Spec me HTPC innards...

megakid · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:37

Hi all,

I've just ordered a Thermaltake DH101 HTPC case (http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/desktop/dh101/vf7001bns.asp) and already have a dual DVB-T tuner card, 500W silent PSU and a basic 160Gb SATA hard drive.

I'm now looking to fill the case with a decent cpu, mobo, ram combo to get the maximum performance for about £200-250 max.
I've already decided on a Radeon HD 2600XT due to it's onboard HD decoding and audio passthrough to HDMi so I'm looking for ideas on the cpu, mobo, ram baring in mind I want good performance with regards to decoding HD streams and transcoding etc. Gaming and other stuff doesn't matter so much.
The case is full ATX and I already have a CPU cooler ready to fit both AM2 amds and the latest intels.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Grimley · 16 Feb 2008 at 19:16

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.66GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
£104.99
£123.36 inc VAT
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
£55.99
£65.79 inc VAT
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C4 800MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT12864AA804)
£41.99
£49.34 inc VAT

megakid · 16 Feb 2008 at 23:14

so Intel is the way for this sort of machine? AMD's latest offerings via the AM2 socket still aren't up to the job, given my criteria, I take it.

badbob · 16 Feb 2008 at 23:17

X2's are fine for a HTPC, using a 4200x2 myself.

Radeon HD 2600XT due to it's onboard HD decoding and audio passthrough to HDMi

What about the 2900 Pro? Could also consider MATX with onboard, get a PCI-E later if it's needed.

decto · 16 Feb 2008 at 23:31

badbob said:
X2's are fine for a HTPC, using a 4200x2 myself.

What about the 2900 Pro? Could also consider MATX with onboard, get a PCI-E later if it's needed.

I currently have 2 servers, both AMD X2. 1 for media, one for everything else. Mainly due to a CCTV card that doesn't like sharing with the media sever.

An X2 will transcode fairly quick, sure the core 2 will be quicker but my transcoding is queued overnight so time is not an issue.

2900Pro - not recommended for HTPC.... I have one and it's audible at idle over the 5x 120mm fans and 3 drives in my main PC without mentioning the heat it produces. If you wanted a better spec card the HD 3850 or HD3870 use far less power.

TBH ... X2... I favour the lowest spec retail so X2 4200 with a Matx mobo and 2GB ram all for around £100

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+ 2.20GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail £36.99
(£43.46) £36.99
(£43.46)
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £22.99
(£27.01) £22.99
(£27.01)
Foxconn 6150M2MA-KRS2H Micro ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £29.99
(£35.24) £29.99
(£35.24)
Sub Total : £89.97
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £8.25
VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £17.19
Total : £115.41

Spend the rest on one of these

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Western Digital Caviar RE2-GP 1TB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD1000FYPS) £113.99
(£133.94) £113.99
(£133.94

You'll need it!!!

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badbob · 16 Feb 2008 at 23:33

2900Pro - not recommended for HTPC.... I have one and it's audible at idle

You can buy passive models.

Furton · 17 Feb 2008 at 00:19

I use the on-board gfx from the Abit AN-M2HD nForce 520 Micro ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard with an Athlon BE-2400 and 2GB ram, plays all HD content perfectly at 720p (not tried 1080p as it's a 32" TV), great motherboard and no need for an extra heat producing gfx card.

decto · 17 Feb 2008 at 11:25

badbob said:
You can buy passive models.

A 2900Pro is a downclocked 2900XT which is has to be in the top 5 of the loudest most power hungry cards produced. It even needs 2 PCI-E power connectors to run and even the factory 2 slots heatpipe cooler stuggles to keep the GPU below 80C in intensive use. Passive cooling is not an option.

You can buy an after market cooler but it still needs a fan and you then have the issue that 200W of heat is dumped straight into the interals of your HTPC rather than exhuasted at the rear.

I think you may be confused with a different card. The 2400's and 2600 are all good low power cards. The 3xxx series use around half the power of the 2900's for performance in the same ballpark.

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badbob · 17 Feb 2008 at 11:59

Er yeah I think got confused with the 2600Pro.

megakid · 18 Feb 2008 at 22:11

Furton said:
I use the on-board gfx from the Abit AN-M2HD nForce 520 Micro ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard with an Athlon BE-2400 and 2GB ram, plays all HD content perfectly at 720p (not tried 1080p as it's a 32" TV), great motherboard and no need for an extra heat producing gfx card.

That was my favourite until I opted for a full ATX case - I'm just debating if opting for a HTPC-targeted microATX motherboard is really worth the loss in PCI slots etc...

I'm still on the fence between AMD and Intel :\