Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Anyone have a HTPC guide? (proximon???)

Anyone have a HTPC guide? (proximon???)

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Anyone have a HTPC guide? (proximon???)

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Anyone link me a guide to a good HTPC components guide, like proximon's sticky at the top?

I just recently built a gaming comp a few months ago and am looking to build a HTPC. From what I've read in the forums, (and please correct me if im wrong) HTPC is basically opposite of a gaming PC...
-Low power/heat consumption
-More CPU intensive than GPU, meaning I dont care about GPU performance that much except for the connections (DVI, HDMI)
-AMD>Intel processors are generally better for HTPC
-Size, not performance matters for HDD (something like WD Green?)
-No overclocking (more heat)

here's what im hoping to do on my HTPC:
-watch .mkv files that i ripped/downloaded
-lightly browse the web
-Tivo and DVR stuff not important at all (i rarely record stuff)
-Watch DVDs for now, upgrade to blu-ray drive eventually.
-Connect it to my 1080p 46" samsung lcd tv.

Questions:
-How to choose AMD processor/Mobo for HTPC
-How much power PSU needs
-I see that everyone has a TV Tuner. If i dont want/need DVR and own a comcast cable box, do I still need one? If so, how to choose?
-Does the DTV transition affect anything?

Thanks to everyone on TH forums!

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btw, Im planning on using W7RC until retail and can slowly collect parts as good deals arise. I just need to know what to look for.

Reply to sleepychink125

choose a low power CPU and a board with a good chipset (like the 780G or 780V)
little power is needed (especially if you use the chipset if it is good enough)
you don't need a TV Tuner unless you are hooking tv service to the pc
DTV shouldn't really affect anything for you (especially without the tv tuner, though most of the recent tuner's have ATSC for over the air dtv or ClearQam for certain tv stations without encryption through cable provider)

Reply to mindless728

im making an htpc for my living room soon heres what i have planned so far:

MOBO: ASUS M3A78-EM
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4850
and im using the 780G chipsets IGP for the graphics

plus the obvious other things a computer needs

Reply to mindless728

Here are the components of my two (living room/bedroom) HTPCs:

HTPC1:
Case: NMediaPC 200BA m-ATX
Power Supply: Antec True Power Trio 450 watts (I think)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965GM-S2
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E6600
RAM: 2x1GB DDR2-533
Graphics Card: ATI HD2600Pro
TV Tuner Card: AVerMedia AVerTV PCI-E Combo
Sound Card: B-Enspire 7.1 w/ S/PDIF Optical Out
HD1: SATAII 80GB
HD2: SATAII 750GB
Optical Drive1: LG 22x SATAII DVD Burner
Optical Drive2: None
OS: Windows XP MCE 2005
Monitor1: Olevia 32" LCD HDTV
Monitor2: BenQ MP610 LCD Projector

I wanted this PC to be a bit more powerful than necessary because I do all my ripping/encoding on this system.

HTPC2:
Case: Some cheap Rosewill ATX Mid-tower
Power Supply: Cooler Master 430w
Motherboard: ASUS A8N-VM
CPU: AMD X2-3800+
RAM: 2x1GB DDR333
Graphics Card: ATI All-In-Wonder X1800XL
TV Tuner: (see above)
Sound Card: Onboard
HD1: 160GB IDE
HD2: None (media stored on HTPC1)
Optical Drive1: ASUS IDE DVD Burner
Optical Drive2: Unknown IDE CD Burner
OS: Windows XP MCE 2005
Monitor1: HANNS-G 27.5" 1920x1280
Monitor2: None

This system was just tossed together with spare parts and it's only purpose is for media playback. It used to connect wireless to my network, but streaming video from HTPC1 would often freeze as the connection bottomed out.

-Wolf sends


Message edited by Wolfshadw on 06-10-2009 at 02:47:06 AM
------------------------------ System Specs:
Gigabyte EP43-UD3L Intel Core2Quad Q8400 8 Gig RAM
NVidia Geforce 8800GTS-640/Creative X-FI Extreme Music/Dual-Boot XP-64&Server2008
Reply to Wolfshadw
- 0 +

mindless728 wrote :

im making an htpc for my living room soon heres what i have planned so far:

MOBO: ASUS M3A78-EM
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4850
and im using the 780G chipsets IGP for the graphics

plus the obvious other things a computer needs



Looks like a nice HTPC build good luck!

Reply to AKM880

A2X2 250 65W Regor (price steadily dropping w.r.t launch price hehe)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=Regor
ASRock A790GMH/128M 790GX mATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157162
WD Green 1TB
Silverstone SG-02F
OCZ ModXtreme 500 modular PSU

 

Those would be my choices if i were doing up a HTPC after release of a few new chips past week hehe


Message edited by batuchka on 06-10-2009 at 07:11:08 AM
Reply to batuchka

AKM880 wrote :

Looks like a nice HTPC build good luck!



actually i have switched out the board for this one:
M4A78-EM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131384

and cpu for this:
AMD Phenom II X2 550

im thinking underclock and undervolt the cpu (too keep heat down)

this is the whole build
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] r=15723247

Reply to mindless728
- 0 +

Nice pick, I forgot about the Athlon II's.

Reply to AKM880

why the athlon IIs instead of the 5050e or 4850e?

Reply to sleepychink125
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