Need smallest profile mobo possible, that supports RAID i would like that as an option, and if it has onboard video is it capable of HD playback, im trying to build a low profile home theather system.
I am almost sure that a Geforce 6150 will do HD and comes on allot of MicroATX boards for AM2(AMD)...
Asus M2NPV-VM seems to have all you want....as long as you are not playing cutting edge games this board should do....just grab some low profile TV cards...maybe and antec case....and your good to go...
I will have a quick look for an intel equiv as well
ECS P4M890T-May be a good intel alternative..i can not comment on the onboard video tho....
Also if getting an AMD one try to find the EE or EESF ones as they make less heat....for Core 2 maybe a e6300 or 6400... you wont need anymore then that....
Either way they both have PCI-E(16x) so you can add a low profile video card to suit your needs...
well case isnt an issue, my friend who im helping with this project can weld his own case together, we plan on inegrating this into his home theater system, im just trying to find the right parts to fit what he wants to do, so anything is possible, but it looks like we might have to go microatx cause now hes saying he wants DVR which means he needs a TV tuner card. anything smaller, probably wont be as feature rich as we need it.
However big thanks to everyone for all your input and links to great resources.
but i solved my problem there, i was thinking about putting the same proc on a microatx board with a 1u cooler and a minor overclock to 3.33 GHZ bad idea? and i know the rpm speeds on those low profile coolers are high which = more noise.
Yeah. And a X2 3800+ EE or EE+SFF. Passive heatsink should be fine here. If you are going to OC, and that Abit board is a great OC'er, then you might want to move to active cooling. The X2 3800+ EE is only $159. 2GB of DDR2-667 or DDR2-800. A Seagate 7200.10 HDD: 320GB should be ample enough.
From my HTPC experience, I always prefer Ati X200 onboard over 6150.
And my current favourite board, for all reasons one could possibly like a uATX board, is the DFI rs482 infinity. Its a 939 board (DFI are really dragging their ass releasing products for the new am2/core2 chips), but overclocks nicely and has the x200 chipset which, again, IMHO is the best chipset for onboard graphics with TV-out in mind (hell it even has dvi-d + vga out).
Before I found this board, I did a bunch of builds with the msi version (no bios overclocking options, though good tv/out).
I've also done the a8n-vm csm and m2npn-vm, but the 6150 chipset leaves a lot to be desired in a HTPC environment (imho).
I haven't really been checking lately, but I don't know of any core2 uATX boards (atleast no 965 chipsets so far).
For HTPC cases I'm a big fan of the new antec nsk 2400. If you had the money, silverstone evolution. Both take any powersupply and look pretty spiffy. And If you really had the money, Antec Fusion....
Bad case bad case. I dont like the finish on those Antec cases... and the front is ugly. You can not hide the front devices at all. I would recomend something else as I have had experience with these cases from Antec.
Also, case is loud, easy to scratch the finish.... and...... HUGE. This case might be a bit smaller then the full ATX case of the same shape and size, but it is much larger then a standard midtower.
Okay, this is kinda pointless since the OP said he didn't need a case, but:
If your going to stand on your high horse and shoot down my case recommendation, how about wasting a few more seconds of your precious life and say, i don't know, list one of those cases that are superior to the ones I listed.
And 'you' might not like the 2400, but the 4 people I built them for still say thanks everytime I talk to them.
I will agree the 'stealth mod' to use the original dvd covers isn't my favourite, but it does work (velcro being the most professional method).
^^ Im sorry whats your point? I have worked with them and I find them to be horrible cases in every way I mentioned above. If this personal offends you then you need to chill out... relax man I didnt say you were easy to chip and loud... Breathe man ... breathe.
But anyway, if you're going to inconvenience electrons, why not do it with purpose (ie atleast list one case, but again, moot, he's building his own).
Though I will stand with the nsk. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (subjective). Quiet is as simple as putting in a real powersupply and better fans (I go all out on HTPC, esp since the
