Help building a new HTPC
 

I planning on making a new HTPC. My old setup was pretty basic enough for SD downloads but I want HD dowloads now. I plan to DL HD movies and store it on the HTPC. I played around with streaming to the PS3 but it all choppy for a 1080p 5.1 movie so that is out of the question. Here are my uses and goals for this unit:

1) no gaming at all (I have a ps3)
2) Must play 1080p and 5.1 sound (obviously HDMI)
3) I plan to download my TV and Movies directly on this.
4) Rip Bluray on to the computer
5) size: slim case preferred but I plan to have 2 X 1TB HD
6) TV tuner or PVR is not needed (I will continue to use my shaw pvr)

What CPU, Video and sound card should I get? amount of RAM?

any advise is appreciated!!!!

You don't need a lot computing power to do this. An AMD/ATI setup would probably best since they put out less heat and can be quieter. 2 GB of RAM will be fine.

Intel E3200 + 2gb Ram

Nvidia 8400GS w/ HDMI out will do the work.

I have an old Phenom 9600 and 2GB of RAM in my HTPC. Handles all you mentioned with no problems at all using the onboard video. (Mobo is an MA780GM-S2H with the ATI HD3200 onboard video) Using onboard audio pumped through HDMI to the TV.

The case I have is the Antec Fusion 430.

Wait until Jan 3 and get a Core i3 with H55 mobo.

ati cheapest way to go for htpc setup 2 gigs should be enough with the integrated videocard

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...facture=ASRock

How is this? seems to fit my needs (and budget of $600) except for the HD size, but I guess I'll add and external HD. Or its it still cheaper to build my own?

That ain't no HTPC :lol

If you really want a suitable system for HTPC, you must build it with specific parts meant to run cool and silent. There are sites that will do it for you at a cost, and suites that guide you on how to build a silent PC.

just as an aside, the best peripheral to go with any HTPC is the dinovo edge keyboard but only if you have spare cash to spend after buying all those parts. It's got a hefty pricetag but you can find one for 150ish when they go on sale (total worth it for that price).

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/ke...s/192&cl=us,en (this is Logitech US..the product is no longer on Logitech Canada for some reason)

why not just grab an HD media player for 90-150 bucks...? probably plus an external enclosure or even just a 1tb hd...or wait for the boxee box...

Western digital media player live.

diNovo Mini is what I use. Super small but still fairly usable.

I think building it on your own puts you about on par pricewise to the system you linked. I haven't had a chance to try out the new Ion chipset but the Atom with the standard Intel 945 chipset was barely able to handle a 720p MKV playback. I'm sure the Nvidia chipset has some kind of hardware acceleration that will help it, but it's still an underpowered processor regardless, especially if you plan to rip/encode Bluray content. You'll want a fairly hefty processor to perform any encoding tasks.

8400GS dont decode HD that well

I'm running a 9300 and its still not that great for TVB HD

and i'd get more then 2GB of ram, the video card will take out 512MB already. 4GB + Windows 7 64bit is the way to go

I want to be able to go on the net and download torrents so this is not an option.

What about the specs on something like this:
http://www.a-power.com/product-10404-600-1

AP System - AP I-209 #10404
BV Code: SYS-AP-MItx ADV
Shipping Weight: 15.00 lbs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processor Intel Atom N330 1.6GHz Dual-Core Processor
Mainboard Zotac IONITX-A MINI-ITX Intel Atom N330 MCP7A-ION DDR2 GBLAN 802.11N Video Audio 90W PSU Motherboard
Memory 4GB Kit 2x2GB DDR2 667Mhz
Accessories ALL-In-1 Memory Card Reader
Optical Drive LG Blu-Ray Writer BH08LS20 BLACK 8X BLU-RAY BURNER SATA LIGHTSCRIBE RETAIL
Hard Drive 1TB SATA-300 - 7200 rpm - buffer: 32 MB
Video Nvidia GeForce 9400M
Audio 7.1-channel On-Board Audio
Network Ethernet 10/100/1000Mbps w/802.11N On-Board
Casing Apex Computer Mini-ITX Desktop Case MI-100 Black/Silver 250W USB/FAN/AUDIO/PIANO Finished
Keyboard/Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 110 KB & Mouse Combo (EX-110)
Warranty AP Standard Limited Manufacture System Warranty (1 Year Parts & 1 Year Labour Service)
Features System Assembly , Testing , OS Pre-Configuration


Sorry about all the questions but Im really out of date with computer stuff.

