[stevenblanc]

Hey folks,

I had put together a HTPC parts list previously, but didnt have the cash on hand to put it together. Set a side a little bit to make a new build and I'm ready to order the parts. In the meantime suppliers have changed their stock so I re-evaluated my build. Here's what I'm planning:


CHASSIS: $260
Moneual Black Aluminum MonCaso 320B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6811280021


MOTHERBOARD: $80
ASUS F1A55-M/CSM FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6813131797


MEMORY: $55
G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C9D-8GAB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6820231550


CPU/GPU: $110
AMD A8-3870K Unlocked Llano 3.0GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6550D AD3870WNGXBOX
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6819106001


BD DRIVE: $60
ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6827135247


HD (OS): $60
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR60GB 2.5" 60GB SATA III Asynchronous MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6820226247


HD (STORAGE): $120
Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6822148834


I'm looking at these two power supplies:

POWER SUPPLY: $35
Rosewill Stallion Series RD450-2-DB 450W ATX V2.2 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817182022

POWER SUPPLY: $60
COOLER MASTER GX 450W RS450-ACAAD3-US 450W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817171060

I know 450W is over what I need, but I'm leaving a little room for adding in another HD or two, and a 4 channel tv card in the future.

Also, this was the original CPU cooler I was planning to get:

CPU COOLER: $35
Scythe SCSK-1100 100mm Shuriken Rev. B 3 Heat Pipes CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6835185097

However, it's no longer in stock. Anyone have any suggestions for a suitable alternative (preferably available in Canada)?

Thoughts and advice welcome!

Cheers,


Steven

[assassin]

Why an A8?

I just don't get why people continue to choose this for HTPC.

[Palmer]

Why an A8?

I just don't get why people continue to choose this for HTPC.

I'm guessing a lot of people like the idea of getting the high end of the line powerful CPU even when the htpc system won't use a fraction of its processing power. Either that or they might be using their htpc for other computing uses also which require better performance. Or you just don't need to also worry about the high CPU wattage 100+ for the A8.

---

Also isn't using anything with fm1 slot mobo basically not upgradable? I mean it's fine for htpc build and all, but amd will be using fm2 in future for their CPU/gpu setup. At least with intel lga 1155 you can build equivalent htpc with serious future upgrade potential that could save you cash in long run. Just throwing it out there.

[GortWillSaveUs]

Hey folks,

I had put together a HTPC parts list previously, but didnt have the cash on hand to put it together. Set a side a little bit to make a new build and I'm ready to order the parts. In the meantime suppliers have changed their stock so I re-evaluated my build. Here's what I'm planning:


CHASSIS: $260
Moneual Black Aluminum MonCaso 320B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6811280021


MOTHERBOARD: $80
ASUS F1A55-M/CSM FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6813131797


MEMORY: $55
G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C9D-8GAB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6820231550


CPU/GPU: $110
AMD A8-3870K Unlocked Llano 3.0GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6550D AD3870WNGXBOX
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6819106001


BD DRIVE: $60
ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6827135247


HD (OS): $60
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR60GB 2.5" 60GB SATA III Asynchronous MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6820226247


HD (STORAGE): $120
Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6822148834


I'm looking at these two power supplies:

POWER SUPPLY: $35
Rosewill Stallion Series RD450-2-DB 450W ATX V2.2 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817182022

POWER SUPPLY: $60
COOLER MASTER GX 450W RS450-ACAAD3-US 450W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817171060

I know 450W is over what I need, but I'm leaving a little room for adding in another HD or two, and a 4 channel tv card in the future.

Also, this was the original CPU cooler I was planning to get:

CPU COOLER: $35
Scythe SCSK-1100 100mm Shuriken Rev. B 3 Heat Pipes CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6835185097

However, it's no longer in stock. Anyone have any suggestions for a suitable alternative (preferably available in Canada)?

Thoughts and advice welcome!

