Joined: Sun 08-15-2004 9:36PM Posts: 4957 Location: ~~~~\o/~~~~~
Source: Off Campus
I'll just go ahead and answer MirageX's criteria questions
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
htpc - video capture/playback
2) What's your budget?
cheap as possible
3) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc.
everything but case
4) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
case
5) Will you be overclocking?
no
6) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
plugged into TV, so I'm only really worried about supporting at least 1080p
7) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
I was trying to find something with a lot of sata ports, in the budget range, no need for dual pci-e x16 ports
I won't be setting up a massive raid array since I don't have the money or the need for much harddrive space right away. I am interested in making it as silent as possible. Also curious about any programmable lcd screens for a 5.25" bay that are decent and geared towards htpcs. I will be using an old (10+ year) gateway 2000 full tower, lots and lots of room.
Budget ⇒ Free Software & Old computer. Freevo works wonders on my +10 year old Dell Dimension 4100. You can install Freevo on Linux, Windows, Mac OS, or as a stand-alone Live CD.
_________________ "I am your worst nightmare. I have a three-line phone, and nothing at all to do with my time." --Dale Gribble
Post subject: Re: building a modest htpc/fileserver
Posted: Fri 02-19-2010 10:20PM
Drowning
Joined: Sun 08-15-2004 9:36PM Posts: 4957 Location: ~~~~\o/~~~~~
Source: Off Campus
tv tuner yes, hd depending on cost, might put that purchase off for now
by budget I really just meant not top of the line, since it obviously doesnt take much these days to playback fullhd content. There will be no gaming on this machine.
Post subject: Re: building a modest htpc/fileserver
Posted: Sun 02-21-2010 4:33PM
Lieutenant
Joined: Tue 03-31-2009 8:53PM Posts: 93
Source: Off Campus
List looks pretty good, LostBoyz
Awesome case, btw
mobo and CPU should be a good combination and will handle 1080p content
RAM looks good
GPU, excellent choice for a HTPC
PSU is something I never like to skimp on and RAIDMAX doesn't offer the most stable solutions. Also, depending on what size RAID you may potentially set up, it would be good to have a solid unit.
I bet this Corsair PSU could easily outperform that RAIDMAX, and it would put my nerves at rest of a lower quality PSU ruining my other hardware.
HDD: I'd get the F3 spinpoint An extremely fast 500gb single platter drive.
Now, as you said "you've got money".... This setup would be $80 more from the egg.
The major benefit of this setup is that it supports TrueHD/DTS.
Don't forget that the majority of HTPC software/media library stuff still has some compatibility issues with 64-bit operating systems. I'd avoid the headache and install a 32-bit OS.
Post subject: Re: building a modest htpc/fileserver
Posted: Sun 02-21-2010 6:26PM
Drowning
Joined: Sun 08-15-2004 9:36PM Posts: 4957 Location: ~~~~\o/~~~~~
Source: Off Campus
I painted the case today, I won't be ordering parts until next weekend since I am actually coming down to rolla/salem end of this week for the 100 acre wood
The PSU is what I currently have in my pc, its been solid for about a year or so now, but I will check out the other
I'll consider the i3, but if it is just overkill, I would say the $80 isn't really worth it. That and the gpu supports TrueHD
edit: actually I will probably go with this combo, seems like exactly what I want, but would the onboard be enough or should I still grab the hd5450
I was just going to get a student copy of windows 7 32bit
Only other thing I have no experience with is tv tuner cards, any input would be great on that
Post subject: Re: building a modest htpc/fileserver
Posted: Mon 02-22-2010 1:06AM
Lieutenant
Joined: Tue 03-31-2009 8:53PM Posts: 93
Source: Off Campus
New technology is confusing/different
The GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2H does not have an onboard video chipset.
However, the i3 has a built in Intel chipset that is capable of 1080p playback.
Therefore, by adding that CPU, you add gfx to the mobo.
But for any gaming, I'd imagine its limits could be quickly found.
I heard one testimony of TF2 being playable, take that with a grain of salt.
So... a HD5450 shouldn't be needed.
If you already have that PSU, might as well use it for now if the i3 hardware and 1 HDD is all that will be ran. But, a new PSU when you get around to that array would be smart.
This STICKY has a ton of info about cable cards. Unfortunately, I have zero experience with them.
Post subject: Re: building a modest htpc/fileserver
Posted: Mon 02-22-2010 5:25PM
Drowning
Joined: Sun 08-15-2004 9:36PM Posts: 4957 Location: ~~~~\o/~~~~~
Source: Off Campus
blitzvergnugen wrote:
pics of the case? I hope your SF logo is on there.
I considered it, but no it has been left out, though I do still have a couple vinyl stickers left, might be added later
MirageX, I don't already have the psu for the build, I meant my main computer has one. That and it has been fine for 4 hdds, 8800gt, and q6600 OC'd. I am not set on it though and will probably get the other psu. I think this just had too big of a deal to pass up from my last build
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