2012-03-08, 00:02
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
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