Options for HTPC

DiCe! · 8 Jun 2011 at 10:09

I currently have:
Shuttle sn27p2
AM2 6400+
2 gigs of ram
5570 1 gig

But it is so noisy, even after replacing fans, so my question is this.

"Do I get a socket 775 M-ATX mobo and a new HTPC case, as i have 2 e6700's spare at the moment, or get an acer revo, and if i where to get a revo with a budget of say £200 would the 3600 or the 3700 be better?"

Thanks for any help/advice

DiCe!

Legion · 8 Jun 2011 at 10:37

What do you want to use it for?

Media streaming/playback only? or browsing/light duty pc use also?

I don't think the technology is quite there yet personally for "off the shelf" solutions but some people rave about them.

I'd rather have the peace of mind and flexibility from my own custom builds,knowing that it "will" handle whatever I throw at it.

DiCe! · 8 Jun 2011 at 10:43

Just media playback, want it to run xbmc and look pretty really.

At the moment im running a HDMI cable from my main pc to my tv and just enabling it when needed and dragging VLC to the TV screen but its not a great solution.

At the moment im more tempted to go down the self build root as ive done it plenty of times so it wont be any extra annoyance, and as you say it WILL handel anything i want and if needed it could play pro evo

in which case, does anyone know of a good/cheap 775 M-ATX board?

Guardsmon · 8 Jun 2011 at 12:29

If you're just using it for media just get something like an AC Ryan Playon!HD or that ASUS O!Play that OcUK seem to have in stock...

I've got the AC Ryan and am very happy with it streaming from my WHS and PC. Will cost you sub £100 rather than £300+ for a HTPC

DiCe! · 8 Jun 2011 at 12:43

The asus O!Play HD2 has me interested as you can put a disk in, but the comments on OCUK seem to say that the interface is a bit parp, does anyone know if its been updated?
Ive run XBMC before with the Aeon skin and maybe i just have high hopes as that was beautiful

After a bit of reading they both seem to have issues so back to the HTPC or Revo front for sure.