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Advice Needed for HTPC Build/Buy

post #1 of 16
12/4/12 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
I need help!

I have a dedicated theater room with a 120" horizontal width screen, with Mitsubishi HC-3800 Projector, Onkyo 608 Rx with 7.1 audio, LFE equipped Coaster Pavillon reclining theater seats, Panasonic Blu Ray with Wifi, X Box, DVR, Wii. I also have a Harmony One remote. I built and installed everything except for laying the carpet!

I want to rip my (primarily) Blu Ray movies, store them using the HTPC, and play them through my system utilizing XBMC. I also want to be able to browse the internet.I think I want to only rip the movie only, no extras,no foreign language, no subtitles, and I am not interested in compressing the ripped movie. Memory is cheap.

I have NOT gotten an HTPC yet, so I am looking for a small form factor PC. I do have a supply (4) of Toshiba external 1 TB USB hard drives that COULD form the basis for my storage system, if they will work. I want to rip my Blu Ray dvds using a different PC, not the HTPC. I want the HTPC to use Windows 7 and XBMC. I will need Wifi.

So, what processor can handle this?

How much RAM do I need?

What Blu Ray player would be recommended for the ripping job. (I have a fast PC at my office that I can set up to rip Blu Rays while I'm at work. The Blu Ray drive will NOT be installed in the HTPC.)

Do I need a separate video card?

I want to use a remote controller/true keyboard for web browsing. Is the Lenova N5902 good?

What else do I need? If I could find what I'm looking for pre-built that would be great.

Thanks in advance,

David
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post #2 of 16
12/4/12 at 3:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpn View Post

So, what processor can handle this?
How much RAM do I need?
What Blu Ray player would be recommended for the ripping job. (I have a fast PC at my office that I can set up to rip Blu Rays while I'm at work. The Blu Ray drive will NOT be installed in the HTPC.)
Do I need a separate video card?
I want to use a remote controller/true keyboard for web browsing. Is the Lenova N5902 good?
David

So, what processor can handle this = Sandy or Ivy CPU. Anything from G620 and up. If your not budget limited I would recommend a Z77 motherboard with i3 IVY with HD4000 graphics.

RAM = 4GB will work but I would get 8GB just to be safe.

Asus makes a good bluray drive.

No you don't need a video card.

The lenovo remote is great!
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post #3 of 16
12/4/12 at 4:22pm
Pretty sound advice. The hardware is the easy part. I suggest signing up for assassin's blogs for the rest of it.
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post #4 of 16
12/4/12 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reply.

Any thoughts about the suitability of the Toshiba HDDs?

Thanks,

David
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post #5 of 16
12/4/12 at 8:55pm
Thread Starter 
So, are these choices good? I kinda need a small form factor PC so went with ITX. Can't decide on CPU!

Asus Blu Ray Drive for ripping Blu Rays using OTHER PC. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135252

Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128568&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4003003&SID=1r0mtyyny6lnw


CPU Choice #1 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116399&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA

CPU Choice #2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774

Lenovo Remote http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0SF0GY5417

Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231421

Case/Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154091


You guys are great!

David
Edited by dpn - 12/4/12 at 9:02pm
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post #6 of 16
12/4/12 at 9:53pm
I like the 3225 but here's a better deal ($109.99 after rebate): http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i3-3225-Dual-Core-Processor-Cache/dp/B0093H8H8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354684770&sr=1-1&keywords=i3+3225
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post #7 of 16
12/5/12 at 6:15am
+1 for both i3 linked and Assassin guides.

Hardware is easy. Software and set up have learning curve.
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post #8 of 16
12/5/12 at 6:39am
Thread Starter 
Many thanks for the link!

Am I missing the rebate??? Price is showing as $134.99.

David
Quote:
Originally Posted by olyteddy View Post

I like the 3225 but here's a better deal ($109.99 after rebate): http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i3-3225-Dual-Core-Processor-Cache/dp/B0093H8H8I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1354684770&sr=1-1&keywords=i3+3225
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post #9 of 16
12/5/12 at 7:44am
With a combo deal. Add a $25 giftcard and at checkout the giftcard is fully discounted. wink.gif (down the page a bit)
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post #10 of 16
12/5/12 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
Duh! I should have seen that,

Thanks again!
Quote:
Originally Posted by olyteddy View Post

With a combo deal. Add a $25 giftcard and at checkout the giftcard is fully discounted. wink.gif (down the page a bit)
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post #11 of 16
12/10/12 at 6:29am
Thread Starter 
Still deliberating about components...

Newegg has this motherboard going for $69...


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-157-303&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=6

Would this motherboard and this CPU be okay?

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=dbb233065ab1a040519e1597cbc0fff9&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avsforum.com%2Ft%2F1443400%2Fadvice-needed-for-htpc-build-buy&v=1&libid=1355149407787&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct%2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16819116399%26nm_mc%3DKNC-GoogleAdwords%26cm_mmc%3DKNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA&title=Advice%20Needed%20for%20HTPC%20Build%2FBuy&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct%2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16819116399%26amp%3Bnm_mc%3DKNC-GoogleAdwords%26amp%3Bcm_mmc%3DKNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pl...&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13551495870346

Thanks for your opinions!

David
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post #12 of 16
12/10/12 at 1:07pm
Yup motherboard and CPU look great.

Do you have a microcenter near you ?

You can get the i3 for $80 with HD4000 graphics and the Z77 Asrock PRO 3 for $89. That would be the next step up.

Otherwise that motherboard looks like a nice choice.

You might want to check out this CPU instead :

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=G630BOX G630 $58
or

a 3.0ghz G860

$61

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=G860BOX

or a $45

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=G550BOX
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post #13 of 16
12/10/12 at 1:09pm
If you can get the G630 cheaper.. than the G620 your looking at I would say do that.
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post #14 of 16
12/10/12 at 6:28pm
You will disable DXVA2 and use CPU/software with Intel+XBMC. You will have more options with AMD (e.g. A4-3400 or A4-5300)+XBMC. Check XBMC forum, where AMD Llano/Trinity is very popular unlike AVS Forum.
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post #15 of 16
12/13/12 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 
What if I use Windows Media Center?

Thanks,

David
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

You will disable DXVA2 and use CPU/software with Intel+XBMC. You will have more options with AMD (e.g. A4-3400 or A4-5300)+XBMC. Check XBMC forum, where AMD Llano/Trinity is very popular unlike AVS Forum.
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post #16 of 16
12/13/12 at 5:43pm
Trinity / Llano can do whatever Celeron / Pentium can do, and more (e.g. full range RGB, BR 3D [except for A4 Trinity])...
Edited by renethx - 12/13/12 at 5:48pm
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