ASUS E35M1-M Based HTPC (first build)

[lifeking]

After getting some advice from the board I decided to build two PCs. One for HTPC duties and one gamer. Here is the HTPC and my first build.

Approximate Purchase Date: next week
Budget Range: $700 USD
System Usage from Most to Least Important: HTPC
Parts Not Required: All required except for big screen HDMI input TV
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, Microcenter or any reputable seller with a good deal
Country of Origin: USA
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: None
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Looking for (1) Smooth video playback including bluray, (2) Low power consumption, (3) reliability and (4) future proof (within budget)

Here is what I have. Please help me with the parts selection/compatibility.

ASUS E35M1-M PRO AMD E-350 APU (1.6GHz, Dual-Core) AMD Hudson M1 Micro ATX Motherboard/CPU Combo $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131697

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD204UI 2TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245

nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Acrylic / Steel HTPC 6000B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204037

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ... $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

IOGEAR GKM561R Black 2.4GHz Wireless HTPC Multimedia Keyboard with Laser Trackball and Scroll Wheel $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823176018

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit English 1-Pack - OEM $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1066D3N7K2/4G $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134718

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116036

SAMSUNG Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-/+R 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model SH-B123L/RSBP LightScribe Support (Retail) $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151232


Total Price: $727.91

 

[rwpritchett]

Excellent choices all around. I recently built an HTPC using your motherboard's baby brother (see link in my sig) so I can give you first hand experience with the Zacate. The only suggestion I can offer is that you is that you can get more performance with equal power consumption if you go for an i3-2100T + H67 intel build, but it will cost more too and you're already over budget.

You can also wait for Llano to be released, which will be like Zacate APU on steroids.

Are you looking to shave off some $$$ to meet your $700 budget?

Edit- also, might as well up the RAM to 1333MHz sticks. Zacate uses 1333MHz RAM just fine... I don't know why newegg details say 1066 RAM only.

 

[dan4patriots]

check this combo out $490
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.636024

then just add you accesories and you get a better deal than the E-350

 

[lifeking]

Thank you for the reply. I can live with the $30 over budget. I just wanted feedback on the components and their compatibility. This is my first build.

I will follow your advice on the ram.

Also, thank you for sharing your build details. The site is blocked at my current connection but I will check it later.

Thanks again, LK.

 

[lifeking]

Dan4 - Thanks for the advice. I will go over the combo components in detail later today. Looks like a good deal.

 

[lifeking]

Dan and RW,

Using the i3 solution. Would these components work?

Intel Core i3-2100T Sandy Bridge 2.5GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 35W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116394

ASUS P8H67-M LX (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131713

I like the idea that the i3 sips very little power. However that puts me at $120 over budget. I wonder how long it would take to make the money back on electricity. As an HTPC I plan to leave it on most of the time. It is also a faster processor, more of a real pc.

Please advice on the MB if you can please.

Thanks again for your help.

LK

 

[Wisecracker]

...

Additional Comments: Looking for (1) Smooth video playback including bluray, (2) Low power consumption, (3) reliability and (4) future proof (within budget)

...

Intel HD2000 graphics does not do 23.97fps -- only 24fps.

Am additional frame is added (every 40 seconds or so) during playback to compensate for this -- don't know if that 'judder' would be of concern for you. And not sure if the issues with Media Player Classic Home Cinema have been resolved.

I just snagged an ASRock E350M1/USB3 AMD E-350 APU (I'm hoping to get it today!) and this evening hope to load up Ubuntu, XBMC and MPC-HC. My understanding is the AMD drivers in 'Nix cover DRM with the UVD3 decode engine supporting hardware H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, Xvid, Flv, and DivX acceleration. We'll see :lol:

Also supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA bitstreaming over HDMI (and full 23.976 fps support). It won't support *3D* BluRay if that is a killer for you.

 

[dan4patriots]

that 2100T would be fine in the p8H67m-lx, remember as long as the cpu and motherboard are socket 1155 then it is fine

 

[rwpritchett]

Intel HD2000 graphics does not do 23.97fps -- only 24fps.

Actually, none of the three graphics chip makers get 23.976 fps perfectly right. Intel HD2000 is the worst with UAC enabled, but gets pretty darn close when UAC is disabled. Don't ask me how that works

Here's the breakdown (source):

■ Sandy Bridge (UAC Enabled): 24.001 fps = 0.025 fps off = extra frame every 40 seconds
■ Sandy Bridge (UAC Disabled): 23.973 fps = 0.003 fps off = extra frame every 5 min. 33 seconds
■ AMD/ATI (HD 5550): 23.978 fps = 0.002 fps off = extra frame every 8 min. 20 seconds
■ Nvidia (GT 430): 23.972 fps = 0.004 fps off = extra frame every 4 minutes 10 seconds

Extra frame = judder

AMD is the best, but SB can be acceptable.

 

[David 617]

looks great!
one thing though, check to see if Microsoft allows you to install windows on up to three machines, it'll save you $100

 

[lifeking]

Best answer selected by lifeking.