Kodi Community Forum

Hey,

I am thinking in upgrading my HTPC, so I would like to hear your opinion in it.

My actual build is this:
- Antec Fusion Remote Max Case
- Antec EA-500 PSU
- Gigabyte H55-USB3 ATX Motherboard
- Intel Core i3-530 CPU
- XFX AMD HD 5770 Graphics Card
- 2 GB DDR3 1600 Mhz RAM
- Intel X25-M 80 GB SSD
- WD Caviar Black 2 TB HDD
- LG 5 1/4" Bluray Recorder

So from that build I will only keep this:
- Antec EA-500 PSU
- Intel X25-M 80 GB SSD
- WD Caviar Black 2 TB HDD
- LG 5 1/4" Bluray Recorder

The rest of the components will be sold, so I get money for the new one.

Then this is my Amazon whishlist for the new parts:
http://amzn.com/w/2ZNJKTLGIL4SB

So the complete new build would be like this:
- Silverstone GD04B-USB3 case
- Antec EA-500 PSU
- Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H Micro-ATX Motherboard
- Intel Core i3-3220 CPU
- NVidia GTX 650 1 GB Graphics Card
- 2 x 4 GB DDR 3 1600Mhz Samsung Low Profile / Low Power Memory Sticks
- Intel X25-M 80 GB SSD
- WD Caviar Black 2 TB HDD
- LG 5 1/4" Bluray Recorder

I want to replace the case because the one I have right now is way too big, the Silverstone looks much smaller.
Does someone have a comparison in size of those 2 cases?

I have chosen that GPU because my HTPC would be used for console game emulators like Dolphin and other games, so I need a bit more graphics power than the Intel or APU IGP.
Also that GPU is capable of playing 4K video

So I would like to know what do you think about the changes.
Is it worth the change?

(2012-11-14, 07:05)Emisand Wrote: [ -> ]So the complete new build would be like this:
- Silverstone GD04B-USB3 case
- Antec EA-500 PSU
- Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H Micro-ATX Motherboard
- Intel Core i3-3220 CPU
- NVidia GTX 650 1 GB Graphics Card
- 2 x 4 GB DDR 3 1600Mhz Samsung Low Profile / Low Power Memory Sticks
- Intel X25-M 80 GB SSD
- WD Caviar Black 2 TB HDD
- LG 5 1/4" Bluray Recorder

It's a powerful HTPC.....you'll enjoy it....

Do you approve it for both Optical and HDMI bitstreaming?

I don't really know if that VIA VT2021 chip on the motherboard is a good audio chip.
I usually like Realtek 898, 888, 889...

You dont need a dGPU for dolphin...
What other games are you planing to play?(if you're not planning very havy games the iGPU should be fine, if you're planning on havy gaming why not hd7750/hd7770 lp?)

If you say that the A10-5700 iGPU is enough for Dolphin, then I will replace that motherboard, cpu and gpu with A10-5700 compatible ones.

The only thing I think the A10 iGPU is not capable of is 4K movies.
But I think it will take me a lot of time before I get a 4K Plasma or LEDTV, so the A10 graphics will be great for now.

My dilemma is that I like the i3-3220 processing power but not its HD4000 graphics.
By the other way I like the A10 graphics but not its processing power.

EDIT: I've added the AMD Trinity components to the wishlist, if I decide to make that option. Check the components I choosed.

The i3 3225 is a better dolphin cpu than a10...

(2012-11-14, 07:44)Emisand Wrote: [ -> ]Do you approve it for both Optical and HDMI bitstreaming?

To get the best audio and video, you can simply do this- HTPC-->AVR-->HDTV via two HDMI cables.....and you are bitstreaming raw audio to AVR for decoding....

(2012-11-14, 16:12)RaggSokk3n Wrote: [ -> ]The i3 3225 is a better dolphin cpu than a10...

Ok, great, so I just change the 3220 to a 3225 and dont buy the dGPU.

(2012-11-14, 19:43)bluray Wrote: [ -> ]

(2012-11-14, 07:44)Emisand Wrote: [ -> ]Do you approve it for both Optical and HDMI bitstreaming?

To get the best audio and video, you can simply do this- HTPC-->AVR-->HDTV via two HDMI cables.....and you are bitstreaming raw audio to AVR for decoding....

Right now I have a Home Theatre System with optical input, so I am using SPDIF passthrough and works well.
So I get that any audio chip that supports bitstreaming will work well.