Ongoing My first HTPC, response is welkom!!! (1 Viewer)

[chocka]

After two months reading forums and several website, I'm at the start of building my first HTPC. I still needs to make some choices between several hardware, but that depands on the total costs of my HTPC. Which will be max. 1500 EURO (2000 USD)

Case: Zalman HD 160 included a passive PSU 600W, alternative an empty HD160 with Igreen Coolmaster 500W. Alternative ATX case is possible, but needs at least as big as the Zalman HD160 with a VFD screen and the same frontpanel with connectors. Need the space for future updates, I like to think in front.

Motherboard: Asus P5B (deluxe) or one step higher Asus P5W (deluxe) (opportunity for future install of Intel Core 2 Quad)

CPU: Intel Core 2 duo E6400 of E6600

Videocard: ASUS EN7600GS (or GT) TOP Silent/HDT/256M or 512M. Try to buy a passive cooled one. HDMI out is nice but not necessary. I know there are DVI to HDMI cables, but I donnot know if this gives the same quality as direct HDMI out.

RAM: Corsair 1024MB DDR2 (minimal) may be 2x. Which extension of those like 128MX64, I donnot know yet, because I donnot have the knowledge of it.

Cooling: I try to build 100% fanless case for max noise reduction. I've be looking for a Zalman 9500 processorfan, but this one still have a noiselevel of min. 18dB and I think this is a lot noise.

TVcard: Hauppage PVR 350 twintuner tvcard, I have an analog signal. When I get digital signal, I will switch to digital version PVR500.

HD: WD 36GB Raptor, for operating system and software. And a WD Caviar SE16 500GB for extra back-up.

Optical: Pioneer DVD+/-RW 112D

Audio: I think the Asus motherboard is enough for Dolby 5.1 and DTS. But if necessary I need to look after an audiocard???

Remote control: Have still to found out??? (any idea's)

Operating system: XP Pro with Mediaportal

This machine needs to work together with the rest of mine HT system:
Denon HT amplifier 4306
Pioneer PDP 506XDE
Elac 200 serie 5.1
Rel subwoofer

Looking forward to any replies..............

Best Regards

 

[Spragleknas]

Motherboard: Asus P5B (deluxe) or one step higher Asus P5W (deluxe) (opportunity for future install of Intel Core 2 Quad)

CPU: Intel Core 2 duo E6400 of E6600
- OK... ppl might crucify me for this, but I would go for a X2 system. It is much easier to cool and is better when it comes to årice/performance
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article735-page1.html
"Most interesting are the power assessments. There's little doubt that the AMD-based system, with its much lower idle power, has a substantial energy efficiency advantage over the Intel-based one."
Quote from HFX (mCubed):
"Regarding CPU, Intel has 2 major thermal issues:
- cooling surface is little
- no speedstep, no cool and quiet
So it will be certainly easier to cool a 80W AMD than a 65W Intel. Don't go any higher than a Athlon X2 3800+ with 89W TDP at most. Intel E6600 1,8 have been reported to have to be run at 76% for the system to be cool enough."
A EE (ADO-product number) does not cost much more, and has only 65W TDP. Keep in mind that AMDs TDP ratings are not the same as Intel; a 65W TDP AMD uses less power than a 65W TDP Intel CPU (google for sources if you want - or see SPCR article on the issue). I am no AMD-fanboy, but (for HTPC-usage) it seems to bee superior to Intel!

PS: When comparing price - do so for system (CPU + mobo). Intel mobos are generally more expensive, IMO.


Videocard: ASUS EN7600GS (or GT) TOP Silent/HDT/256M or 512M. Try to buy a passive cooled one. HDMI out is nice but not necessary. I know there are DVI to HDMI cables, but I donnot know if this gives the same quality as direct HDMI out.

If you decide to go for AMD, then there are mobos with onbord gfx (ATi X1250) w/HDMI. Thatway you can get a better gfx when/if needed. These mobos (G690-series) have very low wattage.

