CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Zebu Fellenz]

I'm updating my HTPC soon as I'll be using my current components, and some parts from my pile to build my brother a budget machine he can use for gaming.

The last time I built a computer was 2006 so I'm a little bit outdated. My first question is about video cards, all I need on my HTPC is a system that can play BD, and 1080p BD MKV rips so I'm thinking I may be able to get away with onboard video, or would I be better served with a cheaper discrete card?

I use Mike Eby's excellent EAC3 to gui to do my rips, and while it works fine I would be happy if I could speed it up a little.

Honestly I'm overwhelmed with choices and have no idea what would be best for my needs, dual core, quad core, DDR2, DDR3, AMD, Intel? I use AMD now, and my only reason for sticking with AMD is I have a very nice Zalman HSF that I use, but if Intel is much better bang for my buck I have no problems switching.

I don't plan on doing any gaming, but I would like to build a machine that I could game with if I chose to, with the addition of a fast GPU.

Other little bits of info, my case is full ATX, I have 5 SATA drives, I need two PCI slots, and I drive two analog displays.

So what do the experts recommend?

Thanks,

Erik

[Spanky Ham]

Well, I am kicking myself (actually Anand) for not getting the Phenom II X2 last week for $99. Anand just did a story on this CPU and says that there is really good chance that you can unlock the other two cores. When I get back from Florida, this is the CPU/mobo combo that I will be looking for from Frys. You can get the CPU for $90 at Newegg. A good mobo is around $80 and 4gb of memory is another $75. Onboard graphics should be ok, but you can get a cheap VC for around $50.

[Zebu Fellenz]

Spanky,

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm assuming you're talking about the Phenom II 550 X2 Black Edition, right?

This is going to show how CPU stupid I am, but why a 3.1 Phenom II dual core over a 2.6 Athlon II quad core for about the same money. I know that if the other two cores on the Phenom can be unlocked successfully it would be the better choice, but if the unlock didn't work would the Phenom still be a better choice?

[emdawgz1]

MOBO.. Asrock P55 Deluxe. http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P55%20Deluxe

Intel i5 processor.

Crucial 4GB DDR3 -1333 http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT2KIT25664BA1339

[LOTREE]

Personally I don't see a need to Overclock. I've waited 10 years before buying/building my first computer from the case up, before that it was hand me down parts or bits here and there to get me by. Over that time frame I've seen countless processors come and go, diehard guru's OC'ing, water cooling, etc. My Athlon X2 240 I paid $65 for is now better than something 1-2 years old so why bother.

First off is noise an issue? If so look for a low wattage processor that you could passively cool (although 45w chips are shown to use about 100w with load, same as a quad core). I have no issues with the onboard ATI HD4200 graphics and VIA VT1708S 7.1 surround sound. The kicker, currently the AMD 785 chipset cannot do 7.1 LCPM over HDMI and is instead limited to 2.1 channels. A horrible design flaw but I'm running through a optical/toslink cable anyway but limited to 5.1 surround. Due to that Intel might be a better option or a stand alone Video and Sound card. I'm currently only using 2.1 until I build a set of front towers so for now I'm pleased. I'm more concerned with visual at the moment. Personally I like AMD for the lower price and the mATX boards offered and geared more to HTPC setups.

If you're on a budget go dual core. The X2 is a great processor and it's currently in my desktop which I run Adobe Lightroom for photo editing plus watch tv on at the same time and it runs smoothly often with 600photos in a batch not to mention with only 2GB of G-skill DDR3 1333( PC3-10600) 8-8-8-24 ram. That said I will be swapping the X2 240 in the desktop for the X4 620. I was just lazy at the time and didn't bother when I put it together.

The Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 is slightly higher in price than the X4 620, but really only edges it out in gaming. Most everything else the 620 is better not to mention cheaper. An i5 will kill your budget, the i3 might be better suited, best to read reviews to make a decision. The easiest thing to do honestly when building is to find a processor you want and can afford and build around it.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find 2 analog outputs as most built on graphics offer only 1 VGA but a digital DVI (2 missing pins needed for analog) and HDMI ports.

