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Building first HTPC, opinions please

A

abhishekmukherg

Junior Member
Hi!

So I haven't built a computer in a long while (I think I remember debating between the Athlon X2's and SSD's weren't things) so I honestly have very little knowledge about what are the new good parts to get. Spent most of yesterday putting this together but I'd really appreciate any suggestions/glaring mistakes (that ram totally won't fit in that board with that cpu style).

My goal is (obviously) an HTPC. I don't have any space in my entertainment cabinet so it's going to be a tower standing next to it. I'm trying to optimize for noise levels with this build. I have a large NAS that's going to be backing it for data storage so that shouldn't be an issue.


Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl w/o window) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352020)

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130646)

Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 380W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151072)

CPU: Intel Ivy Bridge i3-3225

SSD (for noise):OCZ Agility 3 60GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227725)

RAM: G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2x4GB) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231422)

2x Nexus D12SL-12 case fans (is it worth it to switch the ones built into the R4)


And random question, what's needed for a computer to do 3D output? Will this build be able to do it?

Thanks for any help =)
 
Is the i3-3225 needed? you could get away with the i3-3220 if you don't plan on doing any gaming. Also, IMHO the Z77 board is a waste, the only difference the Z series has over the H series is the ability to overclock, however unless you buy a K series Intel CPU you can't overclock. Anything that isn't a K series has their multiplier locked.
 
Arkitekt said:
Is the i3-3225 needed? you could get away with the i3-3220 if you don't plan on doing any gaming.
Click to expand...
The choice was mainly influenced by two things: the post on anandtech about the ivy bridge processors said the extra 25 dollars was worth it. Also the sticky in this forum had suggested (though it didn't not say in so many words) that the 3225 might be capable of doing 3D while the 3220 was not.

Arkitekt said:
Also, IMHO the Z77 board is a waste, the only difference the Z series has over the H series is the ability to overclock, however unless you buy a K series Intel CPU you can't overclock. Anything that isn't a K series has their multiplier locked.
Click to expand...
You're completely right. I am getting a far too fancy motherboard. I found this one that I'm going to switch to instead: B75MA-E33 (http://www.Newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=13-130-654) from my looking, it looks like this has over the H a sata 6gbps port, which I was looking forward to for the ssd.

Thanks =)
 
Arkitekt said:
Is the i3-3225 needed? you could get away with the i3-3220 if you don't plan on doing any gaming.
Click to expand...
The choice was mainly influenced by two things: the post on anandtech about the ivy bridge processors said the extra 25 dollars was worth it. Also the sticky in this forum had suggested (though it didn't not say in so many words) that the 3225 might be capable of doing 3D while the 3220 was not.

Arkitekt said:
Also, IMHO the Z77 board is a waste, the only difference the Z series has over the H series is the ability to overclock, however unless you buy a K series Intel CPU you can't overclock. Anything that isn't a K series has their multiplier locked.
Click to expand...
You're completely right. I am getting a far too fancy motherboard. I found this one that I'm going to switch to instead: B75MA-E33 (http://www.Newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=13-130-654) from my looking, it looks like this has over the H a sata 6gbps port, which I was looking forward to for the ssd.

Thanks =)
 
Most H77 boards have 2 SATA III ports, the B75 you linked to looks like it only has one.

Take a look at this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157303

As for the CPU, both the HD 2500 iGPU's and the HD 4000 iGPU's can do 3D, so any Ivy Bridge CPU will suit your needs. If you don't plan on ever playing any games on a 10 foot interface from your HTPC, then save a few bucks and get the i3-3220.
 
Arkitekt said:
Most H77 boards have 2 SATA III ports, the B75 you linked to looks like it only has one.

