HTPC spec check

[Cold_And_Miserable]

Hello,

Would these components make a decent HTPC?

I originally considered the WDTV Live and Nvidia Ion but I'm concerned about codec limitations particularly proprietry formats such as WMV-Pro and DTS-HD.

Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz (Lynnfield) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £148.04

Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £67.99

OCZ Gold 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low-Voltage Dual Channel (OCZ3G1333LV4GK) £58.74

Samsung SpinPoint F2 EcoGreen 1.5TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD154UI) £51.99

LiteOn iHOS104-37 4x BD-ROM Drive (Black) - OEM £39.99

OcUK Aphrodite Media Case - Black £38.99

Blaze BL-6400 2.4GHz Wireless Desktop £18.99

OCuK Value 2mtr HDMI Male - Male Cable (CDLHD-302) £3.98

Akasa AK-190-BL Blue Ultra Quiet 80mm Fan - 3 Pin £3.51

Total : £447.48

 

[Big.Wayne]

PanMaster, i5 Lynnfield processors don't have any IGP? . . . you need an i3 Clarkdale . . .

 

[Cold_And_Miserable]

Yes, I just realised that. I3 it is then.

 

[Anewbe4u]

Do you actually use anything with WMV-Pro? Personally I kinda feel that although a HTPC offers pretty much everything you need, price wise, its crazy.

Anyway, is an i5 not a bit over the top, kinda thinking an i3 would do the job fine so you would save a bit of money.

 

[pepp77]

Considered AMD

This would be more than good enough

Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AMD 785G - £66.99

AMD Athlon II X2 245 - £47.99

OCZ Gold 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz - £58.74

 

[beefybarn]

You have no psu in your listing, if i was you i would ditch the case and go for a Antec Micro Fusion 350 HTPC Case with Remote.

 

[pepp77]

You have no psu in your listing, if i was you i would ditch the case and go for a Antec Micro Fusion 350 HTPC Case with Remote.

The case he picked comes with a 500W PSU.

Even so I would also swap it for the Antec (I recently picked one up from a competitor for £56.40) its a nicely put together case.

 

[beefybarn]

Its a far better case than the OcUK Aphrodite Media Case and i bet that 500w psu is cheap and chearfull.

 

[Cold_And_Miserable]

The Antec Fusion only has one 3.5" internal drive bay but the OCUK case has two.

Does the I3 still have a problem with 24fps / 23.978fps mode ?

If so would the AMD 785G be the way forward?

 

[beefybarn]

The Antec Fusion only has one 3.5" internal drive bay but the OCUK case has two.

There are ways around that, believe me you will not regret getting the Antec.

 

[Cold_And_Miserable]

I'm not convinced by the Antec Fusion. Reviews suggest installation is a nightmare and the remote control isn't so good.

 

[Essexraptor]

The Antec Fusion only has one 3.5" internal drive bay but the OCUK case has two.

There are ways around that, believe me you will not regret getting the Antec.

For the super thick... ie me!

what's the work around? external attached storage?

many thanks

 

[beefybarn]

Well ive built 7 systems in them and would not describe the installation as a nightmare, the remote is basic but works well. To fit more drives placement and velcro are all you need .

 

[The Deuce]

overkill on the cpu, but then again you can never have too much speed
as said ditch that tin case and get a proper one.
ditch the blue fan and get a proper silent cooling one like a Noctua.
other than that, looks mighty fine

 

[Reality Bites]

Well ive built 7 systems in them and would not describe the installation as a nightmare, the remote is basic but works well. To fit more drives placement and velcro are all you need .

How do they compare to the full fusion case? I'm trying to work out whether to go with the micro or the full fusion?!

 

[beefybarn]

Depends on what you want. I wanted a black front on my own system so went for the Antec fusion remote which is easier to build in and has a much better remote but there is nothing wrong with the micro fusion.

 

[Reality Bites]

Depends on what you want. I wanted a black front on my own system so went for the Antec fusion remote which is easier to build in and has a much better remote but there is nothing wrong with the micro fusion.

I would prefer the black and cant help thinking that the 120mm fans woud be better too. Not fussed bout the remote as ive got a logitech. Its the fact the microis 30quid less and it comes with a psu

 

[beefybarn]

The micro fusions are still pretty quiet even with the 80mm fans.

 

[Reality Bites]

Which psu have you been using in the fusions?

 

[beefybarn]

I just use the ones supplied with the Micro fusions but in my Fusion remote i use a Zalman heatpipe cooled psu and it is very very quiet.