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Please critique my HTPC build..

post #1 of 9
11/23/09 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
Hello Members,

Please critique my build, I am a first timer. My minimum requirement is to play Blu-Ray/HD. I would like to use HDMI as the interface to transmit both audio and video. I am especially not sure if the motherboard I am planning on using is recommended.If anybody has any experience using it or have any alternative suggestions that would be appreciated.

I bought this video card:

XFX GT220XZNF2 GeForce GT 220 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card


The processor I bought is:

Intel Dual Core

The mobo I am planning to buy is:

GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2H LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

I am planning on using Media-Portal as the media center software...

Thanks in advance!...
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post #2 of 9
11/23/09 at 9:06am
Curious as to why you purchased a separate video card when that board has an onboard x4500 that should handle HTPC duties?
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post #3 of 9
11/23/09 at 9:12am
If you don't need the video card to play games then I would just use the onboard video, I have 3 htpc's and only 1 uses a video card only because the onboard video is older and cant do Bluray playback. All of mine use mediaportal and run full 1080p HD video and Blurays just fine.

Thats just personal preference for me, theres no need to have to get rid of more heat from the video card and to use more power than needed.
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post #4 of 9
11/23/09 at 10:02am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your replies!. So Can is use the HDMI on the mobo I chose to transmit both audio and video. I got the feedback that the G41 has a basic X4500 GPU with limited hardware video decode acceleration and hardware deinterlacing support, which is why I bought a separate video card. But if you feel that this mobo is good enough, I will return the graphics card as I am not using it for gaming....

Please let me know your thoughts...
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post #5 of 9
11/23/09 at 10:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by confusedguy View Post

Thanks for your replies!. So Can is use the HDMI on the mobo I chose to transmit both audio and video. I got the feedback that the G41 has a basic X4500 GPU with limited hardware video decode acceleration and hardware deinterlacing support, which is why I bought a separate video card. But if you feel that this mobo is good enough, I will return the graphics card as I am not using it for gaming....

Please let me know your thoughts...

i'd go for a g45 board. cant be that much a difference in price.
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post #6 of 9
11/23/09 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_311 View Post

i'd go for a g45 board. cant be that much a difference in price.

Seconded.
Look for a board with the Intel G45 chipset or the Nvidia 9300/9400 chipset. Both series chipsets should handle HD video + LPCM audio without a problem.
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post #7 of 9
11/23/09 at 11:18am
It's true that G41 can't do blu-ray decoding. I'd spend a little more and get a G45 board and return the video card. Fewer parts = less heat = less noise.
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post #8 of 9
11/23/09 at 11:24am
of course the bluray capability is tied to teh processor... so you may want a core 2 duo.

you can try it though, if it does suffice it wont be hard to find an affordable card to add later..
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post #9 of 9
11/23/09 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
Hello Everybody,

Thanks for your suggestions!. What do you think of this board? I am sorry for the ignorance..just want to make sure because this is my first build and as suggested I will be returning the graphics card..

SUPERMICRO MBD-C2SEA-O LGA 775 Intel G45 HDMI ATX Intel Motherboard

Sorry I unable to post urls yet...

Thanks!
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