I am expressing an opinion here, but I would prefer to build off a more common platform like mATX. The system you selected is mini-ITX and is basically a netbook.

I would prefer to use standard components that are common at NCIX. If your PS blows or you want more than 250W, you can pick another one easily. If you one day decide you want to install a real video card, there is a PCI-E slot to plug it into. You have more option to upgrade.

On the down side the mATX is bigger and draws more power. Power is not really an issue if you are plugged into the wall. The cost for both is about the same. The mATX will have about triple the computing power.

[QUOTE=westcoastgsr;6746737]I want to be able to go on the net and download torrents so this is not an option.

You can connect the Western Digital media player to your computer via cat 5 or WiFi.

[QUOTE=Manic!;6746875]I currently have a laptop that I use. I dont like keeping it on all day to dowload torrents, thats what I plan to to with this new unit. Plus I want to do this with my movie and music library:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBhkm...eature=related

[QUOTE=westcoastgsr;6747409]Thats what I use for my HTPC setup~ Its awesome and makes the movie libary much more organized and useful!

I use Salami Movie Organizer to download all the info and posters from imdb

In case you are wondering, my setup is pretty basic and costs me roughly 400-500 bucks

dual core e2200
biostar mb
ati HD3450 (upgrading to ATI 3650 all in wonder from boxing day)
2 gb ram value ram
auzentech Xplosion soundcard
750GB (upgrading to 1.5TB from boxing day)
Antec nsk2400 case

Controlled with Dinovo Edge and Harmony remote


Runs 1080P smoothly

patriot box office can do torrents....

like i mentioned...wait for the boxee box!...I know i am...

Ok after some reading comments here and online. I'm going to go with a intergrated GPU and Sound Card (I could always expand in the future) to keep the budget low and to accomplish was is needed.

Some decent comments on this Mobo: http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...cture=Gigabyte

Radeon HD 4200 and 7.1 audio (should be ok since I dont plan to do any gaming)

Ram: 4GB http://ncix.com/products/?sku=38282

HD: 1TB http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...20Digital%20WD

Case (slim space behind the tv stand hidden but needs to stand vertical): http://ncix.com/products/?sku=23679&...ustomerReviews

What you think so far? again all comments appreciated, I need help with picking a CPU out.

You should be able to pretty much pick any AMD CPU available and it should be more than capable of handling the processing tasks. One thing you might want to keep in mind is that your PSU in the case isn't exactly great (@275W) With that in mind, I'd probably steer more towards the lower power CPU's. You may want to do a quick check to make sure the PSU has enough juice to power all your components.

Should I just go with the cheaper one?

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...anufacture=AMD

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...anufacture=AMD actually $67 with a combo deal.

Hey sorry for the necro/hijack all-in-one but for those people with the AMD chips and 2GB of ram, what OS are you running? Do these systems run Windows 7 + decode 1080p well enough? The shitbox I'm running now (Athlon 3000+/1GB/ATI 4650 512) can play 1080p encodes at an acceptable level (every now and then I'll run into a choppy scene), but I'm running XP. Also, does the type of RAM matter (clock speed-wise) or can I go with the cheapest RAM that is compatible with my mobo?

bumping this thread. I never got to this project but I want to see if anything has changed in the computing world since Jan.

Budget is still around 500.

Please take a look at post 20. I was looking at using this CPU now: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...anufacture=AMD

I plan to do this probably this weekend. So any advise is appreciated!!!

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboBu...t=Combo.466445
add case ps and video card.