HTPC Critique

[MrMiyagi]

My buddy wants me to build him one for his (extremely) nice TV and HT system. He wants great audio out of it, and a decent vid card ("in case I want to play games") Also, he's hoping that it might run some of the HD-DVD/Blue Ray stuff when the time comes and those drives are available to us to put in a PC (I have no clue about that stuff).

He's willing to spend around $1000 for everything.

Here's what I got:

Lian Li PC-V800B
MSI K8N Neo4 Plat
eVGA 6800 NU PCI-E (after MIR its only like $99...seems like a good deal to me )
AMD 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz HT
GeIL Value 1GB PC 3200
Seagate 300GB SATA
X-Fi XtremeMusic
NEC 16x DVD+/-R
FSP 400W PS
Logitech wireless stuff
Windows MCE

The whole thing is around $1060.00 + SH

Questioning the Mobo, cause I could probably save him some money there. Also, don't know jack about current AMD processors. Whatchya think about the vid card? Pretty sure he wants the X-Fi, even though I rec'd him to get that cheap Gigabyte audio card (cause it's got an optical out.)

Thanks for lookin!

 

[obeseotron]

System looks pretty good to me.

Did you forget a tuner though? I didn't even think MCE would install without one? Also I have heard some say that ATI has better TV output, I don't know that this is true, I have only used nVidia's which I found to useable, but doesn't look anywhere near as good for video as a DVD player or Xbox Media Center.

Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are doubtful at this point because video cards do not currently support HDCP over DVI properly. I think there are a few specialty cards out with support from Sony or something based on low end nvidia chips, but that's all for now.

 

[BUrassler]

Get a 7600 series nvidia card
CPU is fine
You are right about the sound card, something like a chaintech av-710 with optical out is all the is really needed
Find out how to set up ffdshow with something like theatertek or zoomplayer pro to get amazing upscaled DVD resolution

 

[MrMiyagi]

He's already got COX's DVR and uses that, so he doesnt want to mess around with a tuner in his HTPC. But, if Win MCE wont install without it I guess I'll just end up getting him an XP Pro OEM or something (x64 version??!)

I'll have to look into exactly what upscaling DVD resolution involves...it sounds cool

Oh, BUrassler, you talking 'bout a GS or a GT?

 

[PurdueRy]

Do not get the X-Fi...horrible waste of money in this case

 

[MrMiyagi]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Do not get the X-Fi...horrible waste of money in this case

OK, NO X-Fi !

The Chaintech (not Gigabyte!) card I was referring to earlier. Although I know Turtle Beach makes good stuff too.

 

[PurdueRy]

Get the Chaintech

 

[alimoalem]

any overclocking? cause the 3200+ could probably do just as good. does geil make good ram? if it does, then keep it, but if it's questionable, why not get some corsair, ocz, or g.skill value ram? the rest looks good to me

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
any overclocking? cause the 3200+ could probably do just as good. does geil make good ram? if it does, then keep it, but if it's questionable, why not get some corsair, ocz, or g.skill value ram? the rest looks good to me

Assuming it is the HTPC he is making it out to be...I don't think he will be overclocking

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: BUrassler
Get a 7600 series nvidia card
CPU is fine
You are right about the sound card, something like a chaintech av-710 with optical out is all the is really needed
Find out how to set up ffdshow with something like theatertek or zoomplayer pro to get amazing upscaled DVD resolution

I would trade that video card for an ATi All in Wonder with hardware accelarated playback for H.264, DVD, WMA, etc. It also Includes a TV tuner and software that will record TV Shows on your PC in a TiVO style.

The X1900 should be considered standard fare on any HTPC.

For Video encoding, the only task a Pentium D beats AMD is in video encoding catagories. A nice dual core will help you out nicely with those chores. For about the same price as the AMD 3500+ you can get a Dual Core Smithfield 930 for $267. Video encoding is the only benchmark the P4 (single/dual) can do better than an Athlon 64.


Normaly I am an AMD Athlon XP fan, but when building a machine soley for the purpose of Video it would be hard to beat the Pentium 4 in this specialty.

