My first HTPC spec - Comments Please

foofaroo

foofaroo

foofaroo

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Joined
16 Oct 2010
Posts
3
Hi

Since our topfield PVR has broken I've decided to make the leap into HTPCs.

What I want it to be capable of:

Watching/recording tv
Watching DVD/Blu-ray at 1080p (maybe backing up discs)
Streaming iPlayer/4od etc
Internet
Not games

Priorities
1st Achieving the above quickly and smoothly
2nd Costing between £500 and £600
3rd Quiet
4th Size

I appreciate with a fixed budget I'm unlikely to achieve all the above but they are my priorities in order.

My attempt at a spec

Case: Silverstone LC17B £70
PSU: Any suggestions?
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Intel G31 Express 775 Motherboard £35
Graphics Card: Asus HD 5450 1GB GDDR3 DVI VGA HDMI Out Low Profile PCI-E Graphics Card £55
Processor: Intel E5300 Pentium DC S775 2MB 2.6GHz £54
RAM: Kingston 2 x 2gb £58
HDD: I have a 1tb Western Digital Caviar Green which I had installed in the Topfield
TV Card: Hauppauge WinTV Nova-TD 500 £60 (Would add another card for Freeview HD when that comes)
Blu-ray: LG 10xBD £85
Software: Windows 7 64bit Home Premium £70
Keyboard: Keysonic £30

Total £520ish without PSU

Would be equally happy with an AMD build.

I don't have an amp so sound through the telly is a must (for now).

Your advice is desperately needed.

Many thanks

Nick
 
Im in the middle of building one with the Silverstone LC17B. Impressed with the case but if your spending that much id go for a better case to be honest.

Mine is for gaming aswell so id be going for different spec so cant really advise you properly on anything else.

If you have any questions on the case just ask and ill help you out
 
The load wont be too much with that build so any 500w PSU would be plenty in my opinion, the power calculators dotted around the web are useful but not 100% accurate on most cases.
As for PSU brand, I guess it comes down to personal experience. My last two PSU's have been Corsair. Only based on the fact the first was reliable, cool and quiet. I'm not sure if there are quieter ones for the same price bracket, maybe further replies will suggest so but I cant ever hear mine.

All in, the build looks good and will do a lot for you!
 
@Trance would do you see as the problems with the case?

@Boff_in I have had a look for an appropriate PSU and come up with this - Akasa PaxPower 500W Ultra Quiet Power Supply

I've had a go at an AMD build. How do you guys think it compares?

ASUS M4A88TD-M EVO/USB3
AMD Athlon II X3 400e
Kingston 2 x 2gb
Silverstone LC17B
PSU - as above
Windows 7 Home premium
Hauppauge WinTV Nova-TD 500
LG 10xBD

Thanks guys
 
Hi

Im not saying theres anything wrong with it im just saying that your willing to spend a bit more and thats what id spend more on. Its a solid case with lots of cooling. Looks the part but if your willing to spend anopther 50 odd quid youll get a much more stylish one

I probably shouldnt have said get a different case as it gives the silverstone a bad impression im just saying that personally id go for a case over £100 at least if i had the budget that you have. Even go for that AMD system and get a fancy lian li case, or go for a case and power supply deal

Ive seen the ANTEC Fusion with remote around for about £130. Thats what id go for instead

Also if your setting up a HTPC make sure you check out XBMC. Thats what im running
 
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Onboard graphics with amd cpu is why I went that route for mine. Most mboards have hdmi out and they are more than capable with any dualcore cpu over 2.5ghz.
 
Not seen that case before?! That is very sleek, good find! I like the hide-away panel for the front i/o's, something i wish mine had! Good luck getting it sourced if that is the one you choose.
 
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