HTPC Build - Need Help

[mrphones]

Been awhile since I've built a PC from parts.

Need an HTPC that can both play games and watch movies, surf the net..blah..blah..

Not concerned about price really..

Was looking at using this case - Antec New Solution NSK1380 - desktop - micro ATX

Can anyone help me fill in the blanks with the MB, video card and memory? I have an i7-930 CPU and a 160GB Intel SSD, I want use. 350w PS in that case, is enough?

Thanks for the help...

 

[Sp12]

i7-930 does not an HTPC make. Nor does a 350w power supply make a decent gaming rig.

 

[mrphones]

Ok, so scratch the 930, give me the parts needed. I can skip the whole gaming part.. More for watching movies..

Thanks..

 

[Sp12]

Watching movies?

Is it in the same room as you? How will it be connected to your monitor/receiver/speakers?

This thread is very relevant (not so much OP's first post, but the responses).

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2098610

 

[mrphones]

Sorry.. I should elaborate more.

It will be connected to a 52" Sharp Aquos LED HDTV. I would prefer to attach it directly to the TV, my current receiver has no open HDMI ports. I hope though I can output the sound from the HTPC to my receiver, as the speakers on the TV have been disabled.

The HTPC will connect and live in the same area as the TV, but I would like to have wireless N connectivity to my server in another part of the house.

 

[Sp12]

Does it need a blu-ray reader?

GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H
SeaSonic X series SS-400FL (You could probably get by with the 350, but this is fanless and super-high quality)
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB
G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB
AMD athlon X4 635 (Probably overkill for just movies)
Potential blu-ray reader

Case+fans+CPU cooler.

 

[mrphones]

Blu-ray would be fine.

What about video card?

And how about an Intel platform?

 

[Sp12]

The AMD board I listed has an HDMI integrated, so a vidcard isn't' really needed.

Intel platform would match, but would have an i3-530 and one of these mobos.

 

[jacktesterson]

On my rig I have tested out the Onboard ATI 3200 and played 1080p content/blu rays with no hickups at all, and only using about 25 % on my CPU... and its a 5000+


With the 4670, its around 18-20 % CPU usage.

 

[Rifter]

Wireless is going to give you trouble if you are going to try and stream 1080P HD content. Agree that a AMD Athlon II or Intel i3 will be more than enough for HTPC use but if its going to be a game rig as well i would probably go with a i5, with a 460.

 

[mfenn]

The AMD board I listed has an HDMI integrated, so a vidcard isn't' really needed.

Intel platform would match, but would have an i3-530 and one of these mobos.

Yep! Fanless PSU + IGP + low-profile HSF = One damn quiet and unobtrusive HTPC

 

[imported_Freeco]

I can copy paste my answer directly from another forum

Suggestion of what I have in mind:
* Case: Silverstone Grandia GD04
Has some advantages over my original choice (Antec): stealthed ODD, so activity led is hidden; free choice of PSU; case is less deep and bit higher. Disadvantage is the limited heigth of HSF when mounting an ODD : <70mm
Original choice was: Antec NSK 2480 Not expensive, comes with a decent 80+ 380W PSU, looks good (simple).
* PSU: Nexus Value 430
Only if I stick to the Silverstone case. This PSU is modular and should be very quiet. 430W is more than needed for this setup.
* Motherboard: MSI H55M-E33
Seems enough for what I need: 4 memory slots, HDMI out (with right CPU), onboard LAN/audio, 3x PCIe & 1 PCI. It's also the cheapest I can get.
* CPU: Intel i3 530
A 2.93GHz dualcore with hyperthreading seems more then enough for what I intend to do with it.
* GPU: don't think I need a discrete card, as the CPU should have a relative powerful IGP. If it doesn't work out I can still add an ATi HD54xx/55xx card afterwards.
* RAM: 2x Kingston 1GB 1333MHz DDR3 CL9
2GB should be enough for Windows 7 while running some video tools.
* CPU cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken
This is about the only HSF that fits the Silverstone GD04 when mounting an ODD : <70mm. Cooling/noise should be OK.
* Bootdisk: Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB SSD
Faster than all other value SSD's I found. 50&#37; more expensive compared to Intel X25-V, but it has also 50% more space.
Original choice was: Intel X25-V 40GB SSD 40GB is enough for HTPC as everything will be stored on a NAS. Read speed is fast, write speed mediocre
* BluRay reader: Lite-On IHOS104
I lack some user feedback on silent Blu-Ray readers. I prefer read quality & silence over speed. A simple black front is a plus. It doesn't even have to be able to write DVD's.
* Keyboard/mouse: Enermax Aurora micro wireless
I've read good things about this device. But it's getting used to the integrated trackball, and it's not that cheap. So maybe there are better alternatives.

Cost: about &#8364;650. If that's too expensive you will have to drop the SSD & go for an AMD setup

 

[mfenn]

I have the Lite-On Blu-ray drive that you mentioned. Every other Lite-On drive that I've had has been loud as hell, but this one is nice and quiet.

 

[heyheybooboo]

I have the Lite-On Blu-ray drive that you mentioned. Every other Lite-On drive that I've had has been loud as hell, but this one is nice and quiet.

Good to know .... I've had crap luck with Lite-On opticals.

If the OP has a deep component rack this SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / Steel LC13B-E ATX Media Center / HTPC Case is pretty snazzy for $100.

The trouble with that Antec case is that it is a 'box'.

That i930 wouldn't be so bad with SpeedStep and a bit of under-volting. I've been able to under-volt and OC my AMD rig.

You may also disassemble the center drive bay on that Silverstone case if you take the front panel off --- it will clear out a lot of room for your monster gaming card for that 52-inch LCD

And you should be able to pass your video directly to the panel with either Intel or AMD --- and then pass your audio independently with a coaxial, spdif or even the analog outs (with 'Y' cables --- which is what I do)




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