Pentium D 830 $267- Nearly as fast as a FX60 in Video Performance)

Complete List of Pentium D Dual Core Processors

ATi All In Wonder x1900 with TV Tuner (HDTUNER is easily a $100-200 value)

Pentium D 830 Benchmarked

Pentium D 930 Benchmarked- Just as fast as an FX-60 for 2/3 less cash. ($300)

Also Ditch the X-Fi with it's lower signal to noise ratio and consider an ONKYO PCI Sound Card or M-Audio Revolution instead.

If you still demand creative audio for some strange reason, an Audigy 4 PRO is the better and wiser HTPC sound card. It's signal to noise ratio is much higher than the X-Fi XTREME MUSIC.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1830734&enterthread=y

 

[Googer]

Onkyo PCI Sound Card


As an Alternative, you could save $100 and use the SPDIF optical out on the motherboard then use the reviever as the Analogue to digital converter. Most revivers can also handle the signal processing and audio steering.



My #1 Suggestion; DDR2 Audio Optical Output, NO 1394.

Second Motherboard Suggestion $88, DDR2 with 1394 for Video Transfers. Also some Recievers with 1394 may be able to recieve audio over firewire.

 

[Googer]

For $68 I recommend the Coolermaster HTPC Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage...Desktop%20Computer%20Case%20-%20Retail

 

[MrMiyagi]

Wow Googs...gonna have to absorb some of this tomorrow

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: MrMiyagi
Wow Googs...gonna have to absorb some of this tomorrow

I will have a picture of my wish list in a few minutes. I managed for $1,200 plus oodles of rebates to get him a

Pentium D 840
LGA 775 Motherboard with Optical SPDIF (ideal for HTPC) -Rebate
X1900 All in wonder -Rebate
1GB of Corsair XMS DDR 675 ($78 after rebate)
320GB hdd (western digital) $115
Windows Media Center (There are several Linux versions that are free) -$50 Combo Discount
Same NEC DVD Drive
Same PSU
$68 Coolermaster Home Theater Case with rebate

I have not added it up but the rebates should drop the price by appx $150.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewV............dWishDetail.asp?ID=1994752"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewVers.........SavedWishDetail.asp?ID=1994752"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion......t/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=1994752"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=1994752"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=1994752">https://secure.newegg.com/NewV............ail.asp?ID=1994752</a></a></a></a></a>

HTPC.png

EDIT: 2GB can be had for $114 after rebate. Personaly I would sacrifice memory speed for quantity, since it is still much faster than the Hard Drive or Virtual RAM. I have two differant memory options in the wish list remove the one you do not want to get the total cost. The end differance between 1GB and 2GB is $36.
149 Highspeed DDR675 2GB
2GB $114 DDR2 533
$78 1GB Corsair DDR2 675

Also the total cost is much higher than it should be since I accedentaly added 2 quantity of 2GB ram kits and Newegg wont let me remove them from the wish list at this time. You will have to deduct that too from the cost.

 

[Googer]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/02/03/ati_aiw_x1900/2.html
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2005/12/19/ati_avivo_mark_2/1.html

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'm waiting on my build, till a selection of fully HDCP compliant cards are available. That 6800 isn't going to let him watch his new HD-DVD stuff in HD whent he time comes, so make certain he understands he'll need something else that can. Wether it be another vid card, stand-alone, whatever.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I'm waiting on my build, till a selection of fully HDCP compliant cards are available. That 6800 isn't going to let him watch his new HD-DVD stuff in HD whent he time comes, so make certain he understands he'll need something else that can. Wether it be another vid card, stand-alone, whatever.

HDMI Video Cards already exist, but they only have low end GPU's at the moment.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
I'm waiting on my build, till a selection of fully HDCP compliant cards are available. That 6800 isn't going to let him watch his new HD-DVD stuff in HD whent he time comes, so make certain he understands he'll need something else that can. Wether it be another vid card, stand-alone, whatever.

HDMI Video Cards already exist, but they only have low end GPU's at the moment.

HDMI unfortunately doesn't necessarily mean HDCP compliance though. The only ones that are fully HDCP compliant that I am aware of, are from nV and have to be bought with a Sony OEM system. The rest lack the ROM chip with HDCP keys. Sapphire says they will be the first to offer one retail. XFX has announced a 7300GS to be released soon too.

