Help with HTPC spec

[elster]

Well I have asked for some advice on AVforums, however with everyone else as new member asking the same questions I have largely been left to fade into the background.

As PH is the fountain of all knowledge I have come back here for some help.

I am wanting a HTPC that can also be used as a basic PC on a monitor at the same time as being used as a TV on the, well TV.

So I am wanting freeview and dvd and audio playback. Have about 5-700 DVDs that I will slowly put onto the PC. Main viewing will be as a TV though.

I have vaguely come up with this list. However I don't know what is good or not.

Motherboard- ASUS M4A78-VM 780G Socket AM2+ HDMI DVI VGA 8 Channel Audio MATX
Processor- AMD Phenom X4 9650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 2MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
HD- Samsung EcoGreen F2 1.5TB Hard Drive SATAII 32MB Cache - OEM
CPU cooler- Xilence Quad Core Socket AM2 754 939 940 CPU Cooler
Case- Antec Fusion Remote Veris Silver MATX Media Center Case - No PSU
PSU- Antec 430W Basiq Power PSU - Dual 12V Rails PCI-E and SATA Connectors
RAM- Crucial 4GB (2X2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Ballistix Memory CL4 2.0V
Drive- LiteOn iHOS104 Blu-Ray & DVD±RW DL & DVD-Ram Serial ATA Internal Black - OEM
Fan-??
TV Card- KWorld PlusTV PC160-2T Dual DVB-T PCI TV Card, Includes Low Profile Bracket and Remote

Cost - 485.54 (excluding software)


Will I need another fan for this case?

I am thinking of heading towards Windows 7 with 7mc on it. Good or any other ideas?

Anyone think something else would be better or I should change. Also what have I forgotten?

Thanks guys.

[elster]

Bump for the daytime crowd

[elster]

Anyone able to help?

[E31Shrew]

elster said:

Anyone able to help?

I would guess that the computer forum might be the better option here!

[elster]

Cheers, have reported it to see if I can get it moved.

Just thought there might be a few more Home Theatre PC users in the the home cinema section.

[Jubal]

I run Win7 MC on a much lower spec P4 3.2GHz with 3gb ram and decent silent vid card. It is fine for HD so am sure yours will be a beast. Can't comment on the fan but less is best obviously.

[Topboy]

elster said:

Well I have asked for some advice on AVforums, however with everyone else as new member asking the same questions I have largely been left to fade into the background.

As PH is the fountain of all knowledge I have come back here for some help.

I am wanting a HTPC that can also be used as a basic PC on a monitor at the same time as being used as a TV on the, well TV.

So I am wanting freeview and dvd and audio playback. Have about 5-700 DVDs that I will slowly put onto the PC. Main viewing will be as a TV though.

I have vaguely come up with this list. However I don't know what is good or not.

Motherboard- ASUS M4A78-VM 780G Socket AM2+ HDMI DVI VGA 8 Channel Audio MATX
Processor- AMD Phenom X4 9650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 2MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
HD- Samsung EcoGreen F2 1.5TB Hard Drive SATAII 32MB Cache - OEM
CPU cooler- Xilence Quad Core Socket AM2 754 939 940 CPU Cooler
Case- Antec Fusion Remote Veris Silver MATX Media Center Case - No PSU
PSU- Antec 430W Basiq Power PSU - Dual 12V Rails PCI-E and SATA Connectors
RAM- Crucial 4GB (2X2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Ballistix Memory CL4 2.0V
Drive- LiteOn iHOS104 Blu-Ray & DVD±RW DL & DVD-Ram Serial ATA Internal Black - OEM
Fan-??
TV Card- KWorld PlusTV PC160-2T Dual DVB-T PCI TV Card, Includes Low Profile Bracket and Remote

Cost - 485.54 (excluding software)


Will I need another fan for this case?

I am thinking of heading towards Windows 7 with 7mc on it. Good or any other ideas?

Anyone think something else would be better or I should change. Also what have I forgotten?

Thanks guys.

Are you going to be playing Blu-Ray movies on it and output the sound to a 5.1 surround sound amp?

[NWMark]

Jubal said:

I run Win7 MC on a much lower spec P4 3.2GHz with 3gb ram and decent silent vid card. It is fine for HD so am sure yours will be a beast. Can't comment on the fan but less is best obviously.

same here up until recently (last month) i had windows XP and then windows 7 MC running on a P4 3.0Ghz with 1 Gb of RAM, full 1920 stuff no problem with 5.1 sound too.

ATI 2600xt grapchics card which was one of the first to support on card gpu acceleration (avivo hd? i think ati call it)

Cost of PC £100 Hp machine from ebay, even came with monitor, printer etc, bargain media center

p.s. youll have no problem doing what you want with that spec by far.

Edited by NWMark on Saturday 19th September 16:57

[onlynik]

I'd be inclinded to have a larger PSU. 420W isn't that much.

[Murph7355]

Mac Mini. Job done. 500 quid. Software's about 30Euros (I use MediaCentral).

Edited to note no BluRay (download HD stuff instead?). And a TV stick will be about another 40-50Euros.

Edited by Murph7355 on Saturday 19th September 17:37

[mikeh501]

Just as another option for you.... I was going to build my own HTPC based upon the same case as yours. I ended up just buying one from http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?grou... as it was pretty much the same price - or not much more than just the components anyhow.

Another FYI, the case your looking at is pretty big. Make sure it fits into your TV/AV cabinet etc. Mine doesnt! I had my time again, i'd go for a shuttle or some other type of teeny case. my 0.02

[elster]

Jubal said:

I run Win7 MC on a much lower spec P4 3.2GHz with 3gb ram and decent silent vid card. It is fine for HD so am sure yours will be a beast. Can't comment on the fan but less is best obviously.

Superb, I will give it a bash without added fans and see how it goes. If a bit hot will bob another in.

Topboy said:

Are you going to be playing Blu-Ray movies on it and output the sound to a 5.1 surround sound amp?

I think I will eventually play blu-ray discs, but as I don't own any yet. Not yet.

Audio will just be coming out through my amp and my monitor speakers. So stereo only.

NWMark said:

same here up until recently (last month) i had windows XP and then windows 7 MC running on a P4 3.0Ghz with 1 Gb of RAM, full 1920 stuff no problem with 5.1 sound too.

ATI 2600xt grapchics card which was one of the first to support on card gpu acceleration (avivo hd? i think ati call it)

Cost of PC £100 Hp machine from ebay, even came with monitor, printer etc, bargain media center

p.s. you'll have no problem doing what you want with that spec by far.

Superb.

onlynik said:

I'd be inclinded to have a larger PSU. 420W isn't that much.

You think a 600W would be more appropriate?

Murph7355 said:

Mac Mini. Job done. 500 quid. Software's about 30Euros (I use MediaCentral).

Edited to note no BluRay (download HD stuff instead?). And a TV stick will be about another 40-50Euros.

I need to have windows on this for some of my software I use for work, as will be using as a PC as well.

mikeh501 said:

Another FYI, the case your looking at is pretty big. Make sure it fits into your TV/AV cabinet etc. Mine does'nt! I had my time again, I'd go for a shuttle or some other type of teeny case. my 0.02

Yes indeedy. I measured and had a whole 20mm clear.

Also would rather build my own, slightly cheaper and quite enjoy doing it myself.