help with building a HTPC

[j@cko]

I am not too familiar with hardware that go into a HTPC and so I need some advice and help.
I have a 32" HDTV with HDMI inputs and I also have a whole bunch of HD DVD/Blu Ray movies on my HDD and so I am looking for a machine that is capable of playing back these movies on the TV through the HDMI connection. I am not looking to spend too much $$ on this machine and so I am only looking for a basic setup.

I've been hearing a lot about AMD's 780G and nVidia's GF8200. Should I be looking at these options? Would a discrete ATi 2400/2600 card better than those two integrated solutions? I assume that I don't need a powerful CPU since the GPU (capable of hardware acceleration) can share loads with CPU.

A question regarding to the sound. Does the onboard optical audio output differ much from a discrete sound solution while running the signal to a logitech Z-5500?

I am essentially looking for a system that is low power consumption, capable of playing HD movies off HDDs and has a HDMI connection as well as optical/digital audio output connection.

BTW, any chance if I can turn on/off the HTPC by using a remote??

Thanks a bunch,

Jack

 

[heyheybooboo]

I think Tom's (or maybe Tech Report?) played HD content on a 780g with a single core Sempron (probably at 99% cpu utilization )

The only complaint I have seen lodged against the the 780g is that over hdmi (1.2?) you can only output 2-channel. You would have to output your sound via spdif optical/coaxial to your receiver or use the rear sound jacks on the mobo I/O.

I've heard few complaints regarding onboard audio these days. The great thing about it - if you don't like it you can always add a sound card later. I've got Realtek ALC888 on my latest build and think it's excellent.

The Fusion ATSC tuner card comes with a remote. The card itself has several connections whereby you loop the power switch cable to the tuner card and then connect the card to the mobo pins with the provided cable. You may thereby power your rig up/down. The remote can also function as a keyboard/mouse if you are to cheap to purchase wireless - lol

The PME function of the card allows the system to power up while you are away to use the 'scheduled recording' feature of the card thereby eliminating the need to leave your computer on.

Good luck!

 

[MarcVenice]

As for the HD playback, you could get a cheap videocard, like a HD2400/2600 pro, or perhaps a HD3650/HD3450 as long as they have the most recent PureVideo/Avivo technologies in them. If you want more detailed information, I suggest creating a thread on the videocards and graphics forum. BTW, some of these cards also have some kind of audio integrated 'thingy'. Yes, thats vague, but I don't know the ins and outs about it.

As for the mobo/cpu/ram, you could get something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116040 and throw it in this mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7031&Tpk=ABIT%2bIP35-E and add 2gb of ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145590 you could get some 35$ ram to, without rebates.

No clue as to what a decent case would be for a HTPC, maybe something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129031 ??? Comes with a nice PSU as well.

 

[heyheybooboo]

SilverStone SST-LC13 $100
I think the Egg has 'em for $20 more - you should find one for less than $100 w/shipping

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G HDMI mATX $106
Onboard IGP is an HD2400 chip

AMD Opteron 1210 HE Santa Ana 1.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache OEM 65W $60
You can undervolt (and overclock!) - if you do not want to purchase a seperate HSF try the

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Brisbane 2.2GHz AM2 65W $60

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 $50

Thermaltake Litpower ATX12V2.2 400W PSU $ 43
$33 AR - 120mm fan


Total thus far: $350


Are you going to reuse your hard drive? If not add $60 for a 250gb SATA.
DVD/BluRay ??? Conventional DVD: Add $30 BluRay DVD ROM: Add $130

The FusionHDTV 5 Gold RT HDTV Tuner with remote is $80 at Digital Connection if you log in - $20 more for the new Fusion7 (or the usb model).

You will also need Power DVD software player (not sure what you use to play back your current content).

 

[BlueAcolyte]

For something like this, you could get the ECS motherboard from newegg for $40 less.
ECS 780G for $61 AR
I'd also rather get this PSU:
Silverstone 400W

I'm really nitpicking now, but this RAM has CAS 4 instead of 5 and orange heatspreaders (is orange good or bad?)
Mushkin 2x1GB DDR2-800

Otherwise hey has good suggestions

 

[j@cko]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
SilverStone SST-LC13 $100
I think the Egg has 'em for $20 more - you should find one for less than $100 w/shipping

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G HDMI mATX $106
Onboard IGP is an HD2400 chip

AMD Opteron 1210 HE Santa Ana 1.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache OEM 65W $60
You can undervolt (and overclock!) - if you do not want to purchase a seperate HSF try the

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Brisbane 2.2GHz AM2 65W $60

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 $50

Thermaltake Litpower ATX12V2.2 400W PSU $ 43
$33 AR - 120mm fan


Total thus far: $350


Are you going to reuse your hard drive? If not add $60 for a 250gb SATA.
DVD/BluRay ??? Conventional DVD: Add $30 BluRay DVD ROM: Add $130

The FusionHDTV 5 Gold RT HDTV Tuner with remote is $80 at Digital Connection if you log in - $20 more for the new Fusion7 (or the usb model).

You will also need Power DVD software player (not sure what you use to play back your current content).


Thanks for the information. I use PowerDVD to play HD movies that I have.