[Stereosteveo]

Hi.

Looking to build HTPC but want full PC features also so the lady can Facebook etc. in the living room. So far I have on the list:

-Case / PS
-MB / CPU
-RAM
-HD
-BD Player
-Wireless Kybd / Mouse

-Vid Capture Card (Maybe Add Later On for DVR..)

I've built a few PC's, mostly for gaming and I have a PS3 running PS3 Media server hardwired to my bedroom PC.

Trying to keep this one really simple (and possibly quiet and low budget) and eliminate a sound card and/or video card as I understand on-board video is sufficient with the right MB.

So as far as I can tell I really only have three questions:

1. Any recommendations for the MB / CPU?
More ports the better. Need HDMI 1.3 out > AVR > TV

2. How to skirt buying a full version of Windows 7?

3. What size TV do I need to get good resolution from say 8-10' away?

Thx a Lot,
-Stv..

[Waveknight]

To give my opinion on #3:

I've got a 37" full-HD LCD in my room, with the distance from screen to head about 8', which I think is more than big enough for my situation. Resolution is flawless, even DVD quality (576p) looks great on it.

[zephyrtear]

Hi.

3. What size TV do I need to get good resolution from say 8-10' away?

Thx a Lot,
-Stv..

It really is up to taste! In my room i have a 47" Full HD LED and i watch it from 8 to 9 feet away. I was going to go for a 42 and already thought it was too big. But now that i saw what a 47 looks like from this distance i wouldnt go back to 42 again!

[Stereosteveo]

But even for PC use on the screen size?
Was thinking 47" also.

[eskro]

check my guide here --> http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199

plenty of info you'll find handy, including suggestion on what to buy!

[Stereosteveo]

Thanks for all the help and hard work put into the guides gentlemen.
Great website here.

I guess one main question I have is:
1. Is a dedicated graphics card really necessary these days?

According to what I've read it's not.
Example:
http://www.pcmediacenter.com.au/forum/to...-for-htpc/

I'll keep looking for the answer here.

Thx

[eskro]

answer is NO, when the CPU/iGPU combo is strong enough
answer is YES, when the CPU/iGPU combo is not strong enough

ok what does this mean?
if you look in my build suggestions,
the 3 mini-ITX builds dont require an extra video card to playback 1080P flawlessly...
because they have been tested and approved many times...

However, in all my Micro-ATX builds,
they do require an extra video card to playback 1080P flawlessly...
because most micro-ATX motherboards have insufficient iGPU's for 1080P playback,,
again, those have been tested and approved many times...

[Stereosteveo]

Thx a lot.

My bad, I assumed the "+" meant:
xxxx (CPU) + yyyy (dedicated video card)

But now I see these are on-board gpu chipset #'s.:

Mini-ITX] Zacate 2x1.6Ghz + HD6310 ($183)
[Mini-ITX] Celeron 2x2.6Ghz + m9300 ($216)
[Mini-ITX] Pentium 2x3.0Ghz + m9300 ($232)

Again made clear here:
Q. Which of the Mini-ITX builds can accommodate an HD5xxx series, GT210 or GT430 GPU Card?
A. Any of of them!!

As u can tell I'm slow sometimes...,
-Stv..

[eskro]

no worries

[T800]

1. I wouldn't worry about outputs as you can always split them. I split my output via a HDMI splitter to my TV/PJ/AMP.

3. As far as screen size is concerned this graph can help. In the last 5 years I have been 10' away from a 32", 40" and a 50" TV. The bigger I go the better (quality HD) looks.
At 50" I get the full benefit of 720p but not 1080p but I can see the difference.

Heres a chart for viewing distances:
http://s3.carltonbale.com/resolution_chart.html