Need some advice on a HTPC build :)

Bowser Delta

Bowser Delta

Bowser Delta

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25 Jun 2011
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Hi, am new to the forums (but not the shop, used ocuk for ages :D)

I would like to build a HTPC for myself and ive never done one before, have built full size gaming rigs but nothing like this. Ive looked through the current threads on here (which has helped massively) but im still not dead certain on the components i'll need. All its going to be used for is watching/streaming HD video via XBMC, some VirtualDub and perhaps the odd bit of web surfing all of which will be running through HDMI.

I'd like to use the Antec ISK 300-150 as my case as its the perfect size for my needs, its just everything else i'm not sure of.

At first i was planning on using this for my build:

Mobo: Zotac H67ITX-C-E Mini ITX Motherboard LGA1155
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100
with 4gb of ram and the chepest 2.5 hard drive i can lay my hands on as my media is all on external hds.

However, is this overkill? Being a student i am, well... poor. So i dont want to spend money i dont have on a build i dont need.

Would something more like the Gigabyte GA-E350N-USB3 AMD Fusion or the Asus AT3IONT-I Atom 330 be better for my needs? Or would that not be powerful enough.

Also my current HTPC (which is a full tower ATX making it far too big for what i would like) is running a Phenom II X4 9150e which I can salvage from it if need be as this build would be replacing that computer anyway. The only thing downside with the Phenom is that at the moment its cooled by a Scythe SHURIKEN Rev.B which i guess would be too big for the case i want to use.

Sorry for the novel of a post but i have a lot to ask and ANY advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks Very Much :D
 
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not that i'm an expert on this but i'd of thought if it's more or less websurfing and hd content you should be fine (fusion is a tad beefier than ion mind). however depending on what you're doing with vdub the cpu may limit ye. i had an asrock ion 330 in the past and just found it too limiting in the end. i loved the small form factor but i was unable to use photoshop and say have firefox and a music program open at the same time without slow down- couldn't hack it in the end!
If you haven't used an atom based/ion/fusion system before I'd definitely go for the safe option and spend a bit more cash. You can always pick up a mini itx mobo with the h67 chipset and get a sandybridge processor and use the onboard gpu (or whatever they call it!) on that. SHOULD be fine for hd content but look it up first! Also as I'm a student myself (albeit now going on to do me masters!) I've learned the ebay is awesome for selling ****e and turning it in to something else you'll sell in the future.

Ah and one other thing the i3-540 is socket 1156 which wont fit/work in a socket 1155 mobo- keep the h67 mobo or something similar in ye sights but opt for an i3 socket 1155 and shove it in a dinky case like the antec isk 100. BAM!

A lot of that is gibberish but make the most of it :D

*one more edit* have a look at this : ** Posting links to competitors is strictly prohibited ** it's got good reviews and if you're not multitasking too much/using any cpu intensive programs this'd be great for ye needs :) shouldn't cost more than 220 with ram and a hd. Don't forget the OS though! :)
 
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Whoops, didnt notice that i'd put the wrong one, fixed that :D

The vdub can be done on my main system if need be, thats not too big of a concern. So realistically as long as it can deal with HD content it will be fine. I am tempted to go for the sandybridge option but i'm still not sure if its worth the 100/150 quid price difference. Thanks for the advice.

I was actually looking at the ASUS E35M1-I Deluxe earlier which has made my decisions harder as that also seems pretty good.
 
hi,
I would def go sandybridge for performance, quiet, the stock fan is fine and great 1080 performance. I have just bought a G620, £ 55, that would do well, you can limit the power it will draw. The Gigabyte H67 mobo is £85. RAM is cheap anyway, Consider a tv tuner card...
 
Yup its overkill

go amd fusion, wait for llano or
if you wont to an upgrade path for future go for a AMD x2 and am3+ mobo based build, can always slip a new 4 core and 6 core processor in to it if you need extra grunt in future.

Oh you have phenom 2 already? Just use that and integrated graphics.
Then get a low profile cpu cooler? not sure if they make them that small for that case.
Or erm get slightly bigger case :P to fit bigger cpu cooler + some extra fans to keep x4 cool and quiet.
 
Thanks for all of the advice guys but i've been racking my brain for the last few days and ive decided that instead of build a new htpc im going to upgrade my main system (My Athlon X2 6400+ has served me well but i think its time for an upgrade XD) and use my old mobo cpu and ram for parts to put in a htpc and put an i7 in my main system.

This means that for my htpc i'll have:

Athlon X2 6400+
Phenom I X4 9150e (not a phenom ii, sorry bout that)
Asus Crosshair I mobo (ATX)
Acer RS780HVF (780g chipset with HD3200 Graphics) (Micro ATX)
XFX Radeon HD 4350
and 4gb of ddr2 ram (corsair xms2)

to use. So my questions are, does anyone know the smallest ATX and microATX cases i can get as this will pretty much determine which mobo i'll use unless you guys strongly advice against using one of them.

And (although its not related to this thread) Would an i7 2600k and a Gigabyte Z68X-UD3P be a good choice for my main system?

Thanks, again.
 
if its just for gaming the i5 2500k is better for gaming,
See http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/50

For Micro atx coolermaster have got some nice budget cases, elite 335,elite 430 etc.

If you decide on i5 2500k get an aftermarket cooler,its very easy to overclock running mine at 4.4ghz with very cheap(~£20) hyper 212 cpu cooler.

As far as htpc you got it pretty much built there, athlon x2+ hd4350 should do everything ya want, possibly upgrade to a hd6450 in future if needed.

Corsair 430W PSU for around £35-37
good CM case around £30-40.
Studeny copy of windows (v.cheap/free)
 
for my main system ive already got an antec 300 and a xfx 650w psu so im good on those points. Its mainly for video editing (am a film student) and using the majority of the adobe cs5.5 with some 3d modelling thrown in there too and gaming but mainly for video stuff.

for my htpc i may go with the elite 360 and use the microatx board from my acer pc, its cheap and smaller than my current case although i'll keep looking for a smaller case.

So in one go i should end up with this

HTPC
Elite 360 Case (or smaller/better if i can find one)
Acer MicroATX mobo
Athlon x2 or Phenom x4
HD 4350

MAIN
i7 2600k
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3P or maybe even the Asrock Extreme 4 or if i can get more funds an Asus P8Z68-V PRO
Antec 300
XFX Radeon HD 4870 (which i can upgrade at some point)


Not too shabby :)
 
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