Media Centre PC Spec

chrisba

chrisba

chrisba

Associate
Joined
3 Apr 2008
Posts
13
Hello all, first poster here!

Im after some advice as to what components to buy for my new system.

Was hoping someone could recommend which parts would most suit my needs!

The main uses for the system will be:

  • General Internet Browsing
  • Playing 720/1080 HD Movie Rips - Linked to HDTV
  • Video/DVD Decoding
  • DVD Burning
  • General Media Centre (No Gaming At All)

I have a budget of about £400 MAX (would prefer £350 tbh), i dont require a monitor as i have it linked to my HDTV.

Any help or advice MUCH appreciated.

:D
 
1 would recommend an abit f190hd as it has on board audio and graphics. the audio is more than ample as it has spdif (optical out) so you can connect it to a surround amp, the on board video outputs in hdmi (full 1080p)and d sub. i am using this mobo in my own htpc and have no probs with it and picture quality in 1080p is good. get a decent size hard drive, min 250gb then you can store all your cd's on it. as for a case, antec do 2 good ones, the fusion and a more standard one. a tv card should cost no more than £50 like the compro t750. I would say this is doable for £350.
 
1 would recommend an abit f190hd
Click to expand...

Doesn't that board suffer from problems? As to OP question just basically need a 2ghz+ dual core, 2GB RAM, quiet CPU cooler, onboard video or PCI-E passive around £50/£60, MCE remote, quiet case.
 
Maybe a really stupid question, but if i was to get the above mobo, it says "socket 775" which processors can i use with it?

Its not me building the system by the way (luckily).....LOL.
 
What do you reckon to the following:

Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD ATI Micro ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard - £68.14

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.33GHz (1333FSB) - Retail - £111.61

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) - £29.36

Samsung SpinPoint T166 HD501LJ - hard drive - 500 GB - SATA-300 - £51.99

Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU - £117.49


------------------------£379.59------------------------

Any good? Would like to make it a bit cheaper if possible to factor in build costs.
 
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (ST3500320AS) Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (ST3500320AS) £53.99
(£63.44) £53.99
(£63.44)
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro-ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G Micro-ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £52.99
(£62.26) £52.99
(£62.26)
Samsung SH-S203D 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM Samsung SH-S203D 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
(£17.61) £14.99
(£17.61)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ 2.30GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ 2.30GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail £36.99
(£43.46) £36.99
(£43.46)
Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU £99.99
(£117.49) £99.99
(£117.49)
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £24.99
(£29.36) £24.99
(£29.36)

total £345.32

thats pretty much what i'm thinking for my htpc tho not quite sure bout cpu but 780G mobo is definetly one to have for htpc atm imo

if you dont need 500gb hdd you can save some £s there, dont know if you need mouse/keyboard but they pretty cheap
 
Apart from looks and the PSU is there THAT much difference between the Antec NSK 2480 and the Fusion? Is there £50 worth difference!?

*EDIT - Just been looking at some more specs and pics and im definately going for the Fusion.... computer case porn......LOL
 
Last edited:
Fusion has metal front panel, and built in VFD. Mate has a NSK2400, I wouldn't pay the extra. The NSK is silver though - yuck. If the Fusion had the same sandwich panels as the P182 probably worthwhile.

You need to add remote control.
 
badbob said:
Fusion has metal front panel, and built in VFD. Mate has a NSK2400, I wouldn't pay the extra. The NSK is silver though - yuck. If the Fusion had the same sandwich panels as the P182 probably worthwhile.

You need to add remote control.
Click to expand...

Already have a CyberLink Media Centre Remote and a Keysonic Wireless Keyboad with built in mousepad.

Really stupid question but would i be able to connect the ethernet cable for my broadband straight up to what listed above or am i missing something? :confused:
 
chrisba said:
Anyone know if it would be worth getting the 5000+ 2.60Ghz black edition cpu over the 4400+ 2.30Ghz one? Only £15 difference.
Click to expand...

For HTCP use ? Not really, the 4400 is sufficient. If you want to do other stuff then yep the 5000+ black is the value sweet spot. Bear in mind it doesn't come with a cooler unlike the 4400. So you will need to add £10 - £15 to the price to be up & running. On the other hand, you can use multiplier overclocking to shunt that cpu up to 3 gig pretty easy. It's the only kind of overclocking I've really got time for 'cause it doesn't stress the mobo & is pretty damn reliable.
 
Quixote said:
For HTCP use ? Not really, the 4400 is sufficient. If you want to do other stuff then yep the 5000+ black is the value sweet spot. Bear in mind it doesn't come with a cooler unlike the 4400. So you will need to add £10 - £15 to the price to be up & running. On the other hand, you can use multiplier overclocking to shunt that cpu up to 3 gig pretty easy. It's the only kind of overclocking I've really got time for 'cause it doesn't stress the mobo & is pretty damn reliable.
Click to expand...

I will be doing quite a lot of HD video encoding as well but no games. Might just stick with the 4400 for now, can always upgrade to a quad core at a later date.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom