HTPC

Yannic

Yannic

Yannic

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Joined
20 Jun 2005
Posts
192
Hi

After having looked at http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-013-OK

I decided I would rather spec the same system myself minus a few parts. Just after some advice on what I am planning to put in to it.

Case: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-060-AN
CPU: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-219-AM
Mobo: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-137-AB
O/s: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SW-036-MS
Ram: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-010-OK
HDD: allready got
WiFi: Dont want to use as running cable down to media PC area
optical: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-100-SA



Total: £326.58 (£130 less than the system as a whole)

Couple of questions,


Media Centre remote: Yay or nay?

CPU heatsink: retail sink ok or should I spec in somthing else quieter?

Do those components look good? I'm just curious if it requires low profile optical drive or not.

Is there anything worth spending a little more on or less on which is useful in an HTPC case? This will be replacing a shuttle SN41G2 running a barton single core 2600+ (rather noisy for HTPC)


Thanks for any advice, its much appreciated


Iain




Update:

CPU Cooler: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-012-SY&tool=3
replacement fans: 2x http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...AK-191-SM Smoke Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan - 3 pin
 
Last edited:
The components are looking good, but you might want to go Intel, for better performance. It is up to you really, though it will cost around £50 more (worth IMO). Jump up to Vista Home Premium 64 bit.

If you aren't going to overclock this (which most people don't do in their HTPCs) then the stock coolers are sufficient. The Media Remote is a good idea, unless you want to go with a Media Centre keyboard from Logitech, which are expensive, but great, like the new diNovo Mini.
 
Just one thing really, you using a HDTV? Might be worth budgeting the extra and getting a Blu Ray drive in there. An aftermarket cooler is a definate, last thing you need is noise of a fan when watching movies
 
The most this system will ever be asked to do is to watch a blueray film, hd-dvd or HD encoded material at 1080p 24. I'm sure a 4600+ can handle this?

With regards to an improved cooler - which would be suitable for this case? I am guessing it is slightly low profile - so I would be worried about sticking in an artic stacker etc.

32/64 bit - who knows - I dont run any 64 bit software and the way things are going - I dont think I will ever want to.

I shall order a media remote to go with it then - thanks for the tip, I take it it is compatible with the IR receiver on the case? Is there one?

Again, thanks for the replies :)
 
Duroxis said:
Just one thing really, you using a HDTV? Might be worth budgeting the extra and getting a Blu Ray drive in there. An aftermarket cooler is a definate, last thing you need is noise of a fan when watching movies
Click to expand...

Yes, it will be connected through an HDMI switchiing box (Denon 3840 amp) to a TV at 1080i.

I was umming and aaring as to purchasing one of those BR drives however i feel this would make a nice upgrade in a short time.
 
As for Media Center remote; I would say a must. Although, get the Philips one not the MS one. MS one works really well, but does look cheap. The white Philips one is a 4 in 1 and works superbly!
 
Swap the CPU for a 4050e (available elsewhere) and get a 780G motherboard which will do all of the video decoding, without that you'll need a much more powerful CPU.
 
ok looking like this now. Think ill just buy all the bits from OCUK.


27489869co2.jpg
 
No a proper HSF is quieter than stock, even though the fan doesn't whoosh at 7v or lower, but you get motor drone. Looks alright spec.
 
1 more thing I was thinking about on my way home. I remember when there was a big hoo haa about the fact that graphics cards couldnt output encrypted blueray content over HDMI to a compatible TV. Is that still a problem?

All I need to know is that with that drive connected via SATA to the mobo, via the onboard ATI graphics, can I watch the content at 1080i or p on my TV? I am guessing I need a decoding piece of software... such as somthing cyberlink might make... am I limited to using cyberlink's software or does the MCE front end handle the blueray content once you have a the software codec installed?
 
The updated spec looks good.

If you get the antec fusion case make sure you buy a molex to sata power adapter.
There is a design flaw with the PSU cabling and the case. The HDD and DVD drives are kept in seperate compartments in the case and the psu only has one SATA cable with 2 connectors. It doesn't reach both compartments.
 
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