TVcard: Hauppage PVR 350 twintuner tvcard, I have an analog signal. When I get digital signal, I will switch to digital version PVR500.
I see no reason at all for 350 - go for a 150. All 350 has is a (useless) s-video out. PVR500 = 2 x 150 on same board - NOTHING DIGITAL ABOUT IT! If you plan to go DVB-T, then PVR-1300 is a good choice (hybrid - both analogue and DVB-T)

HD: WD 36GB Raptor, for operating system and software. And a WD Caviar SE16 500GB for extra back-up.

I never understand that ppl insist on using raptors on HTPC. Are you afraid you won't hear it?

Remote control: Have still to found out??? (any idea's)
MCE-remote

Good luck!

 

[chocka]

So it will be certainly easier to cool a 80W AMD than a 65W Intel. Don't go any higher than a Athlon X2 3800+ with 89W TDP at most. Intel E6600 1,8 have been reported to have to be run at 76% for the system to be cool enough."
A EE (ADO-product number) does not cost much more, and has only 65W TDP. Keep in mind that AMDs TDP ratings are not the same as Intel; a 65W TDP AMD uses less power than a 65W TDP Intel CPU (google for sources if you want - or see SPCR article on the issue). I am no AMD-fanboy, but (for HTPC-usage) it seems to bee superior to Intel!

1. What means xxW TDP ???
2. If I understands you, an AMD 4200 or 4400 is out of the question.

If you decide to go for AMD, then there are mobos with onbord gfx (ATi X1250) w/HDMI. Thatway you can get a better gfx when/if needed. These mobos (G690-series) have very low wattage.

So far I can find will this be a MSI K9AFM2-FIH. May be there others??? And so I donnot need a extra videocard for better graphics. I will play x264; Matroska and HD 1080p files if possible with this card. Otherwise I still need an extra videocard??? But than I can use a 690V mobo without HDMI, with a RX1650XT-T2D256EZ (for example)

HD: WD 36GB Raptor, for operating system and software. And a WD Caviar SE16 500GB for extra back-up.

I never understand that ppl insist on using raptors on HTPC. Are you afraid you won't hear it?

On advice of some else because their are faster, but I donnot know more about it.
But thats why I started this topic.

 

[Spragleknas]

1. What means xxW TDP ???

Rated power usage - read more

2. If I understands you, an AMD 4200 or 4400 is out of the question.

No. A X2-4200+ (ADO-version) is good and cheap (although it did not undergo aprils price cut)

So far I can find will this be a MSI K9AFM2-FIH. May be there others???

Yes. http://www.amdcompare.com/ <- many!

And so I donnot need a extra videocard for better graphics. I will play x264; Matroska and HD 1080p files if possible with this card. Otherwise I still need an extra videocard???
- not sure. I believe that CoreAVC is the most preferred codec, and I believe this manly uses CPU - but I am no expert on this area (ask Knutinh )

But than I can use a 690V mobo without HDMI, with a RX1650XT-T2D256EZ (for example)

Sure! Yuo could also try using only mobo first, and see if there are any interesting gfx comming up - hopefully ATi gfx will run cooler soon? Oh, you can, off course, use nVidia as well. ATi's AVIVO technology has gotten lots of praise lately, though.

 

[onkl]

@ Harddisks: Yes, it's true, a Raptor is faster indeed. However, it's also very noisy and very expensive on a GB/EUR basis. Therefore, in general, only gaming fanatics (and low-end servers) love it. Consider buying two WD SE16 500 disks, then you won't have to worry about diskspace for quite a long time and they're quiet too. In general: All the stories you can find about disk speeds are very correct, but largely irrelevant for HTPC useage.

