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Full Version: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start?
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poofyhairguy Wrote:Yep, more powerful than a XBox 360 (not just the GPU, but the CPU too) AND a PS3 (same thing) put together.

I would never put it in a HTPC though. This is the mightiest card I would put in a HTPC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814187129

Thats a monster for being fanless. Very cool. No pun intended.
OverKiLL Smile
This is an awesome post. Wish I knew about this post when I built my media pc.
thats exactly why i created this little Guide Tongue
chrisuk11 Wrote:thanks for the responses.

So from my reading I beelive the following to be true -

No OS needed if using xbmc (mistype earlier)
Boots directly into xbmx when booting as nothing else on the HDD.
Exactly the same perfomance as installing the full xbmc on windows?

I will be using the aeon mq2 / 3 when released skin.

Will drop live onto a VM later today for testing. Still undecided whether to go for live or a full blown OS (windows 7)

Off to do some pondering Smile

Thanks again

PS - Thanks to eskro for the build ideas, as I have a 3d TV, so glad i saw you reccomend a GPU that supports this Smile
What video card will you be using?
Thanks for all the help guys, I will post my version of the HTPC in here soon for others to give me feedback ...
I have a question..I came across Silverstone GD05 HTPC case. Is this too big for a HTPC ? Anyone who owns this? This will be my first actual HTPC build. Also I am debating over AMD Phenom II 965 vs Intel Core i5 for this rig. My primary purpose will be run my movie rips, stream internet video and may be a blueray player. Not envisioning a lot of games. Also do I definitely need a low profile graphics card for a HTPC ? Any AMD cards that can compete in price and quality as a GT 430 ? (I own a XFX AMD 5770 for my desktop and it is great)
PS: I intend to use my other desktop to do the actual video editing etc.

Thanks in advance.
krishnkar Wrote:I have a question..I came across Silverstone GD05 HTPC case. Is this too big for a HTPC ? Anyone who owns this? This will be my first actual HTPC build. Also I am debating over AMD Phenom II 965 vs Intel Core i5 for this rig. My primary purpose will be run my movie rips, stream internet video and may be a blueray player. Not envisioning a lot of games. Also do I definitely need a low profile graphics card for a HTPC ? Any AMD cards that can compete in price and quality as a GT 430 ? (I own a XFX AMD 5770 for my desktop and it is great)
PS: I intend to use my other desktop to do the actual video editing etc.

Thanks in advance.
An i5 would likely be WAY overkill for what you plan to do. An i3 is a great choice. And HTPC size is basically whatever you want it to be. I have a regular mid tower case that's 15 years old, so it's really up to you.
I suggest you start here --> eSkRo's HTPC Guide

Smile
Krishknkar,

To me, mini-htpc is the best. It use less fan (very quiet) and it is very small (it can fit just about anywhere). You'll be happy with this mini-htpc (it's tiny and it can handles BD and streaming 1080P and DTS-HD/TrueHD with ease):

1. APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX
2. ASRock E350M1/USB3
3. Kingston SSDNow V Series SNV125-S2/30GB
4. Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)
5. SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm Case Fan
6. HP MCE Remote Control
7. LG Black 10X BD-ROM
8. Buffalo Technology MiniStation Stealth 1 TB USB 3.0
yepp! bluray has a real nice HTPC!!

Link him to your pics bluray!!

oh and, make new ones Tongue
Hi

Now I have an Asrock ion 300ht, but I want a new htpc who is as silent as possible + I want it to handle all the heavy skins 100% smooth.

For now I dont have a 3dTV, but Im considering building a htpc that handles 3d playback (in case I get myself a 3dtv).

After reading your guide, I came up with this build, based on your [Mini-ITX] i3-2100 (2x3.1Ghz) + GT210-Build: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?p=8...post842075

I did not find exactly the hardware you suggested, but I tried to find the next best matchSmile

Anyway, here is my shopping list: http://nettsystem.no/k/shoplist.aspx?mod...010E1FC96C

Thoughts are very appreciated..

Edit: I havent yet decided if im going to run xbmc live or win7-xbmc. Most likely its gonna be win7.
I wasn't a fan of mini-htpc till I found "eSkro's HTPC Guide", and I'm encourage you to check it out too. I used everything in his suggestion, but I upgraded several things in it.

I'm always thought that bigger is better, and all my previous HTPC's are built with standard cases. It’s easier to find upgrade components for it. Since it is bigger, it tends to be noisier and it was always very tough for me to fit it in the rack. With all the new smaller technologies these days, smaller isn't necessary lack of power!

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joeranjensen Wrote:Anyway, here is my shopping list: http://nettsystem.no/k/shoplist.aspx?mod...010E1FC96C

That GT430 wont fit in that case!!
HeatSink is wayyy to big!!
I'd go with this one instead ---> http://ow.ly/1uQELA
Or even those GT520 cards will eat 3D 1080P --> http://ow.ly/1uQFA9 or http://ow.ly/1uQFDO
check if it they all come with low profile brackets!!


other then that,
2GB (2x1GB) of RAM is enough for Win7 --> http://ow.ly/1uQVD3
dont forget that the GT430 or GT520 already have onboard memory too....
So it adds up!
no real needs for 4GB (2x2GB) of ram,,,,

OH yeah, i would decrease the CPU too...
Altho its a fantastic processor, hence why its in my builds,
i would get a PENTIUM G620 --> http://ow.ly/1uQUGr !!
It'll eat anything thrown at it
including the famous heavy AEON MQ2 skin in FULL MODE!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah and,
another popular miniITX case is the Ace Polly --> http://ow.ly/1uQVX9
About same shape as the APEX MI-008
and will accept regular 5.25" Bluray Optical Drive!
while the ANTEC will only accept slim Bluray Optical Drives...
and if u never shop'ed around for a slim one,
you'll see how much pricey they are :/

Finally, no need for additional fans..

Happy shopping & Save your money Tongue
bluray Wrote:Since you're willing to pay a little more, I would go with this setup:

1. MSI 880GM-E41 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
2. AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz
3. SilverStone Aluminum/Steel Micro ATX Media Center/HTPC Case ML03B (Black)
4. Antec EA-380D Power Supply
5. Axle3D GeForce GT 520 2GB DDR3 PCI Express
6. Corsair Force CSSD-F40GB2-A
7. Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066

You'll be a happy camper!


well, i started with this, changed a few components (different case, PS, and an xfx version of the video card), we will see how it goes

1 x ($29.99) MEM 2Gx2|KST KVR1066D3N7K2/4G R $29.99
1 x ($64.99) HTPC CASE XION| XON-810PCB-RD R $64.99
1 x ($69.99) VGA XFX|GT-520M-CNF2 520GT 2G R $69.99
1 x ($74.99) MB MSI| 880GM-E41 880G R $74.99
1 x ($99.99) SSD 40G|CORSAIR CSSD-F40GB2-A R $99.99
1 x ($104.99) CPU AMD|PH II X4 840 3.2G AM3 RT $104.99
with shipping - $470

all from newegg.com

im a unix guy so im planning on running this configuration with XBMC-Live. we will see how things go next week.

i was hoping for a bad ass machine that i only have to buy once for several years, this looked like the best combination ive seen recommended. can't wait to try loading up mame and play a serious game of asteroids on my TV

as always with linux the biggest challenge is going to be the video card. looks like drivers won't be a problem but we will see. ill post progress and notes when the hardware shows up.

LOL, once this is running time to move on to my 100tb storage server =-)