Advice on a new HTPC
Last response: in Systems
I'm putting together a HTPC and wanted some advice. I already have another system which shares all my DVD images and music but I will be looking to change to some type of NAS next year.
Here is what I am looking at:
Case: Antec Minuet350 Piano Black Steel MicroATX Slim Case Computer Case 350W
MOBO: BIOSTAR TH61 ITX LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1501FASS 1.5TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
Optical Drive: ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BC-12B1ST
TV Tuner: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface
I would like to use the HTPC as an all-in-one receiver for all signals (cable, OTA ) and output to TV and a surround sound system.
I will be looking to run Windows Media Center in Windows 7 Home Premium x64.
Here is what I am looking at:
Case: Antec Minuet350 Piano Black Steel MicroATX Slim Case Computer Case 350W
MOBO: BIOSTAR TH61 ITX LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1501FASS 1.5TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
Optical Drive: ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BC-12B1ST
TV Tuner: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface
I would like to use the HTPC as an all-in-one receiver for all signals (cable, OTA ) and output to TV and a surround sound system.
I will be looking to run Windows Media Center in Windows 7 Home Premium x64.
More about : advice htpc
I would use a 40 or 64GB SSD as a boot disk and a 5400 or 5900RPM low-power 3.5" drive for data. Faster boot, less disk contention during recording and playback, lower power, quieter, not much more money. You don't need the fastest SSD. For something even quieter and lower power I just did one with a 1TB 2.5" data disk. Adds about $50 and has less capacity - but very cool & quiet.
If it's a budget motherboard you're after, I'd pick this one over the Biostar:
ASRock H61M/U3S3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=H61M/U3S3
Unless you're only going to watch unencrypted cable, that tuner card won't do it for watching cable. You need something that supports a cable card. Otherwise, that card works great (I have two myself and just the unencrypted basic cable service).
I also don't think you can tune both OTA and cable at the same time with that card. It has an internal splitter and only one cable input. The other coax dongle on the back is labelled "FM".
ASRock H61M/U3S3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=H61M/U3S3
Unless you're only going to watch unencrypted cable, that tuner card won't do it for watching cable. You need something that supports a cable card. Otherwise, that card works great (I have two myself and just the unencrypted basic cable service).
I also don't think you can tune both OTA and cable at the same time with that card. It has an internal splitter and only one cable input. The other coax dongle on the back is labelled "FM".
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