Hardware Setup - Please Help (1 Viewer)

[JohnDoe2000]

Hi @ all,

I want to build a new HTPC. It's very important for me to have a perfect BluRay picture on my Full HD Screen (TOSHIBA).

I want to by the following hardware components:

- Case: Moneual MONCOSA 312B (already ordered)
- HDD: WD15EADS
- BluRay: LG CH08LS10
- Power: Seasonic S12-430
- RAM: 2x 2GB PC1330 DDR3
- CPU Cooler: Shuriken Scythe

At the moment I don't know what board and CPU is the best for MP. Is this Board ok?

1. Gigabyte MA785GMT-UD2H (integrated ATI Radeon HD 4200) with AMD X4 620 CPU
2. Gigabyte MA785GMT-UD2H (integrated ATI Radeon HD 4200) with AMD X2 250 CPU

Or is Intel a better choice:

RAM: 2x 2GB PC800 DDR2
EG41MF-US2H
E6300 CPU


Please help me the buy the rigth components for MP. Have I missed something? Do you have better ideas?

Thank you very much for your answers.

 

[etheesdad]

For 1080p playback the 785g and x2 250 is fine.

as far as intel goes, an e5300 would also get the job done.

If you want a Intel on-board GPU then consider an x4500HD. The G45 is a much better chipset than the G41

If you want more information about on-board graphics for HTPC see THIS article

 

[JohnDoe2000]

I think I'll take a AMD solution with ATI on board. Can I buy the 4 core CPU for better performance or will MP only support 2 core?

Do you think that a 4 core CPU will work better when I want to record TV or convert DVDs or so?

I ask because the price difference is only 20 EUR.

What's your oppinion about that?

 

[winterescape]

I think I'll take a AMD solution with ATI on board. Can I buy the 4 core CPU for better performance or will MP only support 2 core?

Do you think that a 4 core CPU will work better when I want to record TV or convert DVDs or so?

I ask because the price difference is only 20 EUR.

What's your oppinion about that?

You can buy the 4 core but it is not needed. The only time you might see improvement is "convert DVDs " when transcoding. I run a 7750 and it loafs along most of the time underclocked with AMD CnQ. The 250 would be a great choice. If your objective, like mine and most, is lower power, lower noise, then stick with the 250.

I find this link, frequently updated, nice for HW choice ( you nailed the processor and MB) but even this seems like overkill, memory wise,...
Custom PC Guide : Ultra Budget HTPC Recommendation

 

[etheesdad]

I think I'll take a AMD solution with ATI on board. Can I buy the 4 core CPU for better performance or will MP only support 2 core?

Do you think that a 4 core CPU will work better when I want to record TV or convert DVDs or so?

I ask because the price difference is only 20 EUR.

What's your oppinion about that?

It depends what you will be using the machine for. As far as MP itself goes; no significant difference between the two. BUT, if you're transcoding/converting video files, then the quad (or faster) is a better option if you want to keep the times down.

For playback only the 250 is ample power.

 

[JohnDoe2000]

No good news

Hi @all,

I have allready bought this case. Today I want to by the other components.

(MA785GMT-UD2H, AMD X2 250, Shuriken Scythe Cooler and LG CH08LS10 Combo BluRay)

After 10 minutes I saw, that the depth of the optical drive (about 19cm) doesn't fit with the other components. There is not enough space between the optical drive and the CPU cooler.

Please help me to find a solution. Could the GA-EG41MF-US2H or G45 board be fit?

thx
John

 

[etheesdad]

photo?

 

[JohnDoe2000]

photo?

Sorry, but I haven't shot a picture. The BluRay (19cm long) is about 2cm to long. I guess that another board with a better CPU placement will fit but I don't konw which HD m-atx board (Asus, other Gigabyte, ASRock, ...) is a good one.

Here is a picture of a user who doesn't have my problem. BUt here you can see, that the space between the CPU cooler and the BluRay is very small.

http://home.comcast.net/~alexander1469/HTPC/finish.jpg

On my board the CPU is considerably lower placed as you can see on this pic

GIGABYTE - Support - Mainboard - Treiber - GA-MA785GMT-UD2H (rev. 1.0)



Today I am going in a shop with my case and ask for a board. But the shop-owner doesn't know MP.

So want board can you propose? (The price is secondary, the main points are fit and perfect BluRay / HD quality )

...thank you for your help!

 

[JohnDoe2000]

Hi @ all,

today I have bought some components that fits my case.

Now I have a AsRock A780GMH/128M board with AMD Radion HD 3200 graphics on board, a LG BluRay burner and a dual core with 2x 2.9 GHz.

During next week I'm going to install MP.


Thx for your help.

 

[winterescape]

Hmm…. congratulations on the new gear, I know you had some size and fit issues but I am concerned about you dropping back to the 780 graphics. I would consider the 785 on the ATI side or the 8200 of the Nvidia side as the minimum for HD 1080P. Maybe others with more experience with ATI can comment on this…

see this link:
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3430&p=5