HTPC for 2010

[tcoker79]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2-4 wks BUDGET RANGE: $800-$1200 Before Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: HTPC (Streaning mostly some dvd ripping and video encoding)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, ncix.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: intel CPU preferred

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Samsung 46" 1080p

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Looking for best combo of fast, quite and low energy, would also like hdmi port with atleast 5.1 HD audio

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Include a list of any parts you have already selected with descriptively labeled links for parts.

Already have a 8x Bluray drive, Windows 7 Ultimate

Plan to use Antec Black Fusion case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129054

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU: Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale 3.33GHz $204.99
Mobo: ASUS P7H55D-M EVO $134.99
GPU: Integrated $0
RAM: G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB $119.99
HDD: Western Digital AV-GP WD10EVDS 1TB $89.99
Case: Antec Black Fusion Remote $129.95
PSU: OCZ Z-Series OCZZ550 550W 80 Plus Silver Certified $99.99
Tuner: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Dual TV Tuner $109.99

**UPDATED**

 

[MadAdmiral]

CPU: i3-540 $145
Mobo: ASUS P7H55-M PRO $110
RAM: G.Skill Eco 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $120
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB $90
Case: $130. You'd have more board options with an ATX case...
PSU: SeaSonic X650 Gold 650W $160. Expensive, way too much power for your needs, but quite possibly the most efficient.
GPU: HD 5770 $155

Total: $910. This is a true HTPC build. To be better for encoding, drop in an i5-750 ($200) or an i7-860 ($280).

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You could go with the above build, but I don't see gaming mentioned anywhere. The new H55 chipset boards have integrated graphics that can easily handle 1080P Blu-ray content. A combo like this would work just fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.320157 $201.98 (Intel Core i3-530 + Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H combo)

A quality 400W PSU would easily power the system without a separate GPU.

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail $54.99 - $10 MIR

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3704&p=3

 

[MadAdmiral]

To be honest, I totally forgot about the integrated grapics...

I still think you should stick with the Seasonic. The reason I choose it (despite the massive wattage overkill) is that it's nearly 90% efficient. That's a lot less heat and a lot less noise.

Another option that's very efficient: OCZ Z-Series OCZZ550 550W 80 Plus Silver Certified. It's $80 after rebate, and at least 85% efficient at any load (the Seasonic is 87% and the Corsair is 80%). Really, any of these would be excellent units.

EDIT: Another option that's in between the Corsair and OCZ as far as efficienty: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W 80 Plus Bronze Certified for $55.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

I don't think the i3-540 is worth the $45 premium over the i3-530 from MicroCenter @ http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0325943. For that price I'd go i5-650 @ http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0325942 even with Newegg's bundle pricing, especially on the i5-650.

 

[tcoker79]

CPU: i3-540 $145
Mobo: ASUS P7H55-M PRO $110
RAM: G.Skill Eco 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 $120
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB $90
Case: $130. You'd have more board options with an ATX case...
PSU: SeaSonic X650 Gold 650W $160. Expensive, way too much power for your needs, but quite possibly the most efficient.
GPU: HD 5770 $155

Total: $910. This is a true HTPC build. To be better for encoding, drop in an i5-750 ($200) or an i7-860 ($280).

What kinda of case would you recomend and does that change your motherboard choice?

 

[MadAdmiral]

I used the one you linked to. I prefer to use ATX cases, as the options for the motherboard are better, but there aren't many HTPC cases that are regular size.

 

[tcoker79]

Yea, that's why I was wondering if you had any in mind. Thanks for all the great replies.

 

[MadAdmiral]

I've got an HTPC as my main computer right now, but I really hated the HTPC cases, so to be honest, I'm probably not the best judge for your needs. I would at least look at the regular cases.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The motherboard in the combo I linked to above is a micro-ATX board, so you could go with your original Antec Black Fusion case. The Fusion cases are very nice and have great cooling due to the two 120mm fans that blow across the motherboard.

