Please check HTPC build specs before purchase from OcUK

jmp_78 · 26 Jul 2010 at 20:17

Anyone see any major problems with the below? It's for a living room HTPC new build and will also be used for occasional gaming (discrete vid card coming later). Motherboard MUST have HDMI and S/PDIF outputs. Also trying to make sure I have some future-proofing with the 880G board. Always liked Asus boards, but this Gigabyte price seems pretty good.

AMD Athlon II X3 440 £58.99
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H £72.99
4GB Patriot Viper PC3-10666 £70.49

Cheers

infernox · 26 Jul 2010 at 20:46

seems fine for a little living room build enjoy

Cycrow · 26 Jul 2010 at 21:38

if it was me, i would go for an Atom330 ION.

the Zotac can be found for £110, so works out abit cheaper, and will handle hi-def and has built in HDMI.

IONs are pretty designed for HTPC's

is there a reason u want to future proof it with a specific board ?
it'll prolly be cheaper and easier, to jsut get a new mobo/cpu when you plan to upgrade it.

but if its just being used as a media pc, then u shouldn't need to.

some of the ION's are also passive, and use very little power, so you can also get a picopsu to make a system that makes no noise

jmp_78 · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:19

Well, my main plan is for it to playback SD and HD video (stored locally), and perhaps games in the near future. I am looking for a new video card for my main PC, so would be able to hand the 1GB HD4870 DARK KNIGHT down to the HTPC.

Cycrow - you are perhaps right about upgrading in the future with a new board and CPU to be honest, makes sense.

Any ideas as to the cheapest AM3 board with both HDMI & S/PDIF outputs? Am a bit of a sucker for Asus and Gigabyte, and probably would rather stick to those brands.

beefybarn · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:22

Why does the board have to have S/PDIF.

jmp_78 · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:25

beefybarn said:
Why does the board have to have S/PDIF.

Because I will be outputting audio to my Sony Home Cinema amp which has an Optical In. This way, I can be sure of true 5.1 surround sound. I have tested this with my current PC (dayum, it's heavy...) and it worked as I expected.

beefybarn · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:27

Problem is not all boards will output DTS and THX signals through the onboard sound, you might be better getting a dedicated sound card if you want the best quality.

Strepsils · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:33

infernox said:
seems fine for a little living room build enjoy

this

jmp_78 · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:35

beefybarn said:
Problem is not all boards will output DTS and THX signals through the onboard sound, you might be better getting a dedicated sound card if you want the best quality.

DTS and THX agreed - but Dolby 5.1? Should be fine, right?

beefybarn · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:42

All depends what you want, dvd's fine in 5.1 but i do like my DTS for my blu rays.

Cycrow · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:43

dolby 5.1 should be no problem with onboard, and if you amp doesn't do THX then it really doesn't matter anyways.

for the motherboard, i would go with this one

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-278-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1782

has onboard you can use temporarly until u get a new gpu.
its also microatx, so it can fit into the smaller HTPC cases giving you more choise

jmp_78 · 26 Jul 2010 at 22:54

Cycrow said:
dolby 5.1 should be no problem with onboard, and if you amp doesn't do THX then it really doesn't matter anyways.

for the motherboard, i would go with this one

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-278-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1782

has onboard you can use temporarly until u get a new gpu.
its also microatx, so it can fit into the smaller HTPC cases giving you more choise

Thanks - this is the one in my original post at the top. Never had Gigabyte before, but always thought I'd give 'em a go over Asus if cheaper.

Case is sorted BTW - Silverstone LC13B-E. Could therefore have ATX, but would rather MATX for space at this stage.