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HTPC What Else Do I Need?

J

jedihobbit

Gawd
Joined
Nov 3, 2005
Messages
963
I have some parts lying around and am considering convincing the wife we need a HTPC to replace the AVR we currently have. (Will need suggestions as to why the HTPC is necessary to replace a fairly new hardly used LiteOn LVW-5115GHC+!). What I need to look at is what I need to finish the system and figure cost. The following “specs” shows what I have and what I know I need, I sure there is some hardware needed that I don’t have a clue about (TV Tuner and the like??)

Case: SilverStone SG01-B Evolution
PSU: TBD Edit...How Big?
Mobo: Abit NF-M2 nView
CPU: AM2 4000+ Brisbane (NAA4G 0743GPPW)
GPU: On Board 6150
Sound: On Board
Memory: Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4 (2 x 1024) or
OCZ OCZ2P800R22GK Rev2 (2 x 1024)
Optical Drive: TDB
HDD: Hitachi 7K250, HDT22525DLA380, 250GB
FDD: NONE
HFS: Zalman CNPS8000-CU
NB: Stock
SB: Stock
Case Cooling:
Side (HDD Bay) > 1 x 80mm intake fan (2050rpm, 21dBA)
Rear > 1 x 80mm exhaust fan (2050rpm, 21dBA)
Top > 1 x 80mm TBD
PSB > TBD
Software: TBD

So bring on your suggestions as to if what I have will work and the most important part the “what do I need”.

This will be mated with the following components (currently have in place with the AVR).

1. Mitsubishi LT-46131
2. Bose AV3-2-1 Media Center
3. Explorer 3250HD digital box (from Comcast)

Also would I need to come up with a 5.25 “display” of some sort?
 
If you plan on playing HD content, you may want to consider a Radeon HD3450, which will quite happily accelerate playback of almost anything you might want to throw at it. They're really inexpensive, too.

A front-panel display is fairly uncommon, so I don't think it's necessary, but nobody will stop you from getting one.

As far as cooling goes, the parts you have won't be generating all that much heat, really, so you can afford to cut down on the fans. Keep in mind that there are OEM computers out there with far less cooling and parts that generate a whole lot more heat, and also keep in mind that since this is a HTPC build, you want to minimize noise as much as you can.

For software, well, you've got plenty of options. There's always MCE of various varieties, or you can choose a separate application. Some (MediaPortal, GB-PVR) are free, others (Sage, BeyondTV) are not. And there's also MythTV, which is free end-to-end, and has a lot more flexibility.
 
For your PSU, you probably won't need more than 450W, especially since you won't be running one of the higher end GPU's.
 
Actually, even a lowly 250W PSU would be enough, provided it's rated honestly. You've got a 65W CPU, perhaps 15W for your hard drive, another dozen watts or so for your entire motherboard, half a dozen watts for your RAM, and let's be generous and call it 20W for your optical drive at full tilt. That doesn't even hit 125W total.
 
The real issue right now is getting a modular that I am willing to pay for! As I'm one who can't leave anything I build alone, I'll more than likely try for 450 - 500W (if I can afford it!!).

However it is nice to know I can shoot lower than the moon for power. The only other thing I can possibly think of that would require power is if I opt for stand alone GPU. As budget will always be an issue on this one don't see anything too "power hungrey".
 
Seeing that you can get a HD3450 without so much as a fan on the heatsink, it's not going to add a great deal of load. Looking at this review of the HD3650, the total power draw of a system including the 3650 was about 225W. That was
1) at the wall, so the actual power draw from the PSU was at most 180W
2) including a HD3650, which will draw more power than a HD3450, and
3) using a C2E QX6850, which has a power envelop 65W higher than that of your CPU
4) at 100% load

So even a relatively very weak PSU would be plenty to power your rig.
 
Still need some more part suggestions……..stuff I know I need

1. OS
2. TV Tuner? Not sure just “how much” I need on this. Right now running Comcast cable with an HD box
3. PSU**
4. Any IR stuff
5. Optical Drive…I assume at a minimum it will need to have BluRay read abilities?
6. What else??

** This just got “solved” compliments of you know who! Just won one of these > Kingwin Absolute Power ABT-600CW and may replace the Enermax Liberty 500W in YsSMN with that going to the HTPC. Don’t think I need all of the blue LEDs lighting up a HTPC!
 
I'm a fan of MythTV--totally free, and it doesn't support foolishness like the broadcast flag. It takes a little more effort to get going, though.
 
The sad truth is after finding out just how little the HTPC was going to do for me, I almost didn't care! :eek: Now I have parts to sell and I've fallen in love with the SilverStone Evolution case and don't want to get rid of it......may just have to hid that part! :D ;)
 
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