 

[tcoker79]

After some more research and everyones responses this what i am currently looking at

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 $199.99
Mobo: Intel BOXDP55WB $99.99
GPU: HD 5770 $155
RAM: OCZ PC3-10666 Platinum RAM - 4GB $84.99 after $20 rebate
HDD: Western Digital AV-GP WD10EVDS 1TB $89.99
Case: Antec Black Fusion Remote $129.95
PSU: OCZ Z-Series OCZZ550 550W 80 Plus Silver Certified $99.99
Tuner: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Dual TV Tuner $109.99

I decided on the mobo because I preferred the two PCI-X slots compared to the PCI slots on the two other boards. I'd really like to have two of the tuner cards but seems all the 5770 graphic cards are going to cover up one of the PCI-X slots. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[MadAdmiral]

You might want to make the links clickable by either putting [ url= link ] name [ /url ] (no spaces around the brackets) or just leaving the link by itself...

HDD: You really want to switch that for the Samsung Spinpoint F3. It's cheaper (or the same price) and pretty much better any way you measure it.

Other than that, it's good.

 

[tcoker79]

Thanks! Do they not make a passive cooled VC so I won't lose the PCI-X slot?

 

[MadAdmiral]

They do, but only in the lowest price range. Chances are that the passive heatsink will also take up the extra slot. And I wouldn't stick on in a tiny HTPC case. HTPC cases aren't exactly known for having a lot of airflow.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

If this is strictly for a HTPC there is absolutely no need for the 5770. If you're looking for a decent HTPC GPU with a single slot cooler, here you go:

XFX HD-567X-YNFC Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail $99.99

By the way, the Antec Fusion case has plenty of cooling if you do want to go with a passively cooled GPU.

Here's a passively cooled 4670 HTPC GPU:

HIS H467PS1GH Radeon HD 4670 iSilence4 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $104.99

 

[tcoker79]

Thanks for the info! I was trying to stick with the 5770 for the dts, true hd support via hdmi. Would the other cards do this as well?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The 5670 also will do dts, true HD support via HDMI.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5670,2533-2.html

"Moreover, you get some of the extras covered in previous Radeon HD 5000-series introductions: DirectX 11, Eyefinity, and bitstreaming Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats."

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3720

It's not a gaming card, but it's the cheapest card that will do what you want it to do.

 

[MadAdmiral]

Agree with shortstuff. It's not very hard to get a GPU that supports true HD...

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I believe he's talking about audio here, not HD video. That's why I quoted the above about the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats.

I think the 5670 would be great for this build. The XFX card linked above has a single slot cooler, so you could go back to an Asus or Gigabyte board. I would avoid Intel motherboards. Have a look at the pictures of the board and then compare it to an Asus or Gigabyte board. Asus and Gigabyte use much higher quality components.

 

[tcoker79]

Yea, sorry. I was talking about the HD audio Doilby TrueHD and DTS-HD not the video. I think you have me sold on the 5670 now I'll have to look back the other mobos.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

If you don't want to use any slots for a video card but still want Dolby TrueHD/DTS-MA how about something like the Core i5 Clarkdale/H55 motherboard combo?

Sounds like these chips can be easily overclocked for times when you want the encoding power but otherwise are pretty cool running/low powered for when you're just streaming/watching HD video.

Something like this (unless, again, you live near a MicroCenter and can pickup one of their i5-650 specials): http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.323341

[Edit] I see this is something like what you'd originally decided. What made you change your mind? Did you decide you want some gaming too? Otherwise, for an HTPC i5-750/HD 5770 seems overkill to me anyway and a lot more expensive for what you say you want to do.

 

[tcoker79]

I had originally considered that but a local tech said the H55 chipset was flakky at best right now. so I steered clear of them.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

I think if you read enough forums you'll find it's all really flaky unfortunately. I read about as many nightmares getting TrueHD/MA for both the HD5xxx solution as the Core i3/i5/H55 solution.

If I were doing a brand new build today there's no doubt in my mind though I'd go the core i5/H55 route. I am in the boat where I'll be trying to stick a HIS 5670 into my 780G based rig. I am sure it will be no walk in the park -- maybe not even a swim, bike and run in the park.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I think that the original idea of the i3 with a H55 board work would great for this build. I don't know who this "local tech" is, but it doesn't sound like he really knows what he's talking about. I would read some of the online reviews by knowledgeable people before writing it off as a possibility. The integrated GPU on the H55 boards is perfect for a cheap HTPC and does allow Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD over HDMI.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3704&p=3

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3724

 

[Dougie Fresh]

Couple of good threads here though not for the faint of heart

ATI 5xxx thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1179134

Clarkdale thread
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1172451