HTPC

LukieBoy007 said:
Highly doubt it unless you go second-hand or have parts you can re-use.
Click to expand...
I've these components from my old PC,

CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 545 3.0GHz

Motherboard: Foxconn A7VMX-K

RAM: 4GB ASint Technology PC2-6400 DDR2 (400MHz) 2x2GB

GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series 512MB

HDD: Western Digital 7200RPM 500GB SATAII

PSU: High Power PUFP405S 405W

But the case is too big to fit on the second shelf of the TV stand,

http://imgit.me/i/9U7J4G2.jpg

This is the current PC case,

http://imgit.me/i/3k8o0R9.jpg
 
Have you looked at the Silverstone cases(m-ATX)?
Not sure if you need a Gpu, as I don`t know good the graphics are on that chip.
Do you also have an OS?
 
Idleman said:
Have you looked at the Silverstone cases(m-ATX)?
Click to expand...
Since the Foxconn A7VMX-K motherboard is a mATX, I can go for a cheap mATX case around £20-35 which will fit on the second shelf of the TV stand

Idleman said:
Not sure if you need a Gpu, as I don`t know good the graphics are on that chip.
Click to expand...
Currently have the ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series 512MB graphics card, will that be good enough to handle 720/1080p movies?

Idleman said:
Do you also have an OS?
Click to expand...
Yes, I've Windows XP/7

R088ieS86 said:
It's not pretty but if you reuse the HDD you could run this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI A55M-E33 AMD A55 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £40.99
1 x Opera Media Case - Black (with 500W PSU) £39.98
1 x AMD A4-5300 3.40GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Dual Core Processor (AD5300OKHJBOX) £35.99
1 x Avexir Blitz Series 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (AVD3U16000802G-2GW) £19.99
Total : £148.96 (includes shipping : £10.00).

Click to expand...
Should I consider reusing my old parts or purchase new parts?
 
Your current setup will handle 720p and 1080p movies perfectly fine. I use a much less powerful AMD Zacate based system for by htpc/server and it runs Windows 8 Pro with XBMC & Windows media player with no problems. The only issue I see is the power consumption and heat with your current setup. Do you have a dedicated GPU or only the onboard graphics with that Foxconn motherboard. Either will play movies at full HD but don't expect any gaming at any sort of reasonable level. Have a look at Silverstones htpc cases as they offer a wide range but their not cheap. You could reuse the majority of your existing bits tbh, just need a case and half decent power supply. The Silverstone ML03 is a decent budget case that will take mATX boards and ATX power supplies.
 
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shadow_boxer said:
The only issue I see is the power consumption and heat with your current setup. Do you have a dedicated GPU or only the onboard graphics with that Foxconn motherboard.
Click to expand...
I've the ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series 512MB graphics card

shadow_boxer said:
Either will play movies at full HD but don't expect any gaming at any sort of reasonable level. Have a look at Silverstones htpc cases as they offer a wide range but their not cheap. You could reuse the majority of your existing bits tbh, just need a case and half decent power supply. The Silverstone ML03 is a decent budget case that will take mATX boards and ATX power supplies.
Click to expand...
I'll have a look at some mATX case, also how many Watts PSU should I be looking for?

Glaucus said:
If that's all you want to do, why bother with hTPc. Look at an android based set top box, or Apple TV.
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If I reused the parts I have and rebuild it, it will be more powerful than a android based box

wannabedamned said:
That processor is fine! So is the memory. Get yourself a Matx motherboard, case and a low profile card. You're good to go.
Click to expand...
The Foxconn A7VMX-K motherboard is a mATX (9.6" x 8.8"), also I think the ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series graphics card are low profile

Should I reuse my current PSU or purchase a new one?
 
As you wont be doing anything more intensive than streaming videos, the Psu should be fine. I would just look at getting a decent case.
 
Casterina said:
If I reused the parts I have and rebuild it, it will be more powerful than a android based box

?
Click to expand...

And probably spend more on a case than an android box, bigger, noiser etc. It's an hTPc, what on earth do you need the power for.
Put it this way I use my ug802 android on a stick over my hTPc any day off the week. Silent, hidden and has all the apps for easier use. If all you want is a online media device, hTPcs just aren't needed these days and have plenty of downsides.
It's only when you start looking at adding Blu-ray and much more complicated things that a hTPc comes into its own.
 
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