Thinking of replacing my wd live with htpc

Matt_Hirst

Matt_Hirst

Matt_Hirst

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Been thinking of replacing my wd live with htpc for a while but finally getting round to doing it.

A few questions I have though:

Case wise I am thinking of the Antec ISK300-150 looks small and compact enough so as not to upset other half. What are peoples thoughts on this?

Motherhboard, Zotac H55, currently have an Intel mitx board, intel d945gclf2, but it doesn't have HDMI out onboard.

Cpu possibly an I3 or I5 - which would you guys reccomend?

Will the psu in the Antec case support a I3 or I5 or am I aiming too high?

Think thats enough for now.

regards,

Matt
 
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Thanx for the reply.

Agree with what you have said just not sure there are many options with regard psu for the Antec case.

regards,

Matt
 
Thanks for the replies.

Ideally I would like as small a case as possible, so what options are there - smaller the better.

regards,

Matt
 
To try to highlight my thinking or what I am doing:

Current Main Pc
Q9650
Tower case
8GB Ram
3TB storage

Fileserver
intel d945gclf2
Tower Case
1GB RAM
3TB storage

WdLive connected to TV

I was thinking of replacing the WDlive with a HTPC, just so I get a bit more functionality compared with the WDLive.

Idea was to replace the WDlive with a MITX solution, although I initially bought a 1156 MATX board for this job but then decidied I don't want such a big case to be stuck under the TV hence deciding on a MITX.

So new idea is to replace the intel d945gclf2 with the MATx board and an 1156 processor, initially going for an I3 processor, then in a month or two / when funds allow get the MITX board a I5 or I7 processor and put cpu into my Fileserver - possibly convert this to my main rig - and install MITX downstairs replacing the WD. Flog the Q9650 and replace with lowend dual core to act as a file server. Using the 1156 CPUs if anything fails I can swap things out for testing.

Regarding the AMD rig can someone give me a breakdown for a MB, CPU cost as against going Intel I3 for the MITX solution - I don't know anything about AMD.

One final question if I went the AMD route could I use 4GB of the DDR2 out of my main rig?

regards,

Matt
 
I am just looking at the &&5 route, I already have 4GB RAM so this will save money short term.

Is the board to get the Zotac 9300-i-e?

Just need to work out which Socket 775 cou to use?

regards,

Matt
 
OK thanx for the heads up on the motherboard.


All I am really wanting it for is web surfing and 1080p movie watching so...

regards,

Matt
 
.:SAmSuNG:. said:
Iv got the zotac 9300-i-e and it handles 1080p no problems. I even play some old games fine with it.

If i was buying totally new now I would probably go i5 or similar but it handles everything i need fine.

You could pick up a Q6600 for like £60inc 2nd hand. I got my Q9450 for around £100inc.
Click to expand...

Having a blond moment!

Does the hdmi cable transmit the sound as well as video or are you using a sound card.

Just googled the board and see it has an optical connector!

regards,

Matt
 
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Right have now got the CPU, e8400, well it'll be on its way once the money has cleared.

Was going to go for a SSD butg everyone keeps saying wait whilst early next year for the Intel drives, I also have a spare 40gb 2.5 HDD that I could use for the mean time, so am going to wait, unless one crops up cheap on MM.

regards,

Matt
 
Anyone got an idea for a low profile, quiet, socket 775 cpu cooler? I have the one for my Q9650 that I could use but was wondering if there was one better?

regards,

Matt
 
Thanx for this I like the look of the shuriken.

Another question, the case I have can have upto 2 side fans, 1 is installed as standard - I have heard it is a bit noisy so I have replaced it with 2 Akasa amber fans.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Antec-ISK300-150-Case-Review/934/3

Specs for standard fans are:

Speed 1500 2000 2600

CFM 20 26 34

db 18 24 30

Speed 1800

CFM 25.4

db 20

Now the Antec fans come with a small square switch to control the speed of the fans and it fits snuggly in the back of the case, can these be bought seperately? If so what are they called?

Also can anyone give me a clue as to what I can use to sleeve / braid the cables to make it all look a bit tidyer in there?

regards,


Matt
 
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Whilst I agree ION is an option, brother-in-law has a system based around one, whilst it does do all I could want I just find it less responsive than a PC. Hence I am going down this route and not an ion based system.

regards,

Matt
 
Well Cpu turned up but have now got a problem.

With a cpu and mem the board powers up but there is no display to monitor! Am not sure what the problem is. Gonna try my 9650 in there to see what is going on to see if it works or not, other thought is to power the board with a differnt power suply to check if the antec is upto scratch or not.

regards,

Matt
 
Hi,

The board powers up, i.e. cpu fan spins but no visual output to screen, have just tried my enermax PSU and it does the same, power to the board but no display.

After tea am going to try cpu in my main computer and vice versa.

regards,

Matt
 
Looking like it could be the board, as I have tried CPU in my main rig and it boots ok, and my Q9650 doesn't post do anything at all in the zotac board, well other than spin the cpu fan up.

Anyone got any ideas?


regards,

Matt
 
Tried all output connectors but get nothing, tried a gcard and get nothing.

Tried the geil mem, single stick and dual also some OCZ single stick, but still nothing.

Can't do the bios update as I cannot get the board to post, tried E8400 and Q9650 - don't have any other cpu's.

regards,

Matt
 
Thanks for all your help, have started an rma.

Only thought is, could the board require the bios update? Just wondering if it goes back for testing and they test with a low end chip and it boots ok they will return it saying there isn't a problem.

regards,

Matt
 
Well still waiting for the RMA to come through - see this is what happens when you don't buy MB from overclockers UK!

Had an email from their tech support dept stating they were rather busy at the moment though.

Oh well looks like I may get this built just in time for christmas next year. Lol

regards,

Matt
 
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