Yeah, Another Build Thread

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PolygonGTC

[H]ard|Gawd
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I just bought a Core i7 to upgrade my main rig so I decided it was time to build a HTPC and retire the X-Box 360. So, right now I have RAM, MOBO, CPU, and HDD.

DFI LanParty LT P35-T2R
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Zalman CNPS8500
4GB (2x2GB) Mushkin Black XP2-6400 4-4-4-12
Seagate 750GB or 400GB

So, I need to figure out the rest.

PSU: It shouldn't need much anything around the mid 400s should do. I would like something as quite as possible. I was looking at a PC Power & Cooling 470 which I've used in the past and I like it but I'm up for suggestions.

Video: I'll be looking for a full size card, something with passive cooling would be preferred. Obviously it needs and HDMI out.

Sound: I don't have any tosslink outs for the onbard sound on the mobo so I need a sound card. Also, I have little experience with this but It's my understanding that if I use the optical out all the processing is done by the receiver which is what I want. So, in theory I don't need anything expensive?

The case and BD-Rom are easy enough to figure out, but feel free to suggest those as well.
 
Ok lets take things one step at a time here.

Mobo is a damn monster and I am wondering if it is going to end up using more power than it ought to be for HTPC duties. Well as long as it can underclock that is what is important.

CPU the Q6600 you can underclock it way lower I would say even 1ghz will do with a quad.

Sound and video are the same because with Blu Ray you cant push full audio quality out via optical. You have to use HDMI. For best results use the 4670 a fanless type is here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161288&Tpk=4670

But get this one instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854&cm_re=4670-_-14-102-854-_-Product it has a nonstock fan and speed will scale with demand so with blu ray it ought to be very quiet anyway

Edit: The 4670 is worth it anyway because you will save by not having to purchase a sound card (That draws its own power) And if you feel the urge to do a little gaming you can always up the clock back up on the CPU and have at it as the card is more than good enough for most games.
 
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The board can under clock so that shouldn't be an issue. I really like that HIS mainly because of the passive cooling and it should be more than enough for what this system will be doing. However, I need a sound card. I don't have HDMI on my current receiver.
 
Not going HDMI is really going to cut down on the sound quality. Sound is one of the main reasons to go blu so you might consider investing in a new receiver and using the same speakers.

5.1 is more than enough for most movies so perhaps this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117303

If you absolutely demand optical audio however http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118006 (Just make sure you use C-Media drivers NOT the crap that comes on disc)

Edit: Now that I think about it dont many TVs pass Toslink type signals from HDMI and pass them off as optical audio? You may not have to buy a sound card after all. Perhaps build it and test before buying a sound card is in order?

Edit2: You can test this with the 360. Conenct the 360 HDMI to the TV and TV to reciever. The receiver ought to indicate AC3 (DD or DTS) 5.1 input
 
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How is using optical going reduce sound quality compared to HDMI. They're both digital. Tosslink, coaxial, and HDMI just send 1s and 0s and the receiver does the processing. It's all the same.

The receiver I have isn't a bad receiver, it just doesn't have HDMI inputs. It's a Yamaha RX-V659 and it's 7.1 surround.

I have seen T.V.s with the optical out and that would be a good idea, but I don't have the T.V. yet either. I'm still shopping for one.

That sound card looks good as I don't need anything fancy, just something with a tosslink out and 5.1 is fine. There are like five movies done in 7.1.
 
Because Blu ray has 5.1 or 7.1 in lossless PCM audio if HDMI is not used it downconverts to AC3 audio which is compressed and far less in quality.

If you can accept that its fine but there is no reason to have to buy a sound card if the TV will just pass the toslink data to the receiver.
 
Zachstar said:
Because Blu ray has 5.1 or 7.1 in lossless PCM audio if HDMI is not used it downconverts to AC3 audio which is compressed and far less in quality.

If you can accept that its fine but there is no reason to have to buy a sound card if the TV will just pass the toslink data to the receiver.
Click to expand...

Sure, but that only matters if you have Dolby True HD, which I don't. I don't see the benefit to going to it yet.
 
You dont but others do therefore the others will get full quality. You will get DVD quality audio. Which is good but nowhere near as crisp and real as lossless.
 
Zachstar said:
You dont but others do therefore the others will get full quality. You will get DVD quality audio. Which is good but nowhere near as crisp and real as lossless.
Click to expand...

I've auditioned a Dolby True HD system against standard AC3 and I couldn't hear a difference. This is just like the whole CD Audio vs. MP3 debate. It's far too subjective.
 
PolygonGTC said:
I've auditioned a Dolby True HD system against standard AC3 and I couldn't hear a difference. This is just like the whole CD Audio vs. MP3 debate. It's far too subjective.
Click to expand...