 

[Remedy]

For about the same price as the AMD 3500+ you can get a Dual Core Smithfield 930 for $267. Video encoding is the only benchmark the P4 (single/dual) can do better than an Athlon 64.

I had no idea the SF came in the 930 model form. As far as I know, they don't. The 900 series is a Presler. But the price is for a 930 is no where near the $186 and $196 price points seen below.
3500+ $196

3700+ $186

Inte Pentium-D 930 $317

Or did you mean an 830? 830 is $260 the lowest price I can find. Which is far from $186 for a single core Athlon64 listed.

You're comparing an Overclocked processor to a non overclocked processor for HTPC use as valid?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Remedy

For about the same price as the AMD 3500+ you can get a Dual Core Smithfield 930 for $267. Video encoding is the only benchmark the P4 (single/dual) can do better than an Athlon 64.

I had no idea the SF came in the 930 model form. As far as I know, they don't. The 900 series is a Presler. But the price is for a 930 is no where near the $186 and $196 price points seen below.
3500+ $196

3700+ $186

Inte Pentium-D 930 $317

Or did you mean an 830? 830 is $260 the lowest price I can find. Which is far from $186 for a single core Athlon64 listed.

You're comparing an Overclocked processor to a non overclocked processor for HTPC use as valid?

AVIVO is also starting to show some impressive video encoding capabilities too, and PureVideo may follow. I intend to use a cheap skt754 Sempr0n for the platform and overclock, let the GPU handle the encoding&decoding chores. A sempr0n@2.3ghz+ is a decent gamer too.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I would wait for a Core Duo MOBO to come out (I heard about ASUS coming for a while. Either they are already out, or it cant be too much longer) I dont know. But combined with a 7300 or 7600 GPU those things should allow for some fairly powerful and very cool HTPCs.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

IMHO a $150+ CPU is overkill for HTPC duties.

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
IMHO a $150+ CPU is overkill for HTPC duties.

While you maybe correct about an HTPC. The idea of expanding to a MediaCenter PC with gaming on a HD DLP screen may push the processor a bit further beyond that of HTPC duties for a Sempron.

But, An Athlon64 3000+ is only $106 in socket 939 format.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Remedy

For about the same price as the AMD 3500+ you can get a Dual Core Smithfield 930 for $267. Video encoding is the only benchmark the P4 (single/dual) can do better than an Athlon 64.

I had no idea the SF came in the 930 model form. As far as I know, they don't. The 900 series is a Presler. But the price is for a 930 is no where near the $186 and $196 price points seen below.
3500+ $196

3700+ $186

Inte Pentium-D 930 $317

Or did you mean an 830? 830 is $260 the lowest price I can find. Which is far from $186 for a single core Athlon64 listed.

You're comparing an Overclocked processor to a non overclocked processor for HTPC use as valid?

The 8xx series cost much more than the 9xx series of processors. The major differances are the 8xx are 90nm with less cache and the 9xx are 65nm more cache. I think my link was for the 840 or 830 in the two hundred dollar price range.

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Remedy

For about the same price as the AMD 3500+ you can get a Dual Core Smithfield 930 for $267. Video encoding is the only benchmark the P4 (single/dual) can do better than an Athlon 64.

I had no idea the SF came in the 930 model form. As far as I know, they don't. The 900 series is a Presler. But the price is for a 930 is no where near the $186 and $196 price points seen below.
3500+ $196

3700+ $186

Inte Pentium-D 930 $317

Or did you mean an 830? 830 is $260 the lowest price I can find. Which is far from $186 for a single core Athlon64 listed.

You're comparing an Overclocked processor to a non overclocked processor for HTPC use as valid?

The 8xx series cost much more than the 9xx series of processors. The major differances are the 8xx are 90nm with less cache and the 9xx are 65nm more cache. I think my link was for the 840 or 830 in the two hundred dollar price range.

You said;

For about the same price as the AMD 3500+ you can get a Dual Core Smithfield 930 for $267.

Which is what I'm quoting you on. There is no such thing as a Smithfield 930 and the price of 3500+ is $160. No where near $267 price point. Which is what I'm correcting you on.