2 powerful HTPC
#1
AMD
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[cpu] Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz AM3 95W ($105 + $0)
[mobo] GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 Micro-ATX ($60 + $0)
[gpu] ASUS GeForce GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($66 + $0)
[case] SILVERSTONE ML03B Micro-ATX ($60 + $0)
[psu] Antec EarthWatts 380W ATX12V ($40 + $0)
TOTAL: ($331)





INTEL
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[cpu] Intel Core I3-2100 3.1GHz LGA-1155 Dual-Core 65W ($123 + $0)
[mobo] MSI H61M-E33 (B3) LGA-1155 Micro-ATX ($70 + $0)
[gpu] ASUS GeForce GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($66 + $0)
[case] SILVERSTONE ML03B Micro-ATX ($60 + $0)
[psu] Antec EarthWatts 380W ATX12V ($40 + $0)
TOTAL: ($359)
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#2
I like the case a lot, and the whole package is an amazing price (although missing some key components)...but I'm wondering why you have a case that has USB 3.0 and a MB that doesn't...If this were a bigger MB and not a Micro-ATX I could see justifying that with a USB 3.0 PCI card but considering the spacial limitations this seems a bit off base.

Also, for a HTPC I would suggest an Intel sandy bridge (possibly unlocked) cpu with a H67 chipset MB to alleviate the need for a video card and still play 3D quality Blu-ray...which the build needs an optical drive for.

This is my recomendation for a Powerful HTPC on a budget:
[MB] ASRock H67M-GE/HT (B3) ($120)
[CPU] Intel BX80623I32100 ($125)
[Case] SilverStone ML03B ($60)
[PSU] Diablotek PHD380M ($36)
[HD] Western Digital WD10EALX ($60.00)
[Ram] G.SKILL F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM ($47)
[OD] Sony BD-5300S-0B ($115)
Total with Shipping: ($563)

So that gets you an upgradeable (futureproof) HTCP with an Intel Core i3 Dual-Core (Sandy Bride), 1 TB Hard Drive, 4 GB DDR3, Sony BD-R 3D Ready, and USB 3.0
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#3
I thought the Sandy Bridge had issues with certain framerates.
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#4
T800 Wrote:I thought the Sandy Bridge had issues with certain framerates.

Anyone worrying about this issue ought to read this thread. There is a lot of information and debate on both sides of the issue:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...ght=no+one
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#5
Sandybridge framerates work as well as any other GPU option available provided you keep UAC turned off in Win7.

The biggest problem with SB processors though is that apparently they still aren't playing nice with XBMC (pixellation/black screens etc).
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#6
I did not dig into the details of calculating power consumption, but I'm seeing that in many "package" recommendations an extra (more powerful) PSU is being added even though that Silverstone case comes with a 140W PSU.
Is this "just in case", or for future-proof purposes, or because the parts will really need more juice than what the original PSU can deliver?

I'm taking this into consideration because I'm trying to build a decent 1080p-capable HTPC but the budget is tight (and WAF is critical Confused )

Thanks!
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#7
@jackh - The Silverstone ML03B case from the first post does not come with a power supply. You'll need to purchase a power supply if you decide to use this case.
HTPC: Win 7 Home 64-bit | MB | CPU | GPU | RAM | Case | PSU | Tuner | HDDs: OS, Media | DVD Burner | Remote
Media server: unraid 4.7 | CPU | MB | RAM | Case | PSU | HDDs: Parity-2TB, Data-2x2TB
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#8
T800 Wrote:I thought the Sandy Bridge had issues with certain framerates.

they have!

the CPU's onBoard video can't output to 23.967fps...
no matter what, it'll ouput to 24fps...
which causes jidder with 23.967fps movies...

And also, altho a XBMC issue, there's a macro-blocking issue...

but my thread was to suggest 2 powerful HTPC builds, and i think i did...

i dont want to debate the i3's onBoard video in here,,,,
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#9
wsume99 Wrote:@jackh - The Silverstone ML03B case from the first post does not come with a power supply. You'll need to purchase a power supply if you decide to use this case.

Crap. You are right, I misread the specs.
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#10
eskro Wrote:they have!

the CPU's onBoard video can't output to 23.967fps...
no matter what, it'll ouput to 24fps...
which causes jidder with 23.967fps movies...

And also, altho a XBMC issue, there's a macro-blocking issue...

but my thread was to suggest 2 powerful HTPC builds, and i think i did...

i dont want to debate the i3's onBoard video in here,,,,

LOL, for the record I wasn't aware of the frame rate problem, didn't mean to hijack your thread...sorry

I may have to reconsider using the stand alone SB video then Sad
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#11
But let me set something straight,,,

im not saying onboard i3 video is C****

im saying its unfortunate that it has issues
because it would have been my favorite CPU to use in a HTPC setup!!

INTEL knows about the issue and said they'll fix it in their next new bridge version,,
which wont be the SandyBridge :/

So for now, were outta luck,,,
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