Spec me a great HTPC

[R088ieS86]

A dedicated sound card will almost always give you better results.
I'd pop a post into the sound section though. They'll be able to give you better advice on that front.

 

[Nameless_87]

After doing some more research... I got some other questions

1) What exactly does a TV Tuner card do?
2) And something about the PSU - Will the Antec Earthwatts be silent and less power hungry than the corsair CX430?

Thanks

 

[Aeromech]

Hi, 1st post and might sound silly but this is a really interesting project and I am keen to have a go myself but have only assembled stereo amplifiers from step by step instructions and wiring diagrams; so where do you get such information to link all these components up and are there assembled wire looms?

 

[Nameless_87]

Hi again,

Regarding GFX - I can get the 5450 1GB version instead of 512MB version, still with passive cooking for 10 pounds more.

Is it worth it? Or is the 512MB version enough?

Thanks

 

[Nameless_87]

Also, forgot to ask you,

After reading some reviews this PSU:

Seasonic M12II-520

Seems to be the most quiet of all and also very efficient. A plus to it is that it is modular, so it would not take much space in my Antec Fusion case.

Do you guys think it is a good choice??

Thanks

 

[edGfaCTor]

Hi again,

Regarding GFX - I can get the 5450 1GB version instead of 512MB version, still with passive cooking for 10 pounds more.

Is it worth it? Or is the 512MB version enough?

Thanks

1gb isn't needed so it's £10 that could be used towards say better fans or cpu cooler

Also, forgot to ask you,

After reading some reviews this PSU:

Seasonic M12II-520

Seems to be the most quiet of all and also very efficient. A plus to it is that it is modular, so it would not take much space in my Antec Fusion case.

Do you guys think it is a good choice??

Thanks

I do have one of those very good and quiet but 520 is a bit overkill for your setup so unless it's on offer for same price as other psu it's not worth the extra.

Did you get my reply message I sent you?

 

[Nameless_87]

yes, I did and thanks,

That's why I asked, because the OCZ is not available from them and I wanted a modular PSU which the CX430 is not, and the only one which is modular and very quiet was that one. There is a 430W version of the Seasonic modular, but they do not stock it.

Thanks for the GFX advice, I shall keep the 512Mb version.

As with the CPU cooler, I went for the Scythe Big Shuriken. I wanted the ninja mini (fanless) but they do not make them anymore.

 

[edGfaCTor]

they used to sell the 430 but its discontinued now they sold the stock off very cheap few weeks back also the corsair may not be modular but is worth getting that case you have chosen has plenty of space for cable management even so if the seasonic 520 is same price as the ocz then its worth getting over that if you must have modular only.

 

[joeyjojo]

I'll be using an Onkyo TX-SR608 amp and the Boston Acoustics XS 5.1 Surround.

So no sound card needed then? The audio will cost me like £700. So with no sound card it would work fine? Or will I get better sound from a sound card as opposed to onboard?

Onboard will suffice if using digital outputs. That amp looks very good for I/O with many ways to connect it depending on the mobo I/O.

For example, Graphics -> hdmi in to amp -> hdmi video out to tv.
Or Graphics -> hdmi to TV. AND Mobo onboard audio -> optical/coaxial -> amp.

Onboard sound for analogue out however usually sounds terrible. Low SNR and low dynamic range. Stick to digital outs exclusively.

 

[Nameless_87]

@edGfaCTor: I really ant a modular one, and NO ONE faulted the seasonic, so gonna go with it

@joeyjojo: Yes, in fact I will be doing... hdmi from GFX to AMP and HDMI from AMP to TV

Thanks