviously tho my own current PC has older components so obivously i need to make sure they would be sufficient.

currently on an athlon 3000 with 2gb ram
whatst he min i should be looking at for graphics for a HTPC?
 
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squiffy said:
A few of the Silverstone Lascale cases. Do you need full size ATX? Or will a MATX be ok? How many PCI cards are you going to fit?
Click to expand...

I think I am gonna use my existing PC stuff to make my HTPC and upgrade my current PC.

I have an ABIT AV8 which is full sized so I am limited by that I guess!
 
OK...well...some stuff has gone down since my last post!

I managed to bugger up my normal PC by breaking pins on the CPu (don't ask) - it doesn't post so I bought new stuff to make a new PC with (Core 2 Duo, 400Gb HDD, 2gb RAM (plus more) :D - that came to 600 quid!

Which leaves me with bits and pieces from my other PC including an ABIT AV8 mobo, 2gb RAM and a broken CPU - plus a 160gb HDD.

I don't need MUCH more to get a working PC going - only the all important case, a PSU, a CPU and a TV card.

Not sure what I am gonna do now!
 
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