HTPC Spec help

scottman

scottman

scottman

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1 Jan 2007
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Location
Essex
First off sorry for another HTPC thread!

I've used the search for HTPC and have gone through 100's of threads and I am getting more confused with what spec to really have in my HTPC.

I will not be using the HTPC for any gaming, it will just be used for Blu-ray > movies > TV (SKYHD too) > music > picture play back

I have found the software I will be using on the HTPC and I have tested it all out on my PC. I will use Mediaportal with PowerDVD playing up scaled dvd content and blu-ray. I dont want to have to use a keyboard or mouse at all and I just want to use a remote (case remote or this one: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/4708&cl=gb,en unless anyone can find a cheaper one that looks the nuts as £350 is a lot for a remote), also need it to be hooked up to a wireless network for updates and VNC for another computer.

I have done a list of parts but if anyone could point me in a better direction for performace / cost ratio it would be much appreciated. I just need a case (pref a slim line case like: http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?Idx=370 or if anyone can suggest a better case)

Corsair Extreme X32 32gb SSHD (just for the operating system Windows 7 home)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-003-CS

Western Digital Black 1TB HD
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-226-WD

OcUK brushed aluminium Blu-ray Drive
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-004-OP&groupid=701&catid=10&subcat=314

Intel i3
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-317-IN

Ocz platinum 4gb ram
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-177-OC

Asus P7H55 M pro mobo
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-382-AS

I just need a CPU cooler, tv card and wireless card

I have been studying this for a while and its giving me headaches lol.
 
Well, since you seem to have a pretty substantial budget for this (I guess you know you could do it for much less money :)) you should probably look at a Hauppage card for TV tuning. The alternative is to get a cheap one now (I paid £40 for a PEAK dual tuner and it works perfectly with MediaPortal) and then add a more expensive DVB-T2 tuner later in the year for freeview HD.

Using 1156 you don't have too much choice in low proflie CPU coolers (I'm not sure you even need one with that case though?). The Scythe Shuriken is very popular (the Sythe site says it supports 1156, but some online stores are missing it from their compatability list so you might be taking a chance that you'd get an older version without the 1156 adaptor) and there is also a slightly bigger version I think. I use a Titan TTC-NK95/HS and run it fanless, but I have an Athlon 240e and the i3 has a higher TDP so you might not get away with that.

I can't help with uber remote controls except to point out that you could have an 'ordinary' MCE remote and a wireless keyboard w/ trackpad like the Keysonic ACK-540RF that you can hide. You could also run a web-interface for your iPhone/other devices if you want a richer interface for playing music etc. when the screen is off. I think it'll be a bit of a pain having an HTPC without any sort of mouse/keyboard personally.

That case looks very nice.
 
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what other cpu and motherboard would people recommend for a HTPC? Never going to play games, just need 250 dvd's sticking on a HD (prob ISO format), music, and HD TV
 
The i3 is a very good choice, just more powerful and expensive than the alternatives:
Athlon II 235/240/250
Athlon II 240e - a 45w version of the 240 and therefor nice for an always on machine. You can also undervolt the normal 240/250 to get good a similar effect
C2D 5300
Intel Atom with ION - A good choice for ITX but I personally wouldn't use one. Although they will play all your videos (thanks to ION) they don't have enough raw CPU power for many other things and I want flexibility.

Any modern CPU paired with a decent integrated graphics chipset (ATi HD4200 of Nv 9300 for instance) will do the video playing. The lower power part you get the easier it will be to make your system quiet/silent and the lower your power usage.
 
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western digital black is not a particularly quiet or cool running drive, if you are determined to have a ssd then look at the big , cheap and quiet 1.5tb discs to hold content.

Very nice board and cpu but way more than you need for playback

How are you planning to get sky HD on a PC? Its not an easy process
 
Moneual do some nice looking cases. Here's a few I'm looking into.

Moneual 972 is a big one - probably bigger than the Zalman.
http://moneual.cafe24.com/english/sub02/sub1.htm
972_01_2.jpg


Software is iMedianHD
http://www.soundgraph.com/imedianhd-feature-en/

Moneual 312 is a really slim case.
http://moneual.cafe24.com/english/sub02/sub6.htm
312_02.jpg


I've not decided what to go for yet. Like you I just want to playback Blu-Ray and MKV movies but I also want to connect it to my amp for all my music.

I have also looked at the Zalman HD503 & the HD501; the HD501 is around £50 cheaper than the 503 on (Since OCUK don't stock them I'm looking on QuietPC). The 501 is without a display - something that does not bother me as I will be using a monitor.
 
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Right, i've finally got a list.
Untitled-1.jpg

I decided to knock the i3 on the head as I think this would be way to much for DVD/Blu-ray watching, tv, music & photos.

Im not sure if to get the Asus M4A785TD-M Evo AMD 785G or the Asus M4A785TD-V Evo AMD 785G mobo.
Otherwise anyone suggest an alternative spec?
 
i'd wait untill the athlon x2 240 is back in stock and save yourself £26 as it is more than powerful enough for your needs.
and if you dont need the dvd burner just get the ocuk blu ray drive and save another £29.
and you would really only need 2gb of ram so i would get the 2gb corsair value select 1333 mhz ram and save yourself another £46.
that £101 you can save can now buy you an intel 40gb ssd :)
 
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gavjof said:
Moneual do some nice looking cases. Here's a few I'm looking into.

Moneual 972 is a big one - probably bigger than the Zalman.
http://moneual.cafe24.com/english/sub02/sub1.htm
972_01_2.jpg



I've not decided what to go for yet. Like you I just want to playback Blu-Ray and MKV movies but I also want to connect it to my amp for all my music.

I have also looked at the Zalman HD503 & the HD501; the HD501 is around £50 cheaper than the 503 on (Since OCUK don't stock them I'm looking on QuietPC). The 501 is without a display - something that does not bother me as I will be using a monitor.
Click to expand...

I love the 972, sweet looking case. You might want to remove the competitors link btw.
 
right, i've changed the Blu-ray to a slot read only drive.
I've picked the Antec Fusion remote black in the end, just need a good dual tv card now, i've seen on the forums somewhere that the compro is not that good? can anyone spec me a good tv card that works with mediaportal?
 
If all you need is DVB-T freeview then the 'PEAK Dual Tuner' for £30 (look in the rainforest) works flawlessly with Mediaportal and Windows 7. I use it myself.

If you want to be able to take a feed from Sky HD then things get more complicated and expensive.
 
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