Then the system was hooked up via opitical and not HDMI because there is no way compressed audio will be as good as lossless. I was blown away at the audio quality of my first blu ray movie. And if you want to hear insane quality try watching "Master and Commander" In TrueHD. You can hear so much more activity you could not with DVD
 
Zachstar said:
Then the system was hooked up via opitical and not HDMI because there is no way compressed audio will be as good as lossless. I was blown away at the audio quality of my first blu ray movie. And if you want to hear insane quality try watching "Master and Commander" In TrueHD. You can hear so much more activity you could not with DVD
Click to expand...

I can't debate that. Like I said, it's far too subjective to be definitive. There are too many variables such as speakers, receiver, and the source that can effect the end product. Also, it was through the HDMI.

I'm not saying there isn't a difference but if I want to bump up to Dolby True HD then I'm looking at getting an expensive receiver and I just don't have the money for it now. I just upgraded my main rig, I'm building an HTPC, and I'm buying a new T.V.

I will move to it at some point, just not now.
 
Very well then but lets see if the TV will redirect a dolby stream or 2 channel PCM first. And BTW does your receiver accept coaxial toslink? If so you may be able to go with some kind of cheap soundblaster that has toslink out and use a headphone jack to RCA cable.
 
Zachstar said:
Very well then but lets see if the TV will redirect a dolby stream or 2 channel PCM first. And BTW does your receiver accept coaxial toslink? If so you may be able to go with some kind of cheap soundblaster that has toslink out and use a headphone jack to RCA cable.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it has the digital coax and toss link. Here are a couple of cards I've been looking at.

AzuenTech X-Raider 7.1

HT Omega Striker 7.1
 
The thing is toslink is toslink. PCM will be 2 channel anyway so there wont be a huge difference in sound quality. AC3 is just passed through the cable with no processing before the receiver.

I would say you could get some kind of cheapo sound blaster live from some kind of best buy or local electronics store. Just make sure one of the plugs says "DIGITAL OUT"
 
Okay! Lets just forget that we ever had to deal with that whole tangent and actually get back to the OP and his set up!

So, I'm a little confused on some things here so please clarify for me:
1.) TV has HDMI, receiver does not.
2.) Receiver has optical in, mobo does not have optical out

Correct?

If so, then you have a few options.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829126004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121310
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121355

So, while anything with optical out will work I have no idea how good that $9 sound card thing works and I don't trust Newegg reviews. The other card comes from a trusted brand but it's pricey for a simple solution.

As for the video card, you really don't mean much either (from what I gather) so that little guy will work too. It's not ideal but it will work and look great.

Your third option is to get a cheap G45 or 9000 series mobo with optical out and simplify your HTPC and use the onboard sound and video.

Any of the options will work and are good alternatives.

PS*
I would highly recommend getting an old Chaintech AV710. It's an awesome card (use to have one, sold it) and it's fairly cheap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Chaintech-7-1-C...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cec2c7114
 
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CrimandEvil said:
Okay! Lets just forget that we ever had to deal with that whole tangent and actually get back to the OP and his set up!

So, I'm a little confused on some things here so please clarify for me:
1.) TV has HDMI, receiver does not.
2.) Receiver has optical in, mobo does not have optical out

Correct?

If so, then you have a few options.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829126004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121310
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121355

So, while anything with optical out will work I have no idea how good that $9 sound card thing works and I don't trust Newegg reviews. The other card comes from a trusted brand but it's pricey for a simple solution.

As for the video card, you really don't mean much either (from what I gather) so that little guy will work too. It's not ideal but it will work and look great.

Your third option is to get a cheap G45 or 9000 series mobo with optical out and simplify your HTPC and use the onboard sound and video.

Any of the options will work and are good alternatives.

PS*
I would highly recommend getting an old Chaintech AV710. It's an awesome card (use to have one, sold it) and it's fairly cheap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Chaintech-7-1-C...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cec2c7114
Click to expand...

Correct, the new T.V. will have HDMI but the receiver doesn't. For the sound card, my only concern is that it will pass through and not do any processing and send a raw signal to the receiver to do the processing. I would like something with a little grunt as I do like the idea of playing certain games on it.

CrimandEvil said:
Wait. It does? Then why not just use the SPDIF out (coax) that is onboard your motherboard??
Click to expand...

No, we were talking about the receiver. The mobo has an onboard card that you had an add on card that you connect to the mobo that had and SPDIF in and out, but I tossed it out. I have no issues buying another sound card, it's less of a hassle then getting a new mobo and finding someone to buy my DFI, plus I like the DFI.
 
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It seems there is like 2 or three different pinout standards for SPDIF. However the guide that comes with the mobo might note the connection types.

There are 3 points. Data out, 5v, and ground. The 5V is to power an optical light but its just as possible to mod together a cable by cutting into a space RCA cable. And it is the best option because it does not rely on your TV and drivers for it usually come with WIn 7
 
Man, you really don't want me to get a sound card do you? :D

Hmmm, that's an interesting way to do it. I need to look first off and see if the onboard audio even does pass through or not.
 
So what did you end up getting to make all that work? I assume you will be undervolting and underclocking the quad right?

Did you get a 4670 to go with it?
 
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