If you don't want to upgrade the case then $300 is an easy target. You shouldn't need to upgrade the PSU(power supply) assuming 300-350w or less unless going with a powered video card.

My latest HTPC as of 12/09 (All prices CDN):

$90 ASUS M4A785T-M/CSM (Motherboard w/ built on ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics)
$65 AMD Athlon II X2 240
$48 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA2 3.5IN 8.5MS 7200RPM 16MB Hard Drive
$77 Nmedia HTPC-5000S Desktop Media Centre Case mATX Silver 1X5.25 4X3.5INT Card Reader N
$35 Sparkle Power SPI 350W ATX12V 2.0 24/20PINS Power Supply W/ 120MM Ball Bearing Fan
*I used a stick of ram from my desktop as the Crucial Ballistix DDR3 1600 I had ordered through NCIX was backordered and now discontinued, getting credit back for that.
*DVD player was taken from desktop also.


A good read: Recommended HTPC Systems – January 2010 Edition

[Zebu Fellenz]

[ecrabb]

I'll be watching this thread with interest, Zebu. Every time I think about upgrading my old P4/3.06 to something that will do BD, and start picking out the parts to do, the price goes to well more than what I'm willing to spend. I'll be interested to see where you land and how much you spend doing it.

SC

[Zebu Fellenz]

[LOTREE]

Prices based off NewEgg.com

$84.99 ASRock H55M LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$124.99 Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core
$63.99 Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 KHX1333C7D3K2/2GX 7-7-7-20
$54.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
$59.99 Lite-On IHOS104 Blu Ray ROM - BD-ROM 4X, DVD-ROM 8X, CD-ROM 32X (TigerDirect.com)
$14.99 Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 USB Green (I didn't include keyboard as I rarely need one for my htpc)
=======
$403.94 (doesn't include shipping or tax)

I can price up a lower end system when I get home. If you don't need a mouse, extra HD or Blu-Ray drive then I'd say it's a good deal. If you want AMD just remember that if using HDMI for audio you'll be limited to 2.1 instead of 7.1.

[Zebu Fellenz]

[CRT_Ben]

[Zebu Fellenz]

[CRT_Ben]

[LOTREE]

What CRT Ben posted will offer the best performance over any AMD processor you were considering, if you just need the basics. Good find Ben! I'd put an extra $10 in for better lower latency ram though.

[Spanky Ham]

[WanMan]

I'm still not seeing the need to unlock and overclock. Its not like the CPUs that came out in 2009 were the first ones capable of doing 1080P BD playback so why is everyone acting like it is? We seem to act like only the latest and greatest CPUs can do the job, and then only if they are overclocked. Its like a friggen religion or something.

[Spanky Ham]

Wan,
I never said anything about overclocking. You are correct that you don't need the fastest I7 to do 1080p. My recommendation was based on the value that one gets with the Phenom. If it unlocks you gain four cores. If it doesn't you still have a good dual core. I assume that Zeb will do some coding,, where four cores will be advantageous.

[AnalogRocks]

Interesting thread. I want to upgrade my 2006 Green Machine PC to something zippier.

Then I need to find an old MB that can do Socket 939 with 8x AGP and 4 or 5 PCI slot's.

[AnalogRocks]

Interesting thread. I want to upgrade my 2006 Green Machine PC to something zippier.

Then I need to find an old MB that can do Socket 939 with 8x AGP and 4 or 5 PCI slot's.

[Zebu Fellenz]

Well the new HTPC is built so I'd best update this thread.

I went with:

Gigabyte MA790GPT-UD3H Motherboard $105.00
AMD Athlon II X4 630 (Clocked at 3.4Ghz) $75.00
4GB Crucial DDR3 RAM $75.00
(2) Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green drives $300

And existing hardware that was reused:

LG HD-DVD Blu-ray drive
Samsung 2TB hard drive
Seagate 500GB hard drive (music, pictures, backups)
Western Digital 320GB hard drive (boot drive)
Netgear WG-311T wireless card
Auzentech X-mystique sound card
450W PSU

So $550 in new hardware, sold my old hardware for $300, I feel it was a $250 well spent.

[greg_mitch]

Damn! I would say so!

You have almost 5TB in one box! I have been spreading it around...jealous!