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+--- Thread: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? (/showthread.php?tid=94199)
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - DavidT99 - 2012-08-25
If the guide is not going to be kept up to date then it may as well be removed, I appreciate that it is a free guide and that eskro provided his time on it for free and that it has helped a lot of people (albeit with an AMD bias) but an out of date guide could mislead prospective HTPC builders down the wrong road.
David
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - assassin - 2012-08-25
Mine is up to date and free. Always has been.
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - michael713 - 2012-08-29
(2012-08-25, 19:13)assassin Wrote: Mine is up to date and free. Always has been.
Hey Assassin
Just read your guide and it has been very useful.
I went down the route of building my own HTPC at pcspecialist.co.uk but the cost is rather prohibitive.
I am keen on an all in one solution like the Zbox ID82 with an SSD and min 8GB Ram. This one is the i3 2330M with HD3000 Graphics. I know it will be brilliant for my needs (XBMC with mostly DVD rips and 1080p web streaming) but i wanted to ask you directly if you would be able to run Plex Media Server of that. I ask this cause i noticed you are a fan of Plex yourself...liked the 6 devices at once post:-)
How do you think the ID82 will cope? It is unlikely i will have more than 2 Plex clients in other rooms at the same time and so far there is no 1080p local content to transcode, just 480p mkvs.
If i could get 3-4 years use of it running win 7 without feeling any pain...I am ready to purchase!
FYI there is also an Xbox 360 and a jailbroken Atv2 running XBMC so plenty of other options. I just feel the ATV2 is a bit laggy on the menus and crashes a bit too often for my liking.
Thanks for your help.
Michael
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - assassin - 2012-08-29
I use a g530 in my server so the i3 should do well for you.
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - michael713 - 2012-08-29
(2012-08-29, 16:58)assassin Wrote: I use a g530 in my server so the i3 should do well for you.
Thanks - I am just about to hit the buy button!
I was chatting to some folk in the Plex chat room and they were equally comforting about its ability as long as I stick to DVD transcoding and not dabble with HD which is unlikely in my case
Cheers
Michael
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - crush - 2012-08-29
Thanks to this thread I bought a ZOTAC GT210 1GB which helped revive an old P4 3.4ghz into an htpc and together with a new slim case it looks great too.
However according to "SpeedFan" the GPU temp rises to 70-80C and touching the heatsink sort of confirms the reading since I cant keep my hand on it. Is this normal for a GPU with a heatsink instead of a fan? If it isn't would a small intake fan on the pc case right where the GPU is help?
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - RaggSokk3n - 2012-09-04
I'm looking in to buying my self a new HTPC and wanted to know what you guys think about the setup.
My current HTPC setup:
Acer laptop(4years old), ~2GHz dual core, ~256mB GPU nvidia, 4GB DDR2 ram
Philips ir reciever
Logitech Harmony One
What I'm planing: (prices from my country(Norway))
Case: ANTEC HTPC FUSION REMOTE M-ATX BLACK - 180$
Motherboard: ASUS F1A75-M LE DDR3 S-FM1 M-ATX - 90$
CPU: AMD A-SERIES X2 A4-3400 2.7GHZ SOCKET FM1 BOX - 70$
GPU: MSI GEFORCE GT 630 2GB DDR3 PCI-E VGA/DVI/HDMI - 80$
RAM: CORSAIR 2GB DDR3 XMS3 PC10600 1333MHZ CL9 *2 - 60$ (for both)
HDD: OCZ VERTEX PLUS 2.5" 60GB SSD SATA/300 MLC - 45$
PSU: CORSAIR CX 430W V2 ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V PSU - 60$
Totaling at ~600$
What my using it for:
Running Widows 7 Ultimate w/XBMC
Connected through router to NAS - streaming sd, 720p, 1080p, 1080p 3d h-sbs and 1080p 3d f-sbs.
Questions:
1. Is this a good setup?
2. Will it handle my requrements?
3. Can the case turn on and off with harmony one?
4. Can i get a better setup for a better price? (remember that I'll have to pay a 25% import tax if prices are from your country)
5. Can i get surround sound through the hdmi port on the Nvidia GT 630?
(2012-08-29, 17:42)crush Wrote: Thanks to this thread I bought a ZOTAC GT210 1GB which helped revive an old P4 3.4ghz into an htpc and together with a new slim case it looks great too.
