Mini ITX HTPC build

[uhyu]

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

 

[number13]

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

 

[shortstuff_mt]

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677CVF

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.235897.19-116-072 $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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500022

SILVERSTONE Sugo SG05-B Black SECC Steel Mini-ITX Desktop Computer Case SFX 300W 80Plus Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163149

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136317 $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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118006 $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.

 

[IH8U]

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835426022
$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-Mini-itx-Power-Supply/dp/B001KNRPFO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1249586424&sr=8-5
$70 Apex Mi-100, has a 250W PSU.

 

[uhyu]

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.

 

[IH8U]

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
$55 G.Skill DDR2 1066 2x2GB

 

[shortstuff_mt]

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.

 

[uhyu]

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

 

[uhyu]

Can you SLI with a geforce 9300?

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

 

[number13]

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

 

[uhyu]

What nvidia series can I SLI with geforce 9300

 

[Wolfshadw]

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

 

[daggs]

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324R at 54$, this cpu: AMD Athlon X2 4450B http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103264 at 75$ which leaves you about 70$ for a new case+psu combo that will fix and play fullhd without any problems.

 

[djbrad007]

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

 

[grscjo3]

Sorry to resurrect, but this thread came up when I was searching for reviews of the Winsis case. Any problems with it?