Cheers,


Steven

Hi Steven:

Unless you have a specific reason for going with an A8 CPU,....I'd suggest that you go with the AMD A6-3500 APU with AMD Radeon 6530 HD Graphics 2.1/2.4GHz Socket FM1 65W Triple-Core Processor - Retail AD3500OJGXBOX

You'll find that this does the job required perfectly and will save you a few coins.

[stevenblanc]

I was thinking to use the HTPC for light gaming as well.

Skyrim, Kingdoms of Armalur, FIFA 2012/2011, and maybe emulation up to N64 and PS1.

I want an entertainment box. I have a couple of logitech wireless gamepads that i was hoping to integrate into the system, and use advanced launcher to start everything within XBMC. Would I get the same performance out of the A6?

[Palmer]

clip of A6-3500 running Skyrim. Check youtube out for videos on the A8 also which would be better for skyrim, but on either version you would want to turn off some features to increase frame rate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jEQw27fbs

clip of a8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTJINibqTvE

[bluray]

Why an A8?

I just don't get why people continue to choose this for HTPC.

Because of the guides in this forum are mostly for AMD APU. It is my fault to bring up APU last year too. After I brought it up in one of the thread, it spread out like wildfire.....I believe that it is this "Great Gift (AMD A8-3850)" thread........as you can see most of the APU threads and builds happened after that day......

Due to heat and noise, I wouldn't want it in a Mini-ITX case though......

[stevenblanc]

Thanks Palmer, while I can't run at a maximum the A8 seems to give better frame rates and Im hoping will give the build a longer life for the extra $25

As for the the mobo choice, the chassis is designed for m-atx boards and I really don't want to have to mod the case or backplate. I spent weeks researching chassis' and the moneual is one of the few that I liked enough to put in my living room so I'm not gonna go back to play that game again.

[assassin]

If you want to give the build a longer life you are choosing the wrong platform.

The Llano is at the end of its rope. Use an i3 or G620 with a discrete card and you will have better gaming, lower wattage, cooler running, and much more upgradability in the future.

[Palmer]

If you want to give the build a longer life you are choosing the wrong platform.

The Llano is at the end of its rope. Use an i3 or G620 with a discrete card and you will have better gaming, lower wattage, cooler running, and much more upgradability in the future.

Good advice

[onizuka]

If you want to give the build a longer life you are choosing the wrong platform.

The Llano is at the end of its rope. Use an i3 or G620 with a discrete card and you will have better gaming, lower wattage, cooler running, and much more upgradability in the future.

Currently running a G630 in the infamous MI-008. What card would recommend for some light to medium gaming? gt430? AMD possibly?

[stevenblanc]

Won't that require me finding a chassis designed for an m-itx board?

EDIT: Missing Remotes review:
http://www.missingremote.com/review/moneual-moncaso-320

indicates that it will accept both m-itx and m-atx boards. While the official website:
http://moneualusa.com/index.php?option=c...Itemid=159

indicates only m-atx. Anyone have any experience with this case and can confirm that I could switch across to an m-itx board?

[bluray]

I was thinking to use the HTPC for light gaming as well.

Skyrim, Kingdoms of Armalur, FIFA 2012/2011, and maybe emulation up to N64 and PS1.

HTPC for some games, I would go for Intel G620 plus AMD HD6570 and ASRock B75M instead....you'll have a better gaming HTPC, and it'll can be easily upgraded in the future too....

---

If you want to give the build a longer life you are choosing the wrong platform.

The Llano is at the end of its rope. Use an i3 or G620 with a discrete card and you will have better gaming, lower wattage, cooler running, and much more upgradability in the future.

Currently running a G630 in the infamous MI-008. What card would recommend for some light to medium gaming? gt430? AMD possibly?

This AMD HD6570 discrete GPU should allow you to play some game..... Here is the comparison- GeForce GT 430 vs Radeon HD 6570 (OEM) 2GB