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Mini ITX HTPC build

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uhyu   08-06-2009 at 09:58:22 AM

My build is:

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
MEMORY: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK
$133.98
CASE: Winsis Wi-02 Black SGCC / ABS Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 200W Power Supply
$40.99
DVD DRIVE: Sony Optiarc Slim Combo Black SATA Model CRX890S-10
$34.99

Tell me whats better:

#1 CPU & MOBO: Zotac IONITX-A-U Atom N330 Dual Core 90-Watt PSU WiFi ITX Intel Motherboard (9400M integrated graphic with dual core 1.6)
$189.99
or

#2 CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor
MOBO: ZOTAC GF8200-C-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard
$157.98

I know that the CPU on #2 is a lot better, but the graphics are worse than #1 that has a 9400M

This build is mainly for a HTPC, but I want to game too.

My budget is $400, but I can go a bit over

Please help, Thank you

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by uhyu on 08-06-2009 at 09:59:23 AM
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number13   08-06-2009 at 02:14:06 PM
- 0 +

on board graphics are marginal at best, if you are going to game you'll need a good card get ready to go over the budget

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Silver Home Brew badge shortstuff_mt   08-06-2009 at 08:54:55 PM
- 0 +

This is a mini-ITX build that I've been considering:

 

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116072

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 2116677CVF

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] 19-116-072 $160.98 (CPU + OS combo)

ZOTAC GF9300-D-E LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300 HDMI WiFi Mini ITX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813500022

SILVERSTONE Sugo SG05-B Black SECC Steel Mini-ITX Desktop Computer Case SFX 300W 80Plus Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163149

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.233209 $209.98 - $15.00 MIR (motherboard + case + PSU combo)

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPI-B - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209 $59.99

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136317 $84.99

 

Sony Optiarc 12.7mm Slim 8X DVD±R Burner Black E-IDE(ATAPI) Model AD-7590A-01 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118006 $49.99

Total - $565.93 - $15.00 MIR

 

I don't know if you need the OS or not. If not, the build is only slightly over the $400 budget and includes a nice CPU and the 9300 chipset which would make a great HTPC.


Message edited by shortstuff_mt on 08-06-2009 at 09:36:16 PM
Reply to shortstuff_mt
IH8U   08-06-2009 at 09:17:56 PM
- 0 +

Look for the Gelid low profile cooler for the above build. (I built something similar, and had no room to install the HSF) Make sure to get all SATA drives, as that board has no IDE or Floppy (not really needed anyway) here's the cooler:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835426022
$25 Gelid Solutions Slim Silence 775 (still works better than the stock one, and has a backplate)

*EDIT* This is the case I used: http://www.amazon.com/Apex-Mi-100- [...] 424&sr=8-5
$70 Apex Mi-100, has a 250W PSU.


Message edited by IH8U on 08-06-2009 at 09:21:29 PM
Reply to IH8U
uhyu   08-06-2009 at 09:21:42 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for all the feedback. I might consider the ZOTAC GF9300-D-E.
Shoud I go #1 or #2?
if you had to pick between those 2.

Reply to uhyu
IH8U   08-06-2009 at 09:28:59 PM
- 0 +

Neither, the Zotac GF9300-D-E is the best solution that I can see. A word of warning, Zotac boards have issues about Wake on USB. You can save a bit by getting a 500GB HDD instead of the suggested 1TB.

*EDIT* drop the OCZ 1066, it's just too expensive for my taste. If you insist on 1066 look at the G.Skill instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166
$55 G.Skill DDR2 1066 2x2GB


Message edited by IH8U on 08-06-2009 at 09:31:59 PM
Reply to IH8U
Silver Home Brew badge shortstuff_mt   08-06-2009 at 09:35:32 PM
- 0 +

The Silverstone case has quite a bit of room for a CPU cooler (78mm). The stock e5200 will easily fit.

I do have to change one component, though. I included a full height optical drive instead of the required slim drive.

Reply to shortstuff_mt
uhyu   08-06-2009 at 09:37:06 PM
- 0 +

on the case review they say it can fit a stock cooler

Reply to uhyu
uhyu   08-06-2009 at 09:46:50 PM
- 0 +

Can you SLI with a geforce 9300?

If possible, whats the best card to do that with?

Reply to uhyu
number13   08-06-2009 at 11:51:10 PM
- 0 +

the NVIDEA cards under the 9500 are not high performance, you need 9600 at least to game with, and a single card will be better for you, even a 8600 would work with most games

Reply to number13
uhyu   08-06-2009 at 11:52:55 PM
- 0 +

What nvidia series can I SLI with geforce 9300

Reply to uhyu
Wolfshadw   08-07-2009 at 12:38:01 AM
- 0 +

From what I've been able to glean using Google, only the 9800GTX/GX2, 8400GS, and 8500GT are capable of Hybrid SLI and maybe not all of those with the 9300.

-Wolf sends

------------------------------ 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
Daggs   08-07-2009 at 03:32:17 PM
- 0 +

uhyu wrote :

My build is:

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
MEMORY: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK
$133.98
CASE: Winsis Wi-02 Black SGCC / ABS Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 200W Power Supply
$40.99
DVD DRIVE: Sony Optiarc Slim Combo Black SATA Model CRX890S-10
$34.99

Tell me whats better:

#1 CPU & MOBO: Zotac IONITX-A-U Atom N330 Dual Core 90-Watt PSU WiFi ITX Intel Motherboard (9400M integrated graphic with dual core 1.6)
$189.99
or

#2 CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor
MOBO: ZOTAC GF8200-C-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard
$157.98

I know that the CPU on #2 is a lot better, but the graphics are worse than #1 that has a 9400M

This build is mainly for a HTPC, but I want to game too.

My budget is $400, but I can go a bit over

Please help, Thank you


don't go with the nvidia chipset, they are crap!
I don't think the atom will play 720p or 1080p.
are you sure that the power supply will suffice? 200W seems to low to me.
now, if you are willing to let go of the mini ITX, you can get this mb:
ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 813131324R at 54$, this cpu: AMD Athlon X2 4450B http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103264 at 75$ which leaves you about 70$ for a new case+psu combo that will fix and play fullhd without any problems.

Reply to Daggs
djbrad007   08-07-2009 at 03:44:53 PM
- 0 +

Hi,

I built my htpc with intel D945GCLF2.

It plays 720p videos no problem with coreavc under xp/vista.

Recently, I added a Sparkle 9400GT PCI to it and installed vista x64.

Plays 1080p mkv no problems with MPC HC (with dxva).

However, forget the atom to play any decent game.

You need a good amd/intel dual-core for this.

Even at 1024x768, TF2 is lagging.

Brad

Reply to djbrad007
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