 

[djurik]

Only some notes:
- I tried to build cheep noiseless HTPC - I succeed with AMD Mobile CPU with passive cooler, for this time very quiet power supply (I will change it after some time with external notebook-like PS). So only HDD is little bit audible when seeking, as I use rubber antivibration clamping. The problem with low nois is high temperature - be carefully. Nice solution is HTX case with Borg heatpipes cooling, but too expensive for me.
- I'm using WinTV 150 - it is the same and cheeper then 350. The MCE version comes with Hauppauge/MCE remote (the version differs in various countries, I think) - it works fine (tested on my wife ).
- That's all - I'm using my HTPC for TV recording (analog cable TV) and watching the recorded shows, videos watching, MP3 and internet radio listening, DVD watching, ...

 

[chocka]

The plan is changed. I found two HTPC builders who are experienced for about 2-3 years of building HTPC's. Based on their experience, they both seperate advised to use Intel Core 2. One of them have a very nice HTPC with watercooling (Intel Core 2) and his HTPC stays below 15dB with watercooling of 7W. Enormous!!! But to expensive for me. So, we sit together and made almost new configuration, which will be possible the final one for me. The prices (ex.VAT) are just for indication, at this moment.

Case 350 EUR: Zalman HD160S. For now and into future still a very nice case. But we try to find to order it from the USA, so it can be a lot cheaper.

PSU 99 EUR: Zalman ZM600-HP
Alternative Scythe Andy or Infinity.

Mobo 230 EUR: Asus P5W DH Deluxe

CPU 250 EUR: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
After 28-04-2007 Intell will drop the prices,so the E6600 will cost than the same price as the E6400 cost at this moment. So I will wait.

RAM 90 EUR: Crosair 1024MB,DDR2,2X62MX64

CPU Cooler 70 EUR: Zalman CNPS9700-NT

Video 100 EUR: Asus EAX1650PRO Silent/HTD/256M
Includes DVI to HDMI cable

HD System 48 EUR: WD Caviar SE 80Gb,SATAII,7200rpm,8Mb

HD Backup 180 EUR: WD Caviar SE16, SATA300,7200rpm,16Mb
Alternative Seagate or Samsung

Optical 30 EUR: Pioneer DVR-212D 18X SATA Dual Layer DVD/Media Burner

TV Card 150 EUR: Hauppage WinTV PVR 500 MCE

In total (incl.VAT) will be about mine max. of 1500 EUR.

We also discussed the already received advice, which I'm thank you for it, from users of this forum.

From their experience they will garantee (incluis a noise reduction package) that this HTPC will stay below 20dB

I only still doubting about the video card. Beside that the mobo is ATI, it is possible to use a Nvidia videocard like my old choice the ASUS EN7600GS (or GT) TOP Silent/HDT/256M or 512M. But there may be a conflict???

And an other case option is still open, but for now I choose the HD160S

I'm to open for discussions about this nearly new setting. So donnot regret to reply.

 

[chocka]

Nice solution is HTX case with Borg heatpipes cooling...

Do you have a link for this case. I tried find it but only get the translation of HTX as the standard for HyperTransport???

 

[djurik]

Hi chocka,
sorry for my overstrike, right is HFX:

http://www.hifiatx.com/hfx.php?module=cm-spec&lang=EN.

I saw this case and made detailed examination, it comes with LCD display in our country. The idea is fully passive case, this one is about EUR 550 in our country. This is the price I spent for whole my well-working HTPC.

 

[achappey]

Why not use two equal hdd's and put them in raid 0? Noise level will be the same but disk throughput will be much higher! I also can recommend the zalman heatpipe hdd coolers to reduce the noise level of the hdd's to minimum!

Also too consider if you're planning to switch to digital tv in a (short) period: 2x 150mce card instead of 1x 500mce to connect two set-top boxes.

[edit]
I would really consider too choose separate audio card (x-fi), since audio is (one of the) main features of the htpc i would not cut budget on that. Difference is really noticeable with onboard solutions, especially with good speakers/receiver combi.
Why is quad core support needed anyway in a htpc? E6600 does have enough calculating power for all htpc functions nowadays and the years until p5w is antique...