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First HTPC

V

VIce2312

n00b
Joined
Dec 6, 2009
Messages
7
Hi,

I'm looking to build a HTPC but can't seem to find the minimum requirements or anything to watch/rip blue-ray, etc.

Can someone point me in the right direction?
 
Wow, I was going to suggest the same components. That seems to be a pretty popular build. You can't go wrong with it.
 
You honestly can't. I've had people who know what they're doin' down to a key, and agreed with this build. Just get yourself a nice HDD and you'll be in the clear.
 
Thanks, that seems like some good components.

Just curious, I come from being gaming oriented on my computer, will that build be able to play/rip movies in 1080p?

I have a C2D 6400 lying around that I was planning on throwing in really just because I have it.

Also, is 2GB enough or 4GB better? I'm assuming Vista is generally used? or Media Center perhaps?

Thanks.
 
2GB of ram for an HTPC is plenty. Anyone here will back me up on that.

It should rip blurays just fine but I believe that's more of a software based task.

The E6400 is a decent sized proc, but it's the mobo that I suggested that a lot of people like. The IGP is great, and fully capable of doing 1080p playback with audio, and AMD's 240 is a great proc to pair with it.

Don't run Vista on it, please... Especially if you are going to be using the Media Center. Vista's Media Center is absolute crap, but Win7's MC is fantastic. Go with Win7 anyways, it takes up less power to idle/run and has a -poop- ton of drivers.
 
For more information about building your own HTPC then you may ever need, I suggest giving this a viewing from the HTPC section at AVSforums.com

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17591247#post17591247

That is his latest, updated just this past November. I think you will be quite amazed at how little of hardware you need to have a decent HTPC. It's only when you start tossing in gaming that forces the requirements up.
 
If you really interested in ripping blu rays then I would suggest using a quad core processor and some big ass HDD's. Ripping blu rays is CPU intensive and takes up a butt load of space. Or you could offload both those functions onto a workstation and file server and go with a low power budget build HTPC.
 
Crim, I have never has a AMD board. Is there any settings in the bios I should make?
 
OK with the intel stuff there is like 3 or 4 settings to always make for performance, but this bios is really different. lol.
 
Doesn't sound like you need much power at all for your uses. Don't over-do it or you'll just be wasting your money. A budget build can definitely do what you're looking for :)
 
VIce2312 said:
Thanks for all the advice.

@Sungaisu, I would rather find an alternative to that board seeing as how I already have an Intel CPU I can use.

I'm in between these two boards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128396

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131387

I'm leading more towards the second one, the Asus. Any advice?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Since you're planning on watching HD content, neither mobo will do good job. You're gonna either need to go with a mobo based on the 9300/9400 chipset or an additional video card like HD 4350, HD 4550, HD 4650, etc.
 
I hope you plan on adding a video card to that board cause the onboard is garbage for anything but regular SD content.
VIce2312 said:
Thanks for all the advice.

@Sungaisu, I would rather find an alternative to that board seeing as how I already have an Intel CPU I can use.

I'm in between these two boards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128396

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131387

I'm leading more towards the second one, the Asus. Any advice?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
VIce2312 said:
I plan on using a 8800GTX I have lying around.
Click to expand...

As CrimandEvil said,the 8800GTX would not help out at all when it comes to watching HD content. The 8800GTX, 8800 Ultra, and 8800GTS 640/320MB did not come with any sort of chip that could offload the decoding of HD content.
 
Oh. Well that sucks. lol.

Is it better than to get a mobo with integrated graphics capable of HD playback, or get a graphics card?

If so, are there any recommendations for an intel motherboard? (I already have an Intel cpu I can use)

Or a graphics card? I've heard Ati is generally used in HTPC's.

Thanks.
 
VIce2312 said:
Oh. Well that sucks. lol.

Is it better than to get a mobo with integrated graphics capable of HD playback, or get a graphics card?

If so, are there any recommendations for an intel motherboard? (I already have an Intel cpu I can use)

Or a graphics card? I've heard Ati is generally used in HTPC's.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You've already got recommendations, get a 9000 series NV based board.
 
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