Advice for Gaming/HTPC Final Spec, few last questions

[treiz]

Hi all. This will be my second build, the last one was a high end video editor. This time round I'm looking to replace my ps3 with a gaming/ bluray playing media storage htpc. I'd like this one to be an upgradeable long term unit. I've got around $1000-1500 to play with.

I already have an ATX mid-tower case picked out, Lian Li FTW, and I have 6gb of OCZ DDR3 laying around.

My biggest question is what kind of Graphics card to look at. My surround system has HDMI so I'd like the audio/video out through the same cable. I presume that isn't a problem for decent new cards. I prefer Nvidia, though I'm not married to them. Any suggestions would be helpful. I'd like to be playing Battlefield 2 and the new CoD coming out at the end of the year.

Also any suggestions for a good wireless keyboard and mouse would be appreciated, I'm not sold on the remotes yet unless you guys think they are worth it.

 

[rwpritchett]

For HTPC, you'll want to go AMD/ATI for the video card because the HD5xxx series of cards can bitstream the HD audio found on blu-ray disks.

For keyboards, what's your budget?

Some suggestions:

Less expensive (what I use):

Moneual MK700 $30

Median cost:

Enermax Aurora Micro $80

Expensive:

Logitech Dinovo Mini $120-150

 

[treiz]

Ok, I was reading up on the latest Nvidia 470s and I saw that the audio wasn't suported. I wonder if they will fix that in a firmware update? In any event it looks like I should go with a 5850?

How's this spec:

Lian Li $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112251

Asus P6T + i930 $500 (or should I get the Deluxe V2?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.369317

Sapphire HD 5850 $390
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102889

Cooler Master 750W + WD 1.5Tb Green $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.404037

WD 64Gb SSD $130 (or the 128Gb for $250?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250001

LG BDR $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136183

Linksys PCI Wireless N $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124342&cm_re=dual_band_wireless_adapter-_-33-124-342-_-Product

OCZ 6Gb Gold 1333 (Already Have)

Win7 Home $100

Logitech diNovo $120???
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126039

Looks to be a bit over budget, but I might be able to swing it.

I'm still not sure about the keyboard. Mostly I just want something that is rechargeable so I don't have to worry about batteries. Not sure about Bluetooth vs 2.4Ghz performance. I think I'd rather get a mouse and keyboard combo. Any suggestions?

 

[Chuckles_]

I would personally opt for the Asus P6X58D-E board over any of the P6T boards. The P6X58D-E is basically the next board in the P6T evolution.

 

[treiz]

Thanks for the tip, it's only three bucks more and has better ports.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.378938

What about the vid card? Is the extra gig & Toxic edition worth the extra $90? or should I be looking at a 5870 for long term?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102884

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102889

 

[Chuckles_]

I don't think the Toxic edition is worth it. I would get the 5870 if you can afford it. If you need to stretch the dollar, 5850 is great, and can be OCed to 5870 levels.

 

[rwpritchett]

You can also save $22 if you purchase a Windows license from here.

You would also have to download a Win7 iso for free from here.

 

[treiz]

I like Asus, never had a sapphire card, what do you think about these two?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121374

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102883

 

[treiz]

New combo deals are out so I reformulated and I think this is a good final spec. What do you think.

Thermaltake Case/850W PSU $180

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133175

i930 $290

Combo ASUS P6X58D-E/5870 $644

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.415981

OCZ Reaper 6Gb $210 (Decided to get new RAM)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227415

WD 64Gb SSD $129

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250001

WD Cav BLK 1Tb $90

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

WD Cav Green 2Tb $140

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136514

LG Bluray $95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136183

Linksys Dual Band WifiN $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124389

Win7 $80

http://store.elecsurf.com/win7h.html

Nifty keyboard $25

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823159005

Logitec Mouse $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104321

It's a bit over budget ($1960) but I'm returning a $350 PS3 to offset the overage. What do you think?

 

[cmcghee358]

I use http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823166079 for my HTPC keyboard, good range and the trackball key layout is perfect imo

 

[treiz]

interesting, my concern is that I have A LOT of Wifi stuff and cell phones in the house.

I would spring for a Bluetooth model, but I'm still not sure if Bluetooth is less prone to interference from Wifi and cell phones.

Adesso BT Keyboard $95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823166100

Will go with this Verbatim BT Mouse instead of the Logitec $38

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826636004

I wonder if the receiver for the Adesso will also work for the mouse too????

 

[Jacks_85]

i don't know what you guys think...but i would get an intel SSD instead of WD SSD, as i only really trust Intel SSD x25m and maybe OCZ vertex.

but i would remove the 2T and use that money to change your SSD and when you do need that extra storage then i would go get another 1TB

 

[cmcghee358]

I concur on Intel. Intel literally leads the industry in SSDs especially with native TRIM support.

 

[treiz]

I have an OCZ Vertex in my workstation. I recently had to format it to upgrade it to trim support >.<b I've never had a problem with it other than the first one dieing after a month. Got the RMA done PDQ and no problems after almost a year.

I haven't seen any negative reviews of the WD and you can't argue with the price and it's specs are on par with the Vertex, I'll look into it more I guess. As for the 2TB I'll probably hold on that for a little while.

 

[cmcghee358]

Also as far as the 2.4 GHz keyboard. It most certainly can get interference from cordless phones, as well as cause interference with Wifi at the same frequency. I belive Wifi can be adjust into the 5.0+ GHz range

 

[treiz]

>.<b I dunno what the problem is with Newegg, I checked the price on the 930 the other day and it was $280, it has jumped twice in the last two days, it's now $295. Think I'll just go with the 920.

...and it has a good deal with a better case/psu!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.410574

 

[Jacks_85]

take a look at the intel x25m ssd...i looked at many reviews and seems to be all good but price is higher

both me and a friend been using it for a little while and no problem.

 

[treiz]

yeah, it's a hundred bucks more, a little more memory but not a huge bump in speed. I'm just going to use it as a boot drive anyway. For $20 more I can get the next WD up with 3x the memory and similar speeds.

 

[cmcghee358]

If all you're using it for is a boot drive, you dont need more than 40-64GB which yours is, heh nevermind

 

[treiz]

I want to quickly double check something. I have an xbox 360 with an ethernet wireless adapter. I'd like the use the same adapter for the HTPC instead of buying another or a USB one. Would it be better to buy a switch, or go with the separate adapter? What about PCI adapters vs USB ones?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other than that I think this will be my final spec, will buy at the end of the day so let me know if you see a problem or have info on the wifi adapter question.

Combo i920+OCZ Reaper 6Gb $470

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.417549

Combo ASUS P6X58D-E/5870 $625 -$20MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.415981

Cooler Master 690 II Adv $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216

WD 64Gb SSD $129

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250001

WD Cav BLK 1Tb $90

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Combo Corsair 750TX+WD Cav Blk 640Gb $155 -$20MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.413551

LG Bluray $95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136183

Win7 $80

http://store.elecsurf.com/win7h.html

Adesso BT Keyboard $95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823166100

Verbatim BT Mouse $40

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826636004

Total+Ship $1855

 

[treiz]

Well, newegg screwed around with the prices again, so I reformulated. Got the 930 instead of the 920, got an OCZ 60Gb instead of the WD 64Gb SSD, Got an ASUS BDR instead of the LG, and I dropped the BT keyboard/Mouse in favor of a Microsoft 7000 set.

Wish me luck and thanks to all who helped!

 

[treiz]

Best answer selected by treiz.