HTPC shopping list - does it look okay?

Jed Shields · 30 Jul 2008 at 19:05

Hi guys,

I'm looking at setting up a HTPC to run BluRay / HD-DVDs, play ripped DVDs, as a PVR, show photo's etc ie general duties. I'm looking at the following:

Antec Fusion v2 silver
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H mobo
Athlon 64 4850E CPU
Kingston 2GB DDR2 memory
LG BluRay HD-DVD retail drive (already bought)
Seagate 500Gb HDD

Video and sound onboard the mobo. I'll be looking to get optical out into my Cyrus DAC-XP - only interested in 2 channels at the moment.

TV card - I've no idea what to look for. I can see myself going the Freesat route in a couple of years (assuming they release PC cards), but in the meantime I'd like to have the facility to record 2 freeview programs at once.

Cooling - I need some suggestions for quiet fans that will fit the Antec Fusion case for the CPU and 2x 120mm side fans. I've just bought a Noctua 120mm fan that's really quiet - anyone know what the supplied fans are like?

Software:

OS - Vista Home Premium
Media Portal
KMPlayer
PowerDVD - bundled with the Bluray HD-DVD player - is okay for my 2 channel needs?

Any thoughts / suggestions?

Cheers,

Jed.

Jed Shields · 30 Jul 2008 at 20:11

Hard Drive - I've got a 500Gb in my NAS with room for another up to 1TB, as soon as prices drop a bit more I'll add a 1TB as well. The HDD in the HTPC is really just for the OS and bits and pieces. In fact, it's probably worth just getting a cheap low capacity one for the time being.

It'll connect to the NAS through a 200MB homeplug, so the transfer rate should be fine for HD content.

Jed Shields · 30 Jul 2008 at 20:29

Mul said:
Looks good to me. I've ordered pretty much the same thing (with the main difference being that I've opted for a cheaper CPU) due tomorrow. Was it the LG GGC-H20L you bought? Bought the Antec Fusion in black

Yep, it's around £70 at the moment.

Fusion - I'm going silver to go with my Cyrus kit

CPU cooler - what do you guys recommend that's really quiet and will fit in the Fusion?

RAM - looking for some 2Gb 800MHz and relatively cheap. Kingston, Corsair? Any recommendations?

Jed Shields · 31 Jul 2008 at 07:42

RJC said:
It's based on the HD 3200 graphics chipset:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2758

4870 would be a bit overkill, unless he wants to use it for gaming, my media center runs MSI 7600GT which handles hi-def no problem.

Yep, just for TV and DVD stuff at the moment. I might throw in a card in the future if I fancy a game of Fifa on my 42" downstairs. But until then, my Q6600, 8800GTS machine upstairs will do for my gaming needs :-)

Jed Shields · 31 Jul 2008 at 10:41

Still unsure about the CPU cooler that'll fit the Antec Fusion case - any suggestions?