[Solved] HTPC/Emulator

Forum Systems : Homebuilt [Solved] HTPC/Emulator

I am looking at parts to build a HTPC with budget aroudn $350-$400 with the following requirements in descending order

Run Ubuntu(10.04)
Stream/Play 1080P movies
Connect HDMI and Optic Sound Output
Run emulators for NES,SNES,N64, PS1, Gamecube, and maybe PS2, Wii

These are the parts I have picked out so far

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.763240 $193
MB: Asus P8H67-M LX
CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual Core

HDD: OCZ Vertex Series 30 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227393 $65
(Just for the OS and some rom files)

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231311 $25

Case W/ PSU: APEVIA HTPC Case with 500W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811144231 $80

some concerns:

Will the cpu be high enough to handle the emulators and the video processing if not would this take care of it?
XFX GeForce 9600 512MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150570

Is the case powers supply of good quality or should i just buy psu and case seperate?

Also if anyone knows if the motherboard is supported by linux (Ubuntu).

I really appreciate any input anyone can give.

Reply to simonb530

I'd recommend a better case/PSU. With what you intend to do a socket FM1 may be up your alley as well. It smokes the i3 on GFX output. Apex PSU's are beyond garbage, I wouldn't even use one for a range target.

Case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811164098
$40 Linkworld Black body/ Silver strip Steel 6280-01 Micro ATX Media Center (the 400W this comes with is garbage)
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371029
$45 Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W Continuous Power ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified (could save a bit more and grab the Antec Basiq 350W)
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128530
$60 GIGABYTE GA-A55M-DS2 FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) Micro ATX
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103943
$120 AMD A6-3650 Llano 2.6GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6530D (will easily play 1080p, and emulate games)
RAM: what you listed
HDD:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136590
$68 Western Digital Caviar Blue RFHWD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb (recertified)

If the vid isn't up to snuff, grab an ATi card, and hybrid X-Fire.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125378
$40 GIGABYTE GV-R645D3-512I Radeon HD 6450 512MB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile

Reply to IH8U

Here's another little setup with a tri-core processor and a discrete DDR5 video card.

AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz ($75)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103872

BIOSTAR A880G+ ($60)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813138283

G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 ($21)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231394

OCZ Vertex Plus OCZSSD2-1VTXPL60G 2.5" 60GB ($80)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227738

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 ($52)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139026

SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 ($70)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102871

That brings your total to $350.94... it leaves you enough room to pick out a cheap little $30-50 case of your preference.

Reply to toneekay

I looked into the AMD cpu and was wondering if this build would perform will

MB: ASUS M5A88-M AM3+ $104
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131758

CPU: AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz Quad Core $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103996

RAM: (Same as before) G.Skill 8GB $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231311

PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX500W $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027

Case:Silverstone HTPC Case -$60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163174

and if the video isnt good enough i was thinking

MSI GeForce GT 430 1GB 128-Bit $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127547

Total Cost w/out GPU $370
Total Cost w/GPU $430

I have an extra HDD I through in to save some money

Reply to simonb530

It should work fine, although that FX proc isn't a very good buy. Better off spending a few more bucks for:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103808
$125 AMD Phenom II X4 955
Or a bit less, and grab a low profile HSF with this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103940
$90 AMD Phenom II X4 925 Deneb
HSF: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835119151
$24 EVERCOOL HPKC-10025EA 100mm

As for a vid, an ATi card would be best, as it can hybrid X-Fire with the onboard.

Reply to IH8U

For emulation you want to look at cpu grunt.
2 cores with lots of performance.
I would be looking at the core i5 range for emulation.
Phenoms dont have the instruction set that pcsx2 requires to run games fast such as ssse3 and sse4.

Message edited by recon-uk on 11-30-2011 at 02:04:04 PM

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

The issue with the Op getting an i5 is price. The AMD is cheaper, and will run emulated games without any issues. Also the Phenoms do have SSE instructions (standard x86 instruction set). The AMD FX procs are a disgrace (especially when last gen hardware trounces em).

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/ [...] IBOX).html

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to IH8U

IH8U wrote :

phenom does not have the instructions i posted and these are critical in pcsx2 to run it at a consistent framerate.

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

http://code.google.com/p/pcsx2/issues/detail?id=544

Your CPU does indeed not support SSSE3 (just SSE3), and it does not support SSE4.1
(just SSE4a).

I think you will be fine with an i3 for emulation as it only needs 2 cores and does support those instruction sets.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by recon-uk on 11-30-2011 at 02:05:50 PM

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

recon-uk wrote :

http://code.google.com/p/pcsx2/issues/detail?id=544

Your CPU does indeed not support SSSE3 (just SSE3), and it does not support SSE4.1
(just SSE4a).

I think you will be fine with an i3 for emulation as it only needs 2 cores and does support those instruction sets.

So, Do you think my original setup adding a separate PSU would be fine?

MB: Asus P8H67-M LX
CPU: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] 9jydhcusjm $203

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231314 $44

PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027

Case:Silverstone HTPC Case -$60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163174

and if the video isnt good enough i was thinking

MSI GeForce GT 430 1GB 128-Bit $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 5crb6c04sy

Total Cost w/out GPU $352
Total Cost w/GPU $412