Spec For Htpc/ New Rig

axs1544 · 13 Mar 2007 at 19:41

Hi all...

First post here at OcuK so here goes.

Need a bit of help will be my first build/upgrade, so please be patient with me.

I would like to use my old machine and upgrade it to a htpc with the parts from my current machine which are as follows

Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. 8I945GZME-RH
Intel P4, 3.0GHz LGA775 Processor.
Corsair 1024MB DDR2 RAM
Seagate (ST3200822AS) 200 GB SATA x 2
NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG
DVD-ROM 16X

The Htpc will mainly be used for recording tv, storage, internet and jukebox and will need dual output with dvi

Then I would also like a new Intel core2duo machine which will need over 500gb storage, sata dvd, dvi ouput. This machine will be used for internet, video editing and encoding.

Budget wise would like to spend about £600 if possible maybe more if necessary but think most of the parts in my current machine are re-useable in the htpc.

I will not need any monitor, keyboard or mouse.

Any help appreciated.

Edward01 · 13 Mar 2007 at 20:16

Ok heres a couple of suggestions, for your C2D machine i'd go with the following.

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
NEC ND3550 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Silver) - OEM £10.99
(£12.91) £10.99
(£12.91)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C5 800MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400DC) £84.99
(£99.86) £84.99
(£99.86)
Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI Freeview TV Tuner £24.99
(£29.36) £24.99
(£29.36)
Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £101.99
(£119.84) £101.99
(£119.84)
Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £69.99
(£82.24) £69.99
(£82.24)
Samsung SpinPoint P SP2504C 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM £42.99
(£50.51) £85.98
(£101.02)
Akasa AK-ZEN-01-WH Zen White Case - No PSU £25.99
(£30.54) £25.99
(£30.54)
HIS ATI Radeon X1650 Pro ICEQ Turbo 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (RX1650P-256ICEQT) £64.99
(£76.36) £64.99
(£76.36)
Sub Total : £469.91
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.95
Vat : £84.15
Total : £565.01

The graphics card isn't great but you I presumed you didn't play games as you didn't mention it, but its good enough for you to dabble, if you want more put a Sapphire x1950pro in there. You've got a bit of cash left as well so you could put it towards sound modding silencing on your htpc. Or a new heatsink fan for your C2D and overclock it.

Whack the TV card in your current rig, (has it got onboard graphics), and you've got your yourself a HTPC!

Is this the sort of thing you were thinking of? or did you have something else in mind?

PS The case is in white but thats is only cause the black is out of stock so it is place holding.

axs1544 · 13 Mar 2007 at 20:41

Ok looks ok for the C2D rig but need a case for the htpc , was thinking about this one...

Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU

Would my current motherboard fit in the fusion case done abit of checking and think it would be ok and would that psu that comes with it be ok ..?

Also would need a graphics card for the HTPC as current mobo only has onboard and no dvi out.

Edward01 · 13 Mar 2007 at 21:13

Is this your mobo

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...rd&ProductID=2304&ProductName=GA-8I945GZME-RH

If it is then yes it will fit in that case, (which is excellent by the way) is the money for that case coming out of your budget if it is you might need to revise your C2D comp. Yes that PSU in the Antec should be fine for for your current system.

As for a graphics card for your HTPC do you need dual DVI for it? if not then anything cheap will suffice. this is instance

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-027-BG&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=416

if you want dual DVI for HTPC as well you might need to spend a little more.

axs1544 · 13 Mar 2007 at 23:28

Yes that is my mobo and yes need dual dvi for htpc as well as it will be running touchscreen lcd for the jukebox and second lcd screen for video playback.

The htpc case will come out of the original budget but as mentioned dont mind paying more if needed up to a max of £800

Edward01 · 14 Mar 2007 at 00:20

ok ok quite a challenge but I think I got a spec, the problem is the dual dvi cards, there quite expensive still. I presume you wanted a tv card to go with your HTPC. ok here it is

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Liteon DVD-8900 16x DVD±RW/RAM (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£16.44) £13.99
(£16.44)
Samsung SpinPoint P SP2514N 250GB ATA-133 8MB Cache - OEM £39.99
(£46.99) £79.98
(£93.98)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C5 800MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400DC) £84.99
(£99.86) £84.99
(£99.86)
Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £101.99
(£119.84) £101.99
(£119.84)
Sapphire X1650 XT 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £79.99
(£93.99) £159.98
(£187.98)
Antec Fusion HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU £95.99
(£112.79) £95.99
(£112.79)
Abit AB9 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £64.99
(£76.36) £64.99
(£76.36)
Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI Freeview TV Tuner £24.99
(£29.36) £24.99
(£29.36)
Arctic Cooling T1 Pro Case £46.99
(£55.21) £46.99
(£55.21)
Sub Total : £673.89
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £14.95
Vat : £120.55
Total : £809.39

Ok both cases come with PSU which should be enough to power each of your systems. I've speced two of the x1650 xtx gpu one for each comp, it was the cheapest dual dvi card i could find.

So in your C2D you got E6300, Abit AB9 case, 2gb GeIL, 2 x 250gb samsung, x1650xtx, DVD RW, Artic Cooling T1

Put the Graphics card and TV card and your old bits in your Antec case and your sorted.

Hows that?

axs1544 · 14 Mar 2007 at 07:33

That sounds really good although my fault sorry .....the htpc system the lcd touchscreen has vga output not dvi so no need for the dual dvi there so could just use a cheaper graphics card just one that supports dual monitors for that one and all would be sorted ...

Thank you for all your help

squiffy · 14 Mar 2007 at 11:12

Graphics card is a little overspec, it's fan cooled too (loud)

axs1544 · 14 Mar 2007 at 16:47

So any suggestions for a quiet graphics card for the HTPC well preferably both machines......my fault for earlier mistake both need dual output , one ouput must be dvi..... thanx

Edward01 · 14 Mar 2007 at 20:12

I know that graphics card is a bit over kill but I asumed he wanted dual DVI for the HTPC and that was the cheapest I could find. If you just want dual output one DVI and one Analoge then the world is your oyster, theres tons of them about.

axs1544 · 14 Mar 2007 at 21:31

Hi Edward01 dont worry graphics card issue was my fault didnt explain properly....sorry

Anyway what type of fan will I need for the CPU in the new machine..?

Edward01 · 15 Mar 2007 at 02:29

Which one you talking about? the HTPC or the C2D? The stock fans on either will be fine but it depends what you want to do with them. if you want quite for the HTPC you want the sycthic nija (sorry spelt wrong but you can problem find it from thT) if you want to overclock the C2D theres loads, the zalman, themaltek, nija, atric etc.