Guide to Building a HTPC, Workstation and Server - Page 523

Cant wait to see what renethx has been working!

I double that.

+1
Me too

You can follow what he's up to in the 1156 processor thread. Looks like quite a few sweet offerings coming next year in the Sandybridge.

Agreed! I came to this thread again because today is Cyber Monday and I was hoping to see what sweet new components to nab if they're on sale.

Was working on building one using his June info, but I'd better wait.

I already ordered using the June Edition myself but I'm going to wait to unbox to see what Ren comes up with.

anyone know when it will be updated? i was using the june one also but want to wait for the update now

Keep in mind folks, that no matter what Rene posts, that the next newest technology is already around the corner.
When it comes to computers no matter what you buy or build, it is out of date.
Build something NOW and enjoy it, NOW! We have everything we need to embrace almost all aspects of current technology.

> Case: Antec ISK 310-150 Mini-ITX, $77.

Anyone know if this card:

Zotac ZONE (Fanless) GeForce GT430
Dimensions 4.37in x 5.69in - 111.11mm x 144.75mm

will fit in this case?

No it won't. You're limited to half-height cards with that case.

omg i cant wait for the new guide! i hope there will be something around 300. (dont need psu or windows)

Does anyone have an opinion, or any experience with a Thermaltake DH202? I'm trying to figure out what the hotkey buttons are used for. I've Googled Media Lab hotkeys and received the usual ad hits, but I still can't figure out what they actually do. I found some info about ArcSoft hotkeys using an AVS forum search, as well as Windows hotkeys, but none of these seem to apply here. I've read read reviews on the case, and the reviewers go on in great detail about the display, but no mention of what the buttons do. The case looks great but I question how useful these buttons would be, or even a volume control for that matter, since the invention of the remote control.

I'm building my first HTPC and have been reading some of the threads. I was hoping someone could answer some of my concerns.

I have an old Athlon XP 1600 system lying around which I was hoping to use, but because of the AGP port it doesn't seem very feasible. So looking through renethx's June 2010 thread I picked out some components from the 'low end' system build. So my proposed build looks like:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H
CPU: Athlon II X2 250
Memory: 2x2GB DDR3 - whatever is on sale at the time
Graphics Card: Radeon HD 4250 (integrated in the chipset)
HDD: Use existing / network.
PSU: Use existing 450W
Case: Use existing.

What I will be using this for:
- 90%: Streaming videos/movies/music from my PCs on the network (I'm thinking XBMC).
- 9%: Some Youtube / Hulu (if I can get it to work in Canada)
- 1%: Very light gaming. Online flash games maybe...probably not even.

I don't care about Dolby/surround sound/etc. I won't be using it to rip DVDs or any video encoding that I can think of. Basically it'll be primarily to watch movies on my various HDs on my TV.

Is this proposed build going to be good enough for that? I want to be able to watch high def movies, etc and not have to worry about codecs and have it 'just work' after setting it up. I don't want stuttering or bad frame rates, etc. What is it that a higher end system can do (other than gaming) that a low end system can't?

Any advice and/or reassurance is appreciated.

Bingo! I just put a 2TB drive in my HTPC for video and other content and let WHS back it all up.

Folks, just stick your WHS in a dark, cool corner and set it to back up everything you own. Then remove the monitor, keyboard and mouse and don't touch it. If you want to check on it, use the console. When you need to restore or replace a drive with a larger one, WHS will make it stupid simple and fast. I love using it to replace a hard drive. Just add the new drive and restore it with the older drive's image. Done!

OK, so mine has a monitor, etc. still attached , but it's a server and backup device, not an Entertainment center.

Jack

I was considering the same card to be paired with the LIAN-LI Q11B. Anyone know if the Zotac is ok for that?

agreed +1

Regarding the use of a Core I3 in the above build. Is this the max CPU the motherboard/PSU combo can handle? I have an old Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor BX80605I5750 from a desktop I'm getting rid of and would like to re-use it for an HTPC this size. In fact, I already have the low profile Sapphire sitting in a dell slim line. So if the i5 would work -- I'd only need to buy the case/mb as suggested in the guide.

If the PSU is a problem, can I upgrade the one in this case or can anyone suggest an alternative with similar dimensions?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi all

Does any one know when the next HTPC setup's will be posted ?
I want to build one for the first time and this forum looks like a really good place to get help and hopefully help others.

The I5-750 doesn't have a GPU. Only the "Clarkdale" CPUs have the GPU.

The June 2010 guide is still very much relevant. There may be a few items no longer offered but there are replacements listed in this thread if this is true for something you are interested in. I'm not exactly sure why Renethx is releasing a new guide when new videocards and cpu/mobo platforms are going to be released shortly.

I think you just answered your own question.
I'm guessing he's including information about the new line of Intel CPUs due out in Q1 2011, as well as newer video cards that support HDMI 1.4a, 3D, etc.

Right. I understand that. I was going to include a Sapphire 5570 in the mix. This is why I was worried about not having enough power.

Right... I understand why a new guide will be necessary, I just don't understand why he reserved the spots already. I believe you should buy what you are going to buy when you want/need it, otherwise you'll always be waiting for the next best thing. I was just answering hoof_83's post.

I always try to buy the previous generation of gear. Saves money and usually time -- but if I had a money tree I could shake, bleeding edge sure would be more fun

I found a nifty PSU/Watt calculator and answered my own question. With an internal blu-ray drive and the 750, looks like I'd be 32 watts over the recommendation. I could underclock -- but I'm not sure if the MB would support it and I'd rather not get that technical. I'm looking at the Apex MI-008 with a 250 instead.

I need a recommendation on the good video card for my HTPC. I'm using a full height Antec case, and for now I'm using the onboard Intel Core i3 530. I'd like a card with VC-1 acceleration plus all the others, and still be cheap enough. I want to try and get 23.976 playback.

I was thinking about the ATI HD 5570, but after reading this review, I'm rethinking. Anyone think the HD 5670 would be a worthy candidate? Or anything around the 60-90 dollar range that can handle 1080@24p.

Anandtech followed-up that article with a later one to say that the 5570 issues were fixed with a driver update.

Okay, cool, thanks for the info.

I wanted to see the update
now I guess I have to pay
You should sell off your old test builds and spare parts in the HTPC items for sell section. I understand you put a lot of time in, and I appreciate the guides, but I know people would pay to have some of the test builds you are talking about making each month (to avoid the work of doing it their self) and that would support your future equipment and guides. Just a thought