HTPC Advice

[qp]

No turning back now since I've already got some of the parts in my hands. I'm building an HTPC and would appreciate some advice.

Here's what I have so far:
-Antec NSK2400 Case
-WinTV-HVR 1600

Here's what I'm pretty sure I'll get:
-X2 3600+ Brisbane
-Silver Optical Drive

Here's what I need advice on:
Motherboard
RAM

For the motherboard, I've been thinking about getting a board with pretty competent onboard video with HDMI support like a 690G or 7050. This way I can save some money on video up front and run with it for a while, and can always add a discrete video card down the road. Should I do this, or would it be better to get a more basic mobo + a video card right now?

As for the CPU, is the retail boxed 3600+ worth the $9 extra to get the HSF or should I be upgrading the HSF either way and should just get the OEM chip? If the latter, advice on a good, quiet HSF would be great.

For RAM, I'm just looking for the cheapest 2GB kit that will suit my needs.

I really appreciate any input! Thanks.

 

[zig3695]

i like onboard video for HTPC's. because there is no way to easily schedule a pc to wake up everyday at a certain time, i have found that i pretty much have to leave my htpc on all the time- so you must keep telling yourself "low power" when you buy parts. im trying to work out some WOL with my clarkconnect box, and maybe schedule wakeups that way, but for now i can only have it shutdown automatically via windows task scheduler, and thats not really useful (i always forget to turn it on before it needs to record something).

you can save a good deal of money over the course of a year if you run low-power gear in your htpc. my main desktop pc, a dual core x2 machine runs 180w idle, not ideal for leaving on all the time (but i do anyway). my htpc is more like 100w idle, and thats what you should shoot for if possible, then that power consumption can be offset by using cfl bulbs throughout your house. of course, you might not be worried about the bills (i spend around $35 a month to keep 3 pc's on 24/7. thats why im looking into WOL, as i should be easily able to cut that cost in half)




ps- the holy grail would be if MSN TV guide listings could send WOL packets to your PC, that way the htpc could remain off while there are no recordings scheduled, and say 1/2 hour before one comes up, the MSN TV website would trigger the WOL for your htpc. then, once done recording it would go back to hibernate. if we had that kind of functionality, we wouldnt have a reason to worry about power consumption so much for our HTPC's

 

[qp]

Thanks, I appreciate your input! Power consumption has been a concern of mine through this and I've been looking at components with low power consumption. I probably will stick with my plan of getting a good motherboard with integrated video with HDMI and going from there. Now I'm just debating between 690G or the Nvidia 7050. These are the two boards I'm looking at:

690G:
MSI K9AGM2-FIH


7050:
BIOSTAR TF7050-M2 (the only available 7050 chipset I've found)


I like the MSI for the fact that it has built in firewire.

I like the BIOSTAR for the fact that it has 4 slots for RAM as opposed to 2.

Both of these points are essentially moot when compared with graphics quality though, so I'm wondering if one GPU has an edge over the other. I will certainly go with the one that will provide me better quality graphics, but otherwise I think the integrated firewire will sell me on the MSI.

 

[jpeyton]

Go Biostar for the mobo.

Samsung's optical drives are quieter, as are their hard drives.

RAM: any Value RAM will do.

 

[zig3695]

i agree with all that. get corsair valueram and be done with it though, there are still some valueram's out there that are crap.

as far as the hauppauge 1600 goes, you might want to get a card with a QAM tuner instead. i LOVE my ati 650, but i do wish i could at least try QAM on my setup. i only get 4 channels OTA, but with QAM im supposed to get two more local's. still though, a lot of times QAM doesnt even work for people, so if you already got that 1600 im sure it will be fine.

i have heard good things about the fusion HDTV's found here- http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/eng/Products/ATSC5Gold.aspx

get the gold version though, it has a newer chipset then the lite version does. they also make a usb flavor i hear is good too.

 

[qp]

Thanks guys. What reasons for the biostar?

I have heard good things about Samsung drives as far as noise, but the Sony is silver! I've never painted a bezel before, can it be done? I guess I could just live with black.

I already have the Hauppauge 1600 and it now has QAM support. I got one of the models that can do it, and I got a good deal on the card, so I'm keeping it.

 

[qp]

Every time I look for a deal on RAM I keep falling back on this one:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...p?ProductCode=85016-16

I'm half tempted to try my luck on this one though because it's just so cheap:
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5259527

The PQI has pretty bad reviews though, and I dunno if the potential hassle is worth paying half the price.

Thoughts?

 

[zig3695]

Originally posted by: qp
Thanks guys. What reasons for the biostar?

I have heard good things about Samsung drives as far as noise, but the Sony is silver! I've never painted a bezel before, can it be done? I guess I could just live with black.

I already have the Hauppauge 1600 and it now has QAM support. I got one of the models that can do it, and I got a good deal on the card, so I'm keeping it.

any way for me to find a similar card then? i would love to have that card if it did qam

 

[qp]

Originally posted by: zig3695
any way for me to find a similar card then? i would love to have that card if it did qam

Yeah, just get an HVR-1600 and make sure it is product code 74021 or 74041. This is easy if you buy it at a B&M because you can check the label on the card in the picture on the box for the product code. If you order one online I suppose there's a chance you could get the older model.

Here's the product link with more info:
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages...ucts/data_hvr1600.html