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+--- Thread: Buy or Build? (/showthread.php?tid=124992)
Buy or Build? - Whiteboog - 2012-03-08
Please forgive me for yet another which HTPC do I get question but I am in a situation where I could really do with a quite specific answer if anyone is willing to lend their time.
I would like a HTPC in my television cabinet for media, and Xbox quality gaming (or ideally BF3 on low settings quality gaming).
It does not need to be tiny - about the size of a standard non-gaming off the shelf PC or smaller, ideally not a tower - and it does not need to be completely silent (xbox noise level is fine).
My dilemma is that I plan to upgrade my main PC shortly with a new graphics card. I currently have a GeForce 8800 GTX which does everything I need gaming wise. Given that i'm soon to have a graphics card spare I would like to use it for a HTPC but given the enourmous power demands of this card and the potential heating issues I'm not sure how that would work in a HTPC.
My questions are:
1. Is it practical to build a HTPC around my old GPU and what is the likely cost?
2. What off the shelf HTPC's are there which would suit my needs - i.e a fair bit of power, all the trimmings, and doesn't need to be too small/silent?
My second question is the more important really as I don't see the first option being practical. Ideally I would like to do this for under £300.
I've had a good look around online and basically i'm looking for an ASUS EEE BOX but a bit bigger and a bit noiser with more power.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
- Diggs - 2012-03-08
While a bit dated, this guide is excellent.
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199
Eskro has many posts about this topic and if you look through his stuff, your answers are there.
My input, I would go with a more modern video card that has a lower power requirement than the 8800gtx (which is a great card but is showing its age). There are many newer solutions in the $40 range that should do what you want and draw far fewer watts.
Diggs
- Whiteboog - 2012-03-08
Thank you for the advice. I will look into the guide fully over the weekend when I have more time. It doesn't appear to make reference to gaming though.
I realise this should be evident from the specs of the components but i'm afraid these days I really have no idea what runs what.
- Diggs - 2012-03-08
This might be a little help.
CPU info
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106.html#xtor=RSS-182
Graphics Card info
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html