However according to "SpeedFan" the GPU temp rises to 70-80C and touching the heatsink sort of confirms the reading since I cant keep my hand on it. Is this normal for a GPU with a heatsink instead of a fan? If it isn't would a small intake fan on the pc case right where the GPU is help?
As long as you dont feel preformance problems from the gpu you should be fine, most gpu's can handle those temperatures.
But if you're uncomfortable with them then yes, a fan would help - either directly on top of the passive cooler or pointing to it.
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - Jetster - 2012-09-08
(2012-08-29, 17:42)crush Wrote: Thanks to this thread I bought a ZOTAC GT210 1GB which helped revive an old P4 3.4ghz into an htpc and together with a new slim case it looks great too.
However according to "SpeedFan" the GPU temp rises to 70-80C and touching the heatsink sort of confirms the reading since I cant keep my hand on it. Is this normal for a GPU with a heatsink instead of a fan? If it isn't would a small intake fan on the pc case right where the GPU is help?
You should be fine. But with that P4 in the case also better make sure the case has good air flow
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - The_Smurfman - 2012-09-10
Hi eskro,
I want to thank you for creating and maintaining this invaluable thread.
I am a xbmc noob, but experienced in all things in computing.
I am confused since your page 1 is dated way back, but info looks current.
I have also compared your G7 build with your page 1 not knowing, which is the latest. I am confused since your G7 build uses a different processor than your page 1.
Please clarify. I like both, but want the most bang for the buck and definitely a Group 7
Please advise.
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - eskro - 2012-09-11
i dont understand what ur meaning smurf.
i started a new job and its taking my whole time atm.
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - YolkiZelyoni - 2012-09-14
Ok, this is a little overwhelming, but I think I'm ready to dive in.
Very much wanting to finally axe cable and step up to an htpc w/ xbmc for the living room. My basic wish list - no real need for a large hd - I've got an external 3tb usb 3.0 drive that holds a lot of my media files (and I eventually would like to upgrade to some sort of scalable media server). So SSD for the OS.
I'd like a bluray drive (but don't see the need to write blurays). Some web surfing capabilities will be important - espn3 and the like. 1080 video playback, but no need for 3d. I've read through a lot of this thread (no, not all 90+ pages), and am wondering if the stuff on the front page is a little dated now.
Would I want the SSD to be sata 3 instead of 2? Does that matter? Never done a build of any kind, so any hints or tips or pointed "buy this you moron" posts are welcome!
ETA: is there any major difference between running xbmc on ubuntu/windows aside from netflix? my tv has a netflix app, so that isn't an issue. also, can someone explain tv tuners/cable cards and if i'll need one? i have an antenna that I've used on my desktop, but the desktop has a built in tuner (i think). i would definitely want the ability to have this work as a dvr...which might mean i need a non ssd internally afterall?
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - Urbanshenkie - 2012-09-16
which one is bether ??
ASRock MB-A75M Socket FM1/ AMD A75 FCH/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ Micro ATX Motherboard
or
Asrock A75 Pro4-M - Socket FM1 - Micro-ATX
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - Arkitket - 2012-09-18
The main differences are:
Pro4 has:
4 DIMM slots instead of just 2,
2 PCIe 2.0 x16 slots instead of just 1,
Supports CrossfireX,
Has a Power LED header,
Has a DVI-D rear port, and
V4 + 1 Power Phase Design
Does that make it better than the A75M? Personally I don't think so. 4 slots is nice, but in an HTPC it would be realistically unnecessary; same with CrossfireX/extra PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. The only difference I prefer is the power LED header (but not a deal maker/breaker).
That being said, what is the price difference on the site you are looking at? Newegg has the Pro4-M listed as discontinued.
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - duke2555 - 2012-09-20
New Member and I have read some of this GREAT Post, but there is just too much information to sift through...
I have a Boxee Box that I mainly use to play content from Navi-X and Netflix and througha 1TB USB HD and Internet content.
I would like to build or purchase an HTPC with a budget of approx. $500 or less...
Wish list includes:
wired/wireless internet
support HD quality and play over my Home Theatre System
have a Blu Ray player (can add later)
of course run xbmc
small to medium size footprint - MicroATX board?
any suggestions on a configuration or purchase would be appreciated...I have Windows 7 that I can load.
Thanks
RE: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - alda - 2012-10-11
Is Intel board DN2800MT with 2GB SODIMM RAM + WINDOWS7 + XBMC good combination ?
Alda