My New HTPC PC

frenchman

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I am going to build a HTPC and get rid of my Sat box for TV. The machine will be used for sat TV, downloads, BBC Iplayer etc.

I have come up with the following, can anyone advise if the following sounds ok? I am not really a computer expert, but can build it and get the thing up and running with any luck :)

ASUS P5E-VM HDMI Intel G35 Micro_ATX 775 DDR2 motherboard
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

Antec Fusion case
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-091-AN

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...aranteed to run at 3.20GHZ (1600FSB) - Retail

Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2 DHX PC2-6400C5DHX TwinX (2x1GB)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp... 2GB DDR2 XMS2 DHX PC2-6400C5DHX TwinX (2x1GB)

I will need a fan for the CPU, not sure which one, I already have the HDD & CD/DVD drive.

On top of this I plan to add a Technotrend Satellite PCI card for the TV
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Technotrend-3...5315026QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I am working to a budget here and want to really build the best system I can to watch mainly HD channels, act as a download station and play out films from the hdd.

Do you guys think the above sounds ok, or would you change things around?

Thanks Frenchman
 
hi frenchman

ive bee thinking along the same lines about building one
but how does the sat side of things work for a motor and encrypted channels
thanks
westkill :)
 
If you don't intend overclocking, and you'd have little reason to if its purely a HTPC, look at the E8500 or the vanilla E6750. To be honest unless you intend re-encoding hours and hours of video to alternative codecs a £47 E2180 will be enough, even for blu-ray playback.

The retail CPUs come with a HSF. The intel stock cooling is perfectly capable of keeping their CPUs cooled. If you want aftermarket cooling; go for a Sythe or Thermalright heatsink (due to the case don't forget to check the dimensions are less than 110mm) and pair with a 92mm Noctua fan from ebay - overclockers only stock 120mm.

The RAM should be fine, but worth checking the QVL on the page for that motherbaord on the Asus website to confirm.

This review on the case suggests replacing the case fans for quieter ones, again I can recommend Noctua.

Worth noting that the DVB-S2 card recommends a x1600/x1800 or 6600GT/7600GT graphics card, this would affect the ability to use the onboard HDMI though. The reviewers on overclockers say the HDMI works fine for HD play back.
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Westkill there is a little program that can be purchased for about £10, can't remember what it's called right now, (will find out) you can add some softcams etc, I am told it's really good and worth paying for! (god forbid) lol

I had forgot about the motor! right now I use my TM9100 to drive that, but I want to sell that, will have to see if the technotrend is upto the job, if not will have to either keep the TM or get a decent Linux box to move the motor.

Little_pob

Thanks for the advice there on the PC build, I will look into those that you pointed out :Clap:. I plan to use the onboard HDMI rather than installing an additional graphics card would you think this is ok?

Frenchman
 
I've no experience with the board, but the reviews say the onboard graphics are fine for HD playback. So to save money just get the mobo for now.

If you are worried about HD playback, go for the E8500 or E6750 as the onboard graphics should get a boost from the extra processing power. Overclocking the E2180 is also an option; but overclocking increases heat output, which needs the cpu and case fans to work harder, which increases noise.
 
just bear in mind that the antec fusion is 42cm deep. with cables etc, you'll need about 46-47cm of clearance bang in the middle of your tv stand.
 
just bear in mind that the antec fusion is 42cm deep. with cables etc, you'll need about 46-47cm of clearance bang in the middle of your tv stand.

Now that's a very good point! and makes it to big to fit into my TV stand :doh:, I will need to think about that one, maybe a tower case is better as I can hide one of these pretty much

Westkill, looks like DVBviewer Pro will be ok for moving the dish, it seems some people have this working.

Back to the drawing board lol

Frenchman
 
That board is fine for full HD playback, the onboard graphics are the best you can get. Will playback HD with ease.

If you do get a tower then you can go for a silent heatsink for the CPU (as stated Scythe do a very good job in this particular field) also maybe a nice quiet PSU. This will make your system as quiet as your tv with a little luck, it will all depend on which PSU you purchase.
 
So it looks like the mobo is ok, coupled with the E8500 CPU and 2GB RAM, so that just really leaves the case.

I could just go for a quiet nice looking tower case, would anyone recommend something with a good and Quiet PSU?

I am thinking that if I go for a tower then I would have more options for the mobo as it wouldn't need to be a micro atx, but then again more confusion or me :)

Should I just stick with the components listed and change the case, or start over?

Frenchman
 
Overclockers have one full size ATX board with HDMI built in. Its an AM2 so needs an AMD CPU: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-275-AS

If you were to go for ATX and cannot find an Intel one with HDMI - not that AMD aren't capable processors - you'd likely be looking at £80+ for one of the few graphics cards sporting HDMI (e.g. http://www.awd-it.co.uk/scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=3524). You'll also need a motherboard or soundcard with SPDIF out (either coax or optical) as the graphics card won't intergrate the onboard sound and needs a physical link.

I'd avoid the case with PSU option. Unless digicol says otherwise go for this one: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-026-OC

Then just grab any midi tower that takes your fancy - aluminium is lighter and has better thermal properties than steel, but steel cases are generally cheaper than aluminium.

Personally, I'd go for the mATX you've picked out with the E8500 and spend the money saved on the graphics card on a bluray/HD-DVD drive: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-074-LG (HD-DVDs can be had from £2.99 from HMV)
 
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Very good PSU's, just a shame eBuyer don't do the 500W anymore as they sold them for about £35.

Another option would be this one here:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131052
Corsair 450W VX 450W PSU - ATX12V v2.2
£45

This particular model of Corsair is actually made by Seasonic, some other models of Corsair are made by CWT, all moels are built to a very high spec by both Seasonic and CWT.

Ah guess what Ebuyer have got the 500W OCZ back in stock, but it's £40, still cheaper than Overclockers though.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135159

Either of the above will be a good choice, both are very quiet and extremely stable.
 
With the bigger case I'd take the opertunity to throw an aftermarket heatsink on the CPU - as stated previously Sythe's and Thermaltake's offerings are hard to beat. You can either run passively, or put a low speed, sub-20dB 120mm fan on - I've a push pull setup from two Noctua fans on my Thermalright Ultima-i90.

With digicol pointing to the power pack being available on ebuyer for cheaper, it might be worth seeing if you can get any more/all parts from them for cheaper as they do free 5 day postage on orders over £50.

Cases are an individual choice, e.g. I don't like cases with doors whilst other people don't like to look at their drives. However, if you're going to be hiding this all away you don't really need to spend £50+ on a case; ebuyer have some cheap cases. Just remember that they may or may not come with case fans, either way you'll want some quiet (<20dB) ones from the likes of Noctua or Hiper and possibly a fan controller anyway.
 
I going to site down later and go through all this and get it ordered. Thanks for all the input, will let you know how I get on.

Frenchman
 
Right, got it all done. Went with the Asus P5E-VM, 2 gb ram, the E8500 CPU and the silent PSU, also opted for the blu-ray/hd-dvd drive and it's all working great :)

My CPU seems to run at around 44 deg C, hope this is normal. I just need to get the Sat PCI card brought and fitted and it should all be good.

Oh, nearly forgot I purchased the Logitech DiNovo Mini

http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/images/logitech_dinovo_mini_hands.gif

And it's very cool, lol

Frenchman
 
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