Old System to HTPC, New Gaming Rig

[crydee]

I want to build an HTPC for my tv room. I have a 46" 1080p tv and a 7.1 surround system (Onkyo 606 receiver is really nice). I want to use my current gaming rig as parts for most of it and build a new one.

I think I want my budget to be about 1200 for now because I'll reuse my old video card for a month until the new ones come out for the new gaming rig.

Current PC:

ASUS P5B-D
E6400 C2D
8800GTS
Corsair HX-520W (3 Years Old)
OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (Replaced 2gb kit of Corsair Ballistx, I ended up having to RMA this kit 2 times and one stick finally went out again, a new 4gb was just as cheap to get ($30 with MIR). Though the Ballistx is lifetime warranty I can warranty it for new build.
2x 320GB Seagates 7200.10)
Antec P180

I was thinking of buying buying a 4350 and putting it in the current system and using it as the HTPC

and moving these parts to a new gaming build:

PSU, RAM, Video Card

That leaves me with purchasing:

HD 4350 (35)
Antec 900-2 (100-120 varies daily), maybe p183
Core i5-750 2.66GHz (200)
EVGA P55 SLI 132-LF-E655-KR LGA1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard (190)
WD Green 1TB (80)
Cheaper SS PSU for HTPC (50)
I'll need a WiFi Card for HTPC, Wireless KB + Mouse (80)
Blu-Ray Player and new sata dvd-rom (160?)

That's only approximate of $915 now. It would give me some cushion for deciding on a card in a month or so. I would be gaming on a 24" 19:10.

 

[larslake]

You can build a HTPC for around $500 plus the cost of the OS. The only thing in your exsisting machine that maybe should be retired is the video card. Maybe changing that to a GTX 2xx. You will get a greater cost-to-performance return from AMD, but it's your choice.

 

[crydee]

So you're saying just upgrade the video card for a new gaming machine? The e6400 is at stock right now. I had it overclocked for 2 years at 3.0ghz it won't do that stable anymore. I think it will be the bottleneck.

 

[Blain]

Are you building a HTPC and a Gaming PC or will the HTPC double as a Gaming rig?

 

[larslake]

dats still a C2D. I'm not too sure what kind of performance gain by upgrading the mobo and or cpu. the video card is old. I assume your 320s are in raid 0. Run sisoft sandra and compare to other machines. I guess what I'm saying is - you'll spend a lot of money, but I'm not sure you'll see that much of a gain, unless there's something systemic with your machine that has or is going cat-a-whampus .

 

[crydee]

Originally posted by: Blain
Are you building a HTPC and a Gaming PC or will the HTPC double as a Gaming rig?

I want a HTPC and a gaming rig (so 2 systems). My current build is listed. I wanted thoughts on reusing parts from current rig to build out both.

 

[gwarren007]

All you need for a HTPC is:

ASUS P5N7A-VM $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131348

E6400 C2D
Corsair HX-520W (3 Years Old)
OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB
2x 320GB Seagates 7200.10)
Antec P180

32 bit OS -and your done (use the HDMI to the TV )

Gaming Rig:
Evga + Ram (did you forget about ram?) - $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.258946

902 +TP650 $205
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.245622

i5 750 $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115215

1tb green $85 (69AR)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...de=10009901&ps=homain1

Blue ray reader, dvd burner $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136174

979 and you need your choice of wifi card, Kb&M
You could sell your p5b-d to recoup some $$

 

[crydee]

Does the ASUS P5N7A-VM integrated video support HDCP? Why is that better than just picking up the HD 4350? What would be the best way to get 7.1 sound to from mobo to receiver with those choices. There's not digital sound output unless the HDMI does it on that mobo?

Would e6400 at stock play a flash video fine at 1920x1080?