making HTPC out of old parts

Tackle_Berry · 26 Apr 2013 at 10:15

*EDIT* I should have put this in General Hardware, could a mod please move it?

I am thinking of swapping my current HP Microserver that I use just for xbmc for something else so I can have more drives. I was thinking about using some old parts but not sure if they would be powerful enough to run 1080p/5.1 surround .mkv files on XBMC, I am sure these would be more then powerful enough but just want to check.

Parts (was originally a ocuk system I bought in 2007):

Asus P5N32-E SLI Motherboard
Intel E6600
8800GTS 512mb
4GB of RAM can't remember speed
Creative Soundblaster fatality platinum

Would also need a cheap htpc looking case that would hold at least 6x 3.5 drives plus a optical drive and a cheap but safe PSU, any ideas?

R088ieS86 · 26 Apr 2013 at 11:07

The 8800GTS could play back 1080p content fine, but you may run into problems with sound.
Does it have a HDMI port? CPU/RAM absolutely fine.

PSU I am a fan of: Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular
Safe and modular so there aren't a tonne of unused cables.

Cases, you will stuggle to find a cheap htpc looking case that will hold 6 drives + an optical drive. You may be better off with an matx case instead.

Tackle_Berry · 26 Apr 2013 at 11:17

Thanks,

The 8800GTS is DVI only so I thought a HDMI to DVI cable would do that part. As for the sound the sound card only has the 3.5mm outputs for 5.1 surround, I don't know if I could get that to work with my surround sound.

Was looking at possibly the Silverstone LC17 case, little bit over what I would like to spend.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-220-SV

R088ieS86 · 26 Apr 2013 at 11:40

Is your surround controlled by an AV Receiver with HDMI?
You could sell the 8800TGS and pick up a cheap graphics card with HDMI like the (AMD) HD6450 / (nVidia) GT610. You can also get passive versions of those cards so it will bring the noise down quite a bit.

Tackle_Berry · 26 Apr 2013 at 12:07

I just have a panasonic surround sound that has optical, phono inputs and outputs. I have a 6450 in my microserver at the moment I can just use that again then.

R088ieS86 · 26 Apr 2013 at 12:33

In which case you should be able to use the optical output from the motherboard for sound, that supports 5.1.