Low-budget HTPC

[Leros]

I'm building a low budget HTPC. It will be running Windows Vista. I would like for it to be able to playback Blu-Ray movies.

Mobo: ASUS M3A78-EM 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $78.99 - $5combo
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz - $53.99
RAM: Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 1066 - $23.99
DVD: LG Bluray/HD-DVD, DVD±R Burner - $119.99
Case: Athenatech MicroATX Mini Tower w/ 400w PSU - $49.99
HDD: Have several - $0
Remote: have Vista MCE remote- $0

Total: $321.95

+ ~$20 for newegg shipping


Update:
This is my final selection, in case anybody cares or wants to use it as a reference.

Here is a link regarding Blu-Ray playback with the 780G chipset I chose. They had Blu-Ray playing smoothly with only a 3200+ Sempron. Text

 

[Blain]

Buy two PC2-6400 @ 1.8-1.9v DIMMs rather than a single PC2-8500 @ 2.0v
For the HD, I'd use a WD Black. The 32MB cache makes recording one show while watching another very smooth.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Blain
Buy two PC2-6400 @ 1.8-1.9v DIMMs rather than a single PC2-8500 @ 2.0v
For the HD, I'd use a WD Black. The 32MB cache makes recording one show while watching another very smooth.

I already have hard drives and I'm not planning on doing any recording.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Pay the extra $10 for the LG BD/HD-DVD drive. I hate Lite-On with a fiery passion, drives always become very noisy and eventually stop working. I'd do it just for the peace of mind.

I'm an ASUS whore, and have used 3 ASUS M3A78-EM boards (MicroATX 780G just like the one you picked) in builds. I just upgraded our ancient Athlon XP HTPC to this same combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.153504

Corsair delivers when it comes to rebates, this RAM is 4-4-4-12, and only $9.99 after MIR. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145177

You've got the right idea, I'm suggesting basically the same shit just with different brand preferences. :thumbsup: Good luck.

 

[yh125d]

Depending on what your audio setup is like, you might want a motherboard with digital audio out

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Leros
I'm building a low budget HTPC

I would like for it to be able to playback Blu-Ray movies.

Originally posted by: Blain
Buy two PC2-6400 @ 1.8-1.9v DIMMs rather than a single PC2-8500 @ 2.0v
For the HD, I'd use a WD Black. The 32MB cache makes recording one show while watching another very smooth.

I'm not planning on doing any recording.

Why not just buy a Blu-Ray player?

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: yh125d
Depending on what your audio setup is like, you might want a motherboard with digital audio out

Sorry to steal the thread

Can anyone recommend a motherboard similar to his that has HDMI + Digital Audio Out?

I have a 65" DLP and Z-5500 surround.... which motherboard would suit me best for HTPC?

 

[mrSHEiK124]

The one I recommended, ASUS M3A78-EM, has HDMI and Optical S/PDIF:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131324

Other similar boards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128360
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128341
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130206 - Even has analog RCA outs for HT

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
The one I recommended, ASUS M3A78-EM, has HDMI and Optical S/PDIF:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131324

Other similar boards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128360
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128341
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130206 - Even has analog RCA outs for HT

Thank you for the links - very helpful.

I'm trying to find a way to piece everything together, as I have several pieces I need to fit together here.

We have a 65" DLP. I think it may only have one HDMI-in input.
Comcast Digital Cable. HDMI-out goes into the TV. (switching to Fios soon)
Xbox360. Component out to the TV.
Z-5500 Surround Sound - Optical straight into the TV (so anything on TV from any input works).

I'm trying to figure out how to make my HTPC work with all of this. Any setup ideas?

Edit: Maybe connect the digital cable to the TV using component (since it will only be broadcasting at 720P anyway)? Use the HDMI port for HTPC... Still not sure how to hook up audio though.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: James Bond
I'm trying to find a way to piece everything together, as I have several pieces I need to fit together here.

This.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: James Bond
I'm trying to find a way to piece everything together, as I have several pieces I need to fit together here.

This.

So if I have my HTPC and Digi Cable plugged into that, how does it know which input to use?

Reviews aren't very good... Anyone else have experience with one of these?

Edit: I see, that is one-to-two... isn't that the opposite of what I'm trying to accomplish though?

 

[Leros]

Updated with final selection

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Leros
Updated with final selection

I'm curious what your response is to the "why not buy a blue ray player?"

 

[yh125d]

Originally posted by: James Bond

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: James Bond
I'm trying to find a way to piece everything together, as I have several pieces I need to fit together here.

This.

So if I have my HTPC and Digi Cable plugged into that, how does it know which input to use?

Reviews aren't very good... Anyone else have experience with one of these?

Edit: I see, that is one-to-two... isn't that the opposite of what I'm trying to accomplish though?

HDMI splitters like that are a bad idea. Something about bi-directional signals or something... I'd check in AV forum

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Leros
Updated with final selection

I'm curious what your response is to the "why not buy a blue ray player?"

It will also be a media center, playing all my digital video files. I will be running Windows Media Center or some media center. It will be my always-on machine for torrents, ftp-server, and what-not.

I'm currently using an old laptop for Vista Media Center. I love the capabilities of having the media center playing my digital content, but the laptop has its annoying flaws. Crappy sound, it likes to turn off by itself, its not very fast, etc.

 

[s44]

You're hosing yourself on sound with 780G. That only does the lossy codecs over HDMI. Nvidia 8200/8300 does full surround PCM audio over HDMI.

 

[James Bond]

If I connect my HTPC to my TV via HDMI, and connect my TV to my Speakers via optical, will that work? ie: The HTPC transmits Audio AND Video over HDMI, then the TV gives the audio to the speakers?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: James Bond
If I connect my HTPC to my TV via HDMI, and connect my TV to my Speakers via optical, will that work? ie: The HTPC transmits Audio AND Video over HDMI, then the TV gives the audio to the speakers?

Do you have a receiver?

If not, use the jacks on the back of your computer for your speakers.

If you have a receiver without HDMI you may pass multichannel PCM audio from the jacks on the PC to your receiver (using 'Y' cables) or AC3 audio via optical/coax spdif. (This would assume you are passing your video to the TV via HDMI or dvi-d.)

Did that help?