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Help with mITX board for basic HTPC use

post #1 of 14
9/14/10 at 2:01pm
Thread Starter 
I've seen some spread out threads but nothing concise and nothing recent.

I'm looking for something relatively new that I can either build or buy that will fit the following needs (basic IMO)

1. Playback of 1080p content with no stutter (all MKV no physical media)
2. Virtually silent. No fans if possible but quiet if I need. I can put in an SSD
3. Very small form factor. Assumed I would need a mITX board but open to opinions.
4. Plays back flash content with no issues

Like I said, nothing revolutionary. I'm currently using a Atom N330 through Win7MC and MediaBrowser and for the most part it works well (haven't tried flash yet) but it is a little slow at times. I would like something snappier. Since I need to put a HTPC at a new TV I figured this was the time to ask.

Thanks for the help

Josh
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post #2 of 14
9/14/10 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshFink View Post

I've seen some spread out threads but nothing concise and nothing recent.

I'm looking for something relatively new that I can either build or buy that will fit the following needs (basic IMO)

1. Playback of 1080p content with no stutter (all MKV no physical media)
2. Virtually silent. No fans if possible but quiet if I need. I can put in an SSD
3. Very small form factor. Assumed I would need a mITX board but open to opinions.
4. Plays back flash content with no issues

Like I said, nothing revolutionary. I'm currently using a Atom N330 through Win7MC and MediaBrowser and for the most part it works well (haven't tried flash yet) but it is a little slow at times. I would like something snappier. Since I need to put a HTPC at a new TV I figured this was the time to ask.

Thanks for the help

Josh

Have you checked out the sticky thread?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...i-ITX%20System
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post #3 of 14
9/14/10 at 2:40pm
If you want snappy, the i3-530 is really nice. renethx's Mini-ITX Intel (iGPU) system should work quite nicely. It even handles the occasional transcoding job with ease (e.g. DVD -> iPod/PSP). One nice thing about it is, barring future 3D implementations, it should be more than fast enough to handle videos even without hardware acceleration. Alas, the issue with 24p doesn't seem to solved still. If you're affected by the issue, though, you could always install a discrete GPU.
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post #4 of 14
9/14/10 at 3:32pm
I don't have an issue with the 24p, so the Intel DH55JG has been great for me.
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post #5 of 14
9/14/10 at 3:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcs2tx View Post

I don't have an issue with the 24p, so the Intel DH55JG has been great for me.

Forgot to mention with the Intel i3-530 CPU.
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post #6 of 14
9/14/10 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcs2tx View Post

I don't have an issue with the 24p, so the Intel DH55JG has been great for me.

Except I doubt you'll be able to find it for sale. The model number for Intel's board is DH57JG.
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post #7 of 14
9/14/10 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the info. On those systems mentioned what is the noise level on them? It's going to sit in my bedroom so I'd like something very quiet.
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post #8 of 14
9/14/10 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovejedd View Post

Except I doubt you'll be able to find it for sale. The model number for Intel's board is DH57JG.

This http://goo.gl/ULT5 ?
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post #9 of 14
9/14/10 at 11:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovejedd View Post


Except I doubt you'll be able to find it for sale. The model number for Intel's board is DH57JG.

Thanks for the correction. I have 3 different builds using DH55TC, DH57DD and DH57JG. Sorry for transposing the model numbers.
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post #10 of 14
9/14/10 at 11:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshFink View Post

Thanks for the info. On those systems mentioned what is the noise level on them? It's going to sit in my bedroom so I'd like something very quiet.

I have the DH57JG in a fanless case with a SSD and no optical (reads movies off the server), so the only noise to consider is from the CPU fan. So far, I've stayed with the stock fan from Intel that comes with the i3-530. My plan was to upgrade to a quieter fan if necessary, but I dont notice anything. A number of people upgrade the CPU fan, but I get the impression that most people just stick with the stock fan because it is quiet enough.
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post #11 of 14
9/15/10 at 5:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcs2tx View Post

I have the DH57JG in a fanless case with a SSD and no optical (reads movies off the server), so the only noise to consider is from the CPU fan. So far, I've stayed with the stock fan from Intel that comes with the i3-530. My plan was to upgrade to a quieter fan if necessary, but I dont notice anything. A number of people upgrade the CPU fan, but I get the impression that most people just stick with the stock fan because it is quiet enough.

THanks.. That's a huge help.
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post #12 of 14
9/15/10 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Do the requirements go up for the HTPC if I want to put in a BluRay player to play physical media? Up from the I3 I mean.
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post #13 of 14
9/15/10 at 9:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshFink View Post

Do the requirements go up for the HTPC if I want to put in a BluRay player to play physical media? Up from the I3 I mean.

No. My two other i3 machines have a blu-ray drive and each works with no problem playing bluray from the optical.
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post #14 of 14
9/16/10 at 5:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcs2tx View Post

No. My two other i3 machines have a blu-ray drive and each works with no problem playing bluray from the optical.

Thank You
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