Need advice on new spec for HTPC (1 Viewer)

[BorgmanJayce]

I posted specs here a few months back for a HTPC I was planning on building and until I get the money together to build it, I'm building a lesser-specced version using the following specs and I'd like some comments on it...
===============================================
Kingston 512MB DDR PC2100 266MHz Non-ECC CL2.5 Memory Module

NEWLINK PC DVD KIT 10MTR GOLD CABLES + ADAPTOR

Maxtor 6L300R0 Diamondmax 10 300GB 7200rpm ATA133 16mb Cache - OEM

VIA EPIA MII12000 C3 Nehemiah CLE266 Mini ITX Mainboard

Aspire X-QPACK Black/Blue Aluminium Micro ATX Case - With 420W PSU - No side Window

Maxtor 6L300S0 DiamondMax 10 300GB 7200RPM SATA/150 16MB Cache - OEM

Mitsumi 7-in-1 Floppy Drive / Media Drive SM/MS/MD/CF/MM/SD Ivory

Wireless Multimedia Keyboard and rechargeable mouse

I plan on using my old DVD Writer in an external USB2 enclosure to copy files from CD's/DVD's and use the HTPC to play anime fansubs and videogame ROMs mainly.

 

[Eeyore]

the only things i might be worries about is the maxtor drive...it may be a bit loud...i have an old 120gb seagate atm...but am waiting til monday for my new WD250GB

 

[mzemina]

Talk about loud - I have a 92mm case fan that is loud enough to keep the entire family awake - and I thought I bought a quiet one. NOT! - Grrrr.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a quiet case fan? I do need one to keep the HD cool.

Mike

 

[Tech Geek]

Talk about loud - I have a 92mm case fan that is loud enough to keep the entire family awake - and I thought I bought a quiet one. NOT! - Grrrr.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a quiet case fan? I do need one to keep the HD cool.

Mike

It's probably just running full speed. Put a variable resistor like a volume control out of an old radio in the power line to the fan and throttle it back. Radio shack should sell something like that at the better locations.

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

the VIA Epia boards have a crappy onBoard graphics solution. The UniChrome graphics does not support DX9. Its overlay and especially VMR9 renderers do not work well.

Since MP uses latest DX9 technologies to render its GUI (like a game) and does only support VMR9 you might (will) get problems. This is because of very bad driver / firmware support by VIA / S3.

You should consider to spend your HTPC a DX9 PCI card like ATi 9550 or nVidia 5200.

My two cents,
Flip.

PS: I did have a Epia-M 10000 for some time...

 

[Marcusb]

ditch the via board. Get an AMD with Cool and Quiet and built in Graphics. An NF4 6150 type has HD video built in and is pretty cheap.

 

[Spragleknas]

ditch the via board. Get an AMD with Cool and Quiet and built in Graphics. An NF4 6150 type has HD video built in and is pretty cheap.

This is a good advice. I belive you should look for the ASUS mobo... you will have to buy a bracket for TV-out also.

The Maxtor is is probably the HDD that produces most heat. I'd go for Seagates 7200.9 160GB -> only one platter.

Memory should also be PC3200.