Spec me a HTPC PC

scrogg11

scrogg11

scrogg11

Associate
Joined
15 Jul 2010
Posts
4
Hey chaps

I'm looking to build a PC to link with my Sony Bravia fTV or the watching of Freeview HD, Surfing the web in the comfort of my living room and recording programs to Hard Drive so i'd like at least 1TB of HD space. I'd like to be able to watch 1 channel and record from another. I'd like it to be connected either wirelessly or by ethernet to my modem. I'll be using windows vista home premium as that's what i use on my gaming PC atm and i plan on using media centre from that.
I'd also ike it to go into a nice looking small case, so probably micro ATX or Mini ITX. Most of all i'd like it to be as quiet as possible.

I'm not so bothered about watching Blue rays on it, as my PS3 works adequately for that.

My price range is between £400-£600

I'd appraciate your input in give me some decent spec's for this.

Thanks in advance.
 
Sometimes threads just get missed :(
Theres a lot to choose from seeing as you don't need a monitor or an os. Do you have any preferences as to AMD or Intel, or a specific case you like?
 
The one above sounds good to me, just build a 530 on that motherboard, using similar ram, and the price they are offereing for is very competitive if you can cope with the case being ugly ;)
 
Actually. Just been looking closer. Wouldn't be a bit noisy with the fans. Is there any way to do one without fans to keep down the noise level? My wife is particularly picky about such things. heh
 
Here's something to get you started:
build2.jpg


This build doesn't include a tv tuner. You want a decent dual digital tuner, so you can watch a program while recording another. The cheapest OcUK sells is about £90, but you can get the Hauppage WinTV Nova-TD 500 elsewhere for cheaper.
So total cost of build would be closer to £460.

If you aren't interested in playing games, you could replace the CPU, MBoard, and Graphic Card with i3 CPU & H55 mboard, for maybe a little cheaper (not much though), or drop the graphic card and get an 890 chipset mboard.

If you want to spend more than £400, there are a lot of ways to improve this build - better mboard, processor, graphic card, a second dual tuner, extra hard drive, blu-ray drive. The case is big enough to hold them, while compact enough to make a good HTPC.

Also, you want to get a silent 120mm fan for the case, and possibly an 80mm too but you may not need that.
 
Agree with the above....if your lady is particularly anti-noise, you could even use the remains of your budget (you said 600 max right?) to get yourself a Corsair H50, at 62 quid its not too much more expensive than some HSF coolers. Personally id pay 62 of my hard earned british sterling any day to keep the little woman quiet :)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-002-CS
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom