HTPC Build Critique

[Quasmo]

Ok... I'm not looking for the best but I'm tying to put together a decent HTPC... I already have the following components for the system...

Intel 478 3.06 GHz and intel mobo (retail pakage from way back when)

Gig of Corsair Value ram

System Drive 250GB Western Digital

Extra Drives 2 x 320GB WD

Antec 350W true power

What I want to get to finish offf the system

Panasonic AE700 WXGA widescreen projector

NEC 3540 DVD Burner

ATI HD Wonder

Lanli PC-800 Silver case

ATI Radeon 9600

Any suggestions on the stuff I haven't bought yet would be greatly appreciated.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Nice projector :thumbsup:

Suggestions on stuff you haven't bought.... where's the sound system? 😛

 

[imported_Kensai]

:thumbsup: Get a dedicated sound card. 🙂

 

[CalvinHobbs]

yeps a dedicated sound card and some nice 5.1speakers, recently i bought a mercury 6500 and i am happy with the quality i get from it when paired with my sb live 5.1 for my htpc. just that the wires were a bit short so had to extend it. a celeron 2.4 would have suffice but with the PIV 3.06 you have more than enough man. good luck with it. also for graphic a 9200se will do, any entry level will give you a good output

 

[Tiamat]

nm you have speakers! 😛

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice projector :thumbsup:

Suggestions on stuff you haven't bought.... where's the sound system? 😛

OH SNAP forgot all about audio...
I'm gonna simply use my z680s with digital optical out from my crappy sound card.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice projector :thumbsup:

Suggestions on stuff you haven't bought.... where's the sound system? 😛

OH SNAP forgot all about audio...
I'm gonna simply use my z680s with digital optical out from my crappy sound card.

I'm disappointed, but I guess it will have to do.

 

[Quasmo]

Hey you're the ass that convinced me to buy the AE700, so now I have no money for audio. 😉 But come on... 680s are awesome. Anything louder and I'd get kicked out of school for distrbing the whole dorm. Last year I'd play another one bites the dust and I would litterally be heard through out 16 rooms. (I was in a corner room on the top floor)

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
Ok... I'm not looking for the best but I'm tying to put together a decent HTPC... I already have the following components for the system...

Intel 478 3.06 GHz and intel mobo (retail pakage from way back when)
>That will be very good for media encoding/playback, undervolt/underclock if you can to lower temps. (HTPC = heat issues)

Gig of Corsair Value ram
>Good choice! Cheap and stable RAM, 'nuff said.

System Drive 250GB Western Digital
>Good reliable main drive.

Extra Drives 2 x 320GB WD
>Talk about the terrabyte of storage 😉

Antec 350W true power
>You may need a beefier PSU with better 12V rail

What I want to get to finish offf the system

Panasonic AE700 WXGA widescreen projector
>I can only wish... 🙁

NEC 3540 DVD Burner
>Very good compatibility, good speed, good burner.

ATI HD Wonder
>HDTV, anyone? 😀

Lianli PC-800 Silver case
>Lian Li makes some nice looking non-flashy cases that cool well.

ATI Radeon 9600
>Plenty for media playback.

Any suggestions on the stuff I haven't bought yet would be greatly appreciated.

As noted above, my only suggestion is perhaps getting a better power supply with higher 12V amperage, as running 3 power-hungry hard drives may tax the Antec 350W EVEN IF TruePowers tend to be good. Run it first and see if you have any voltage sag or stability issues. If you do, you need a better 12V rated PSU. Other than that, good HTPC build!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
Hey you're the ass that convinced me to buy the AE700, so now I have no money for audio. 😉 But come on... 680s are awesome. Anything louder and I'd get kicked out of school for distrbing the whole dorm. Last year I'd play another one bites the dust and I would litterally be heard through out 16 rooms. (I was in a corner room on the top floor)

Lol ok.

I didn't get kicked out of dorm last year with my old system though 😉... I just got about ten requests to turn it down throughout the year. I never played anything loudly after quiet hours though. If you're not an @ss about it, you can be loud sometimes. I tended to do a lot of my loud listening on Friday and Saturday evenings when everyone else was out getting hammered off campus 😛.

I guess I should shut up too now that I've spent roughly three times as much money on my audio as my video.

 

[RollWave]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Quasmo
Hey you're the ass that convinced me to buy the AE700, so now I have no money for audio. 😉 But come on... 680s are awesome. Anything louder and I'd get kicked out of school for distrbing the whole dorm. Last year I'd play another one bites the dust and I would litterally be heard through out 16 rooms. (I was in a corner room on the top floor)

Lol ok.

I didn't get kicked out of dorm last year with my old system though 😉... I just got about ten requests to turn it down throughout the year. I never played anything loudly after quiet hours though. If you're not an @ss about it, you can be loud sometimes. I tended to do a lot of my loud listening on Friday and Saturday evenings when everyone else was out getting hammered off campus 😛.

I guess I should shut up too now that I've spent roughly three times as much money on my audio as my video.

Hell yes for the hole in my pocket created by my Audio hobby!