My Hardware, what you think (1 Viewer)

[lilrichie]

Hey,

I am starting a new build for my Media Portal and wanted to get some feedback, here is a link to my Google docs specification.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkyxOet3pAwudEpjd2lnN3JiTWE3el94SHJDNC1XX3c&hl=en_US

Cheers
Richard

 

[Owlsroost]

You need a better (more powerful) video card - a GT430 is a good choice for nVidia, for AMD I'll leave others to suggest.

That said, the HD3000 GPU on the 2500K may be good enough on it's own anyway, but I've no personal experience of it.

Tony

 

[lilrichie]

Tony,

Would something like this be better?

EVGA GT 430 1GB DDR3 DVI HDMI HDTV out PCI-E Graphics.. | Ebuyer.com

Richard

 

[Owlsroost]

Looks OK - I'd see if you can find any comments about fan noise, just in case - I run this :roducts - GT 430 (1024MB DDR3):: (the 1024MB/128 bit low-profile version - note this is wider than one slot) and it's very quiet unless you push it really hard.

Tony

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Use the onboard graphics to start, get a motherboard with the Z68 chipset for best performance and decent capacitors like this mobo Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Z68 Socket 1155 7.1 Channel.. | Ebuyer.com

Sorry, but skimping on the main component really is not worthwhile.

Edit, add a video card only you are unhappy with the i5 HD3000 graphics.

 

[Owlsroost]

Edit, add a video card only you are unhappy with the i5 HD3000 graphics.

+1

If you wanted to save money, the i3-2105 gets you HD3000 GPU at lower cost/lower power (and the CPU performance is more than enough for HTPC use)

Tony

 

[lilrichie]

https://docs.google.com/a/thehowell...Epjd2lnN3JiTWE3el94SHJDNC1XX3c&hl=en_US#gid=0

Is this better?

 

[Owlsroost]

You've got a socket 1156 CPU in a socket 1155 MB for the client - not compatible (and the older socket 1156 CPUs are slower than the current Sandy Bridge chips)

The server MB+CPU seems a bit pricey/overspecced for what it needs to do.

Tony

 

[lilrichie]

Tony,

If i am being totally honest i don't really have a clue, so many new CPU's and Mobo's since the day i was building computers i kinda lost touch, i had a crack at it and was hoping maybe someone could offer some advice or change it around for me?

I wanted to have it future proof and be able to play 1080p and rip a dvd at the same time without compromising playback quality that kind of thing.

 

[Owlsroost]

OK - do you really want an all-in-one (singleseat) system or a server + client ?

For the singleseat/client, a mid-range Sandy Bridge (Skt 1155) CPU with HD3000 graphics is probably the best balance of cost/power/performance at the moment. I'd go with PD's suggestion of starting with the on-board HD3000 graphics, but allowing for a video card later.

For a TV server machine, it's more about disc space, enough slots for the tuner cards, and a gigabit network interface than CPU power (but I'm a singleseat user, so not the best person to comment on this)

Tony