need advice on htpc specs

[dopelogic]

Hi all. I'm looking for a little input on a few different items.

My main htpc server has died and seeing as it was an aging athlon xp2400 based system, I think its time to upgrade.

I am looking to use the system mainly for htpc use, as well as acting as a media server for the rest of the house. The system will need to hook up to my home theater rig via hdmi and will be used for light gaming from time to time.

What I'm torn between:

an amd based system with
phenom II x6 1090t
asrock 860 mb
4 gb ddr3 1333
a single 3 gb/s hdd
xfx 5770

or

an intel based with
core i5 2400 sandy
msi p67a-g43
4 gb ddr3 1600
a single 3 gb/s hdd
xfx 5770

I figure both of these setups are more than adequate for my needs. No OCing will occur. I will probably upgrade ram and vid-card in the future so I need to make sure I'm future proofed to an extent.

Another major concern is power consumption. The rig will be housed in an htpc case that has a proprietary 350w psu.

I'm looking for any and all advice/ suggestions.

Thanks for your time!

 

[dopelogic]

anybody?

 

[Activate: AMD]

both those PC's are way overpowered for your task. Look at the i3 2100 and an H67 board (no need to go p67 with a non-k processor). You can even try using the i3 onboard graphics with the H67 chipset. you could look into the recently released (paper launched) 6450 graphics too. If you don't plan on gaming at all the 5770 is way too much. Those changes will also reduce power consumption nicely.

Alternatively you could go with a cheaper AMD dual core. if you want bitstreamed audio you'd need a discrete card, but the integrated 880/890G graphics would be enough for BD playback.

 

[CrimandEvil]

He does mention that he wants to do some light gaming.
AMD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103921
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873

Intel:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157237
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873

Now, if you drop the nonsense gaming requirement you can easily do this:
Real HTPC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157228
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134637

The point is is that anything you put together for an HTPC is going to be way over powered as long as you require it for gaming as well. Honestly, I tried it and ditched it six months later. I put a 4850 in my HTPC a long time ago and never used it even though I had every intention of doing so. All it did was eat up more power and created more noise and heat.

 

[ZerazaX]

Agreed... if you end up not doing gaming, Zacate will take care of everything on its own easily

 

[dopelogic]

Thanks for the input folks. I defiantly want the OPTION to game a bit on the system. When the old republic comes out I have a feeling that it will be a family affair, so one more system to play on will be nice. Anyway thanks again!