Take a look at this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157303
Click to expand...
Ah ha, that is better, I agree. Motherboard was the section of the build I was most confused about because there is so much more variety. I'll take the one you're suggesting in this post, just in case I did want to add an HDD onto the build eventually. Seems like a better purchase overall anyways... (Plus, I liked ASRock in the few builds I've made in the past)

Arkitekt said:
As for the CPU, both the HD 2500 iGPU's and the HD 4000 iGPU's can do 3D, so any Ivy Bridge CPU will suit your needs. If you don't plan on ever playing any games on a 10 foot interface from your HTPC, then save a few bucks and get the i3-3220.
Click to expand...
Excellent, noted. I'll give it some more thought if both are capable of what I want then.

Thanks
 
abhishekmukherg said:
The choice was mainly influenced by two things: the post on anandtech about the ivy bridge processors said the extra 25 dollars was worth it. Also the sticky in this forum had suggested (though it didn't not say in so many words) that the 3225 might be capable of doing 3D while the 3220 was not.


You're completely right. I am getting a far too fancy motherboard. I found this one that I'm going to switch to instead: B75MA-E33 (http://www.Newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=13-130-654) from my looking, it looks like this has over the H a sata 6gbps port, which I was looking forward to for the ssd.

Thanks =)
Click to expand...

I clearly state that both do 3D in my guide.
 
Intel has a great comparison tool for comparing processors.

i3-3220 vs i3-3225

"Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology
Add a new dimension to your viewing experience. Now you can play games and watch your favorite 3D movies with Blu-ray* Stereo 3D* playback using passive or active shutter 3D glasses. InTru™ 3D Technology by Intel in association with Dreamworks delivers it all in 1080p full high-definition resolution on your TV over HDMI* 1.4."
 
ecosmartpc said:
"Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology
Add a new dimension to your viewing experience. Now you can play games and watch your favorite 3D movies with Blu-ray* Stereo 3D* playback using passive or active shutter 3D glasses. InTru™ 3D Technology by Intel in association with Dreamworks delivers it all in 1080p full high-definition resolution on your TV over HDMI* 1.4."
Click to expand...

Hmm I know a decent amount about Stereoscopic 3D, and this sounds like a bunch of worthless, press mumbo-jumbo manufactured to wow people. I'm assuming that this really just means, "Hey, we implemented HDMI 1.4a!" The HDMI 1.4a spec includes Stereoscopic 3D support, which makes this blurb from Intel fall into the "no duh" category. However, it is possible that they are stating that they have software that handles the 3D conversions necessary for transmitting a game in stereoscopic 3D. Similar conversion software from companies like TriDef and iZ3D cost money, and nVidia charges for their HDMI implementation (3DTV Play) as well.

I'm assuming that they're talking about the HDMI 1.4a implementation.
 
Last edited:
ecosmartpc said:
Yep. And by quoting the site's marketing blurb no one has to just take my word for it.
Click to expand...

Yeah. It was this part -- "Now you can play games" -- that threw me off. There were a few asterisks in there that I can't see, which might go into more detail about requiring extra software.

Although, to be honest, stereoscopic gaming over HDMI 1.4a is junk. The HDMI 1.4a spec only supports one refresh rate at 1080p and it's only 24Hz, which is not sufficient for gaming. You're stuck at 720p (50Hz or 60Hz) if you want to play games, which is what consoles do. Although, that's only for Frame Packing. You can use any other standard transmission method (side-by-side, top-bottom, checkerboard, or -- dare I say it -- anaglyph ( D: )) and those will support higher refresh rates but you'll sacrifice visual clarity as you're combining two frames into one.
 
It really is hard to sift through the marketing cruft to know if 3D really is 3D (HDMI 1.4a) or some weird post-processing thing they are claiming. That kind of stuff drives me nuts. How is Joe Six Pack supposed to know?
 
When possible and I can afford it I try to buy the latest and greatest. So the main difference is the ivy bridge with the HD4000 can use the 1600 DDR3. Does that give much advantage in the long run?

I am assuming the current i-3's can use DDR3 1600?
 
It makes a difference in benchmarks but nothing you'd see in HTPC usage. I get whatever's on sale. If 1600 is the same or cheaper than 1333 then I get that. Same for 1866 with AMD builds.
 
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