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<blockquote data-quote="SimonDen" data-source="post: 27840" data-attributes="member: 16871"><p>Hi,</p><p></p><p>As you can see I am a newbie to this forum and this is my first post so please be gentle with me <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>I have been looking around the forums and think I have decided what hardware to go for, however I would appreciate any help/comments.</p><p></p><p>My setup needs to be small and stylish (so the G/F won't moan), and extremely quiet (i.e. not noticable from 1 meter and inaudible from 2 meters, again to keep the G/F happy). I appreciate that everyone wants these <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>I have a 42 Plasma with DVI input, and surround sound (BOSE) speakers.</p><p></p><p>I would like the HTPC to replace:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cable Box</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">DVD Player (OK a no brainer)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Digital Amp</li> </ul><p></p><p>I would like the setup to do the the following:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Watch TV (NTL Cable)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Record TV (NTL Cable)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Digitise my CD collection</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have an EPG for NTL that downloads through the internet</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The ability to do everything through the remote without need for mouse or keyboard (after setup)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Possibly digitise my DVDs (future)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Send audio/video to a receiver (extender), preferably my xbox</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Must have wireless LAN</li> </ul><p></p><p>For the case, I am looking at the Silverstone LC11M as it is small and stylish and has a built in VFD. My questions on this are:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Is the PSU quiet or would it benefit from a different PSU</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Are the case fans silent or can they be made less noisy if not (by adding a resistor, changing to 5v or replacing with silent fans).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Are there any other better/quieter cases on the market</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How well does the remote work with Media Portal</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Can I use the PCI riser without the AGP part as I will hopefully be using onboard graphics in a board with PCI-e and don't want to buy the PCI-e riser</li> </ol><p></p><p>For the motherboard I am looking at the A8N-VM CSM, my questions on this are:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Is the onboard graphics good enough for watching TV/DVDs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Is the onboard soundcard good enough to power a decent set of 5:1 speakers without the use of an amp, if not is there a soundcard available to do this.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">I intend to use a SATA2 drive are the SATA leads that come with the board SATA2 compatible</li> </ol><p></p><p>For the CPU I am looking at waiting for the Sempron to be released, I assume that this it supports 'Cool and Quiet' technology, is this correct</p><p></p><p>For the DVB card I am looking at the FireDTV Floppy DVB-C as this is the only one that I can find that supports NTL, my questions are:</p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">are there any others?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Can I just get the OEM version of the FireDTV as I will already have a remote with the LC11M or does it need anything in the non-oem version.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Does the remote with the LC11M change the NTL channels on the firedtv</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Does the firedtv fit in the internal bay of the LC11M with a card in it</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Will 2 Firedtvs fit in the 3 internal bays with a HDD taking up the 3rd slot</li> </ol><p></p><p>For the HDD I am looking at a western digital 250gb SATA2 drive as it is the only one that I have found so far with quiet technology, are there any others?</p><p></p><p>Can Media Portal 'talk' with XBMC so that I can play film/video across the network.</p><p></p><p>For the wireless network I already have a Belkin PCI card that I intend to use, (the xbox has a Netgear WGE111 if this is relevant)</p><p></p><p>Many thanks in advance for any help/comments/suggestions <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> </p><p></p><p>And sorry for the long post!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SimonDen, post: 27840, member: 16871"] Hi, As you can see I am a newbie to this forum and this is my first post so please be gentle with me :) I have been looking around the forums and think I have decided what hardware to go for, however I would appreciate any help/comments. My setup needs to be small and stylish (so the G/F won't moan), and extremely quiet (i.e. not noticable from 1 meter and inaudible from 2 meters, again to keep the G/F happy). I appreciate that everyone wants these :) I have a 42 Plasma with DVI input, and surround sound (BOSE) speakers. I would like the HTPC to replace: [list][*]Cable Box [*]DVD Player (OK a no brainer) [*]Digital Amp[/list] I would like the setup to do the the following: [list][*]Watch TV (NTL Cable) [*]Record TV (NTL Cable) [*]Digitise my CD collection [*]Have an EPG for NTL that downloads through the internet [*]The ability to do everything through the remote without need for mouse or keyboard (after setup) [*]Possibly digitise my DVDs (future) [*]Send audio/video to a receiver (extender), preferably my xbox [*]Must have wireless LAN[/list] For the case, I am looking at the Silverstone LC11M as it is small and stylish and has a built in VFD. My questions on this are: [list=1][*]Is the PSU quiet or would it benefit from a different PSU [*]Are the case fans silent or can they be made less noisy if not (by adding a resistor, changing to 5v or replacing with silent fans). [*]Are there any other better/quieter cases on the market [*]How well does the remote work with Media Portal [*]Can I use the PCI riser without the AGP part as I will hopefully be using onboard graphics in a board with PCI-e and don't want to buy the PCI-e riser[/list] For the motherboard I am looking at the A8N-VM CSM, my questions on this are: [list=1][*]Is the onboard graphics good enough for watching TV/DVDs [*]Is the onboard soundcard good enough to power a decent set of 5:1 speakers without the use of an amp, if not is there a soundcard available to do this. [*]I intend to use a SATA2 drive are the SATA leads that come with the board SATA2 compatible[/list] For the CPU I am looking at waiting for the Sempron to be released, I assume that this it supports 'Cool and Quiet' technology, is this correct For the DVB card I am looking at the FireDTV Floppy DVB-C as this is the only one that I can find that supports NTL, my questions are: [list=1][*]are there any others? [*]Can I just get the OEM version of the FireDTV as I will already have a remote with the LC11M or does it need anything in the non-oem version. [*]Does the remote with the LC11M change the NTL channels on the firedtv [*]Does the firedtv fit in the internal bay of the LC11M with a card in it [*]Will 2 Firedtvs fit in the 3 internal bays with a HDD taking up the 3rd slot[/list] For the HDD I am looking at a western digital 250gb SATA2 drive as it is the only one that I have found so far with quiet technology, are there any others? Can Media Portal 'talk' with XBMC so that I can play film/video across the network. For the wireless network I already have a Belkin PCI card that I intend to use, (the xbox has a Netgear WGE111 if this is relevant) Many thanks in advance for any help/comments/suggestions :D And sorry for the long post! [/QUOTE]
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