Micro-ATX Motherboard for HTPC with Q6600

[cytoSiN]

I'm looking for a Micro-ATX 775 motherboard to pair with a Q6600 for use in a new HTPC in a Silverstone GD05B. I've also got an old 8800GTS that I'm hoping will fit in that case.

Anyone using a similar setup care to recommend a motherboard? I'm partial to Asus, as I've had good luck with them in the past, but this is my first Micro-ATX build, so I'm willing to change things up.

Thanks in advance.

 

[evident]

new or used motherboard?

here's a new mATX asus motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131794

 

[cytoSiN]

new or used motherboard?

here's a new mATX asus motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131794

Thanks, that's the one I was looking at. Since they're pretty cheap at this point, I'd prefer new so that I have a warranty, just in case, but I guess I should browse the FS/FT forum as well.

Also, I should add that it would be awesome to have AHCI support to get the most out of the SSD that I'm planning to use as an OS drive, but I realize that it's unlikely that many socket 775 boards will offer this. This ASRock board offers it, but it's oos and deactivated

 

[joutlaw]

I realize that this is probably old hardware that is being reused, but I would personally go with a newer build for a HTPC.

I am running a i3-2100 with a mATX Biostar board with 8GB of DDR3 and SATA III. I have a crucial m4 128GB SSD with a 1.5 TB drive for DVR storage.

I have that exact case and it is pretty nice. I got it cheaper from Amazon and also went with a Antec green series PSU.

The Q6600 is no slouch, but I have no issues with my i3-2100 and its integrated GPU. I go straight HDMI to my Onkyo receiver and its virtually wife proof. For me, the HTPC needed to be relatively low power and quiet. That case is good for that purpose and the sleep functions built into WMC work as expected. The HTPC powers itself on and off all day.

 

[cytoSiN]

I realize that this is probably old hardware that is being reused, but I would personally go with a newer build for a HTPC.

I am running a i3-2100 with a mATX Biostar board with 8GB of DDR3 and SATA III. I have a crucial m4 128GB SSD with a 1.5 TB drive for DVR storage.

I have that exact case and it is pretty nice. I got it cheaper from Amazon and also went with a Antec green series PSU.

The Q6600 is no slouch, but I have no issues with my i3-2100 and its integrated GPU. I go straight HDMI to my Onkyo receiver and its virtually wife proof. For me, the HTPC needed to be relatively low power and quiet. That case is good for that purpose and the sleep functions built into WMC work as expected. The HTPC powers itself on and off all day.

Yeah I'm trying to see if I can go the legacy route before I cave and buy new parts, which is looking more and more likely. If I go with a new setup, the only thing I'm likely to reuse is an old Corsair HX650 that I have laying around. How does the onboard video on the i3 hold up for gaming, if at all?

 

[joutlaw]

Yeah I'm trying to see if I can go the legacy route before I cave and buy new parts, which is looking more and more likely. If I go with a new setup, the only thing I'm likely to reuse is an old Corsair HX650 that I have laying around. How does the onboard video on the i3 hold up for gaming, if at all?

I have never gamed with it. It handles all of my HTPC duties without skipping a beat. I use Windows Media Center for TV purposes and XBMC for movie playback.

A motherboard that supports SATA III is important if you want to get a SATA III SSD. I see sequential reads of ~502MB/s and writes of ~188MB/s with Crucial m4.

I have that or a very similar Corsiar PSU. Having something modular with be a great benefit for a HTPC, but you won't need that much power for a rig like mine. I am using an Antec EA-380D and it is bit overkill, but mainly bought for its efficieny and quietness.

Are you planning on using Windows Media Center? I use a Ceton PCI Express quad tuner and its pretty solid. Comcast and their management of CableCards is another story. Once setup though, everything is seemless. I use WTVWatcher to watch the Recordings directory for new DVR'd shows. It converts those .wtv files to dvr-ms so DVR-MSToolbox can manage the recordings. DVR-MSToolbox then uses ComSkip to scan the non-copy protected recording for commercials and indexes the shows for future playback. I just sit back and watch recordings while they skips themsevles through the commercials.

 

[cytoSiN]

Not sure if I'll bother with media center. I'd love to use a Ceton, but I hear that Time Warner Cable does not play well with Ceton.