Proposed HTPC hardware up for review

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Keetha

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
356
Case - Silverstone Lascala
Mobo - Epox EP-9NPA+
CPU - AMD 64 3000+ Venice
Memory - 2x512mb Corsair C2
HDD - 200gb Seagate
Optical - Lite-On Dual Layer Burner
Sound Card - HAD Digital X-Mystique
Video Card - Gigabyte 6600GT
PSU - SeaSonic 420w
PVR - Hauppauge 150
Remote - Undecided
Microsoft MCE2005

What do you all think?
 
Looks good so far

The only thing i would change/tweak if the rig were my own: Ram, performance ram isn't really necessary in an htpc, but i'm sure it wouldn't hurt either. You can shave a few dollars off by going with corsair/kingston value ram. A gig isn't really necessary with htpc apps at the moment either, but its all good.

Oh yea, you might want to go with the NEC 3520a dvd burner, its better than the lite-on all around, and a few bucks less i think.

enjoy your new toy :)
 
The reason I went for the RAM is because I plan on doing some gaming on it too, and mmorpgs like RAM :). I'll definitely look into that other burner though, thanks.
 
Hmmm the NEC doesn't have DVD-R DL, only DVD+r... But it's $9 cheaper. All the other stats are the same. I'm proabably going to have to reevaluate whether or not I want DL anyways I guess.
 
Outside of some technical stuff i didn't bother remembering, the NEC is known for being very forgiving with media. Often burning cheapie media at higher than rated speeds. Didn't realize there were two types of DL media, doesn't surprise me though.

The members @ cdfreaks, cdr-info and cdrom-guide highly regard it.
 
Keetha said:
Case - Silverstone Lascala
Mobo - Epox EP-9NPA+
CPU - AMD 64 3000+ Venice
Memory - 2x512mb Corsair C2
HDD - 200gb Seagate
Optical - Lite-On Dual Layer Burner
Sound Card - HAD Digital X-Mystique
Video Card - Gigabyte 6600GT
PSU - SeaSonic 420w
PVR - Hauppauge 150
Remote - Undecided
Microsoft MCE2005

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

Note that the Epox has only three PCI slots. This may be significant if you want three TV tuners because all TV tuner cards are on PCI cards, not PCIe. All of which means you may have to ditch the HAD Digital X-Mystique sound card, unless it comes on a PCIe card and is supported in WMCE 2005.

Why would you want three TV tuners? Two HD tuners and one SD tuner gives you the flexibility to record two HD programs simultaneously, or watch one HD and record another. The SD tuner provides a three way record/watch paradigm.

On the other hand, get two HD tuners on PCI and one USB analogue tuner if PCI slots are an issue.

Get WMCE 2005 with its remote.

Lastly, get the WinTV PVR 150MCE instead of the regular WinTV 150.
 
Tuner: http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/hauppauge-wintvpvr150mce/cName/pvr-cardstv-tuners

The retail version's remote will not work with MCE.

Remote: http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_in...trol-for-windows-xp-mce/cName/remote-controls

If you have SAT or DigiCable then get this MCE remote.

Replace that mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130491
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813186037
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130484

You could go with a PVR 500 and get two tuners on one card instead. Either you ditch MCE or you ditch the X-Mystique cause it's not supported by MCE right now.
 
Hi all.
Does the Microsoft MCE Remote Control for Windows XP MCE only work for Win MCE?

Or could it also be used for WinXP PRO?

Any better remotes if it should be only used for WinXP?

Stephen
 
What exactly is wrong with the mobo I chose other than the PCI slot thing?

About the sound card. I chose this one because of the whole thing about how it's the only add in sound card that will keep a games 5.1 sound in 5.1 and not convert it to 2 channel when going out it's SPDIF. When it comes to MCE2005, isn't it just basically a program that installs on WinXP Pro? If so, then my sound card will be supported in games right?

Also, is the 150MCE a HD or SD tuner?
 
It's an SD tuner, nothing is wrong other then the limited number or PCI slots (which is why I would suggest a PVR500) and the chipset fan (they are very noisy but this is a problem with NF4 boards in general) and the placement of the video card slot will either limit you too two PCI slots or all three depending on what cooling solution you use, and yeah you're right about the sound card.
 
Ok thanks a lot. I think I'll stick with the Epox mobo. I'll get the normal Windows MCE remote. And now I'm definitely thinking about the PVR500.

One more question... Is it possible to just install MCE2005 on my current box to test out the interface and stuff?
 
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