Desktop build - Ibuypower - How's this sound for a good HTPC?

B

brodas3

New Member
This is what I configured for $1500;

Any scrutiny?

Case ( NZXT Tempest EVO Gaming Tower Case )
Processor ( Intel® Core™ i7 920 Processor (4x 2.66GHz/8MB L3 Cache) )
Motherboard ( ASUS P6T SE -- Intel X58 Chipset CrossFire Supported w/7.1 Sound, Triple-Channel DDR3, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, Triple PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 6 GB [2 GB X3] DDR3-1600 Triple Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand )
Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 – 1GB - Single Card )
Case Lighting ( None )
Power Supply ( 700 Watt -- Power Supply - SLI Ready )
Processor Cooling ( [Free Upgrade] Liquid CPU Cooling System w/ 120mm Radiator [SOCKET-1366] )
Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA )
Primary Hard Drive ( 1.5 TB HARD DRIVE -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
Data Hard Drive ( None )
2nd Optical Drive ( 22X Sony Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
Optical Drive ( [8X Blu-Ray] LG BLU-RAY Reader, DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive - Black )
External Hard Drives [USB 2.0/eSATA] ( None )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Speaker System ( iBUYPOWER 2.1 Channel Stereo Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
Floppy Drive ( None )
Monitor ( None )
Keyboard ( iBUYPOWER USB Keyboard - Black )
Mouse ( iBUYPOWER Internet Mouse - Black )
Operating System ( Microsoft Windows 7 Professional + [Free 60-Day !!!] Microsoft Office 2007(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access ....) - 64-Bit )
Warranty ( Standard Warranty Service - Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Technical Support )
Rush Service ( Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) - No Rush Service, Estimate Ship Out in 5~10 Business Days )
Advanced Build Options ( iBUYPOWER Specialized Advanced Packaging System - Protect your investment during transportation! )
Advanced Build Options ( Tuniq TX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound - The best interface between your CPU and the heatsinks )
Video Camera ( i-Rock Web Camera )
Power Protection ( None )
Headset ( None )
Printer ( None )
Meter Display ( NZXT Sentry LX Aluminum Fan Control, Clock, and Temperature LCD Display )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer - Black )
MP3/MP4 Player ( None )
USB Flash Drive ( None )
2nd Monitor ( None )
 
I would choose ATI 5750 instead as ATI support sound through HDMI.
But if you purely use the machine for HTPC, you probably don't need such a powerful machine. A $900 machine would probably do the job.

Power supply - get one with brand name.
Harddrive - Get 1 TB. I have heard harddrive over 1 TB could be unstable, but I don't know if it still the case
 
Last edited:
Are you going to game on this thing or just use it as a browser and watch movies?

My HTPC uses onboard GeForce 6100 for graphics, so you could get by
much, much cheaper as daisy pointed out.
 
Bodaggit23 said:
Are you going to game on this thing or just use it as a browser and watch movies?

My HTPC uses onboard GeForce 6100 for graphics, so you could get by
much, much cheaper as daisy pointed out.
Click to expand...

I am not sure if GeForce 6100 could cope with blu-ray. I do suggest 4650/4670 to cover these day to day use.
 
Why in the world does an HTPC have an i7 processor?

It doesn't really look like a gaming PC either with a GTS 250.

A good HTPC uses low powered components so the computer can be nearly silent and run 24/7 without burning through too much power. It's also best housed in an HTPC case so it doesn't stick out from the rest of your living room.

You can run any HD video you want, blu-ray whatever with new generations of nvidia onboard video. As for CPU, you want to find one that consumes less power so you don't need a 3000rpm fan just to cool it.
 
So, give me a good build for this. I don't want a htpc case. My corner computer desk is setup in our living room. I have no problems with a tower in my living room. As of today, we have a tcp50g15 Panasonic Plasma on a corner wall mount above the desk. I like this setup. My home theater system, dvd player, ps3, Wii, all set up on the corner hutch of my desk. With the nice oak desk, it looks like it was all meant to be there. We have a small house, 3 bedroom, and no other space to even put a desk. 3 kids (One more comin on Monday! My wife is being enduced into labor Monday morning! BOY!), there isn't a lot of room here.

So, what processor? What graphics card with digital audio support? I can order the above system with sound suppression. Help me out here with a GOOD system. I tried to look into top of the line for today, as this system is going to have to last me the next 5 - 10 years. Yes, I know, my wife has told me I'm the Tim Taylor of overkill, but I don't want short changed on some piece of crap that is going to be 100% obsolete in a year or two. I really don't like anything but intel processors. I had an AMD before and didn't like it. I am buying a system in the next 48 hours one way or the other. Help me out here and put me in the right direction. Yes I would love to have a good system under a grand, but I will spend the money on a good quality system, that is not going to be last years news, tomorrow!

Thanks
 
brodas3 said:
So, give me a good build for this. I don't want a htpc case. My corner computer desk is setup in our living room. I have no problems with a tower in my living room. As of today, we have a tcp50g15 Panasonic Plasma on a corner wall mount above the desk. I like this setup. My home theater system, dvd player, ps3, Wii, all set up on the corner hutch of my desk. With the nice oak desk, it looks like it was all meant to be there. We have a small house, 3 bedroom, and no other space to even put a desk. 3 kids (One more comin on Monday! My wife is being enduced into labor Monday morning! BOY!), there isn't a lot of room here.

So, what processor? What graphics card with digital audio support? I can order the above system with sound suppression. Help me out here with a GOOD system. I tried to look into top of the line for today, as this system is going to have to last me the next 5 - 10 years. Yes, I know, my wife has told me I'm the Tim Taylor of overkill, but I don't want short changed on some piece of crap that is going to be 100% obsolete in a year or two. I really don't like anything but intel processors. I had an AMD before and didn't like it. I am buying a system in the next 48 hours one way or the other. Help me out here and put me in the right direction. Yes I would love to have a good system under a grand, but I will spend the money on a good quality system, that is not going to be last years news, tomorrow!

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you want the system last 5 - 10 years, that is the one.

I suggest you make follow changes -
Video card - ATi 5750 such that it support DirectX11 for future.
PSU go for Consair 650W as they are good quality
HDD - Highly recommend you get 2 x 1TB instead of one 1.5 TB.
Case - Don't get one with side windows/ bright LED. When you turn off the light enjoying the movie, you may find your PC too bright.
Keyboard/ Mouse - Probably best to get a wireless as you can sit on sofa and get access.
Speakers - Not sure about these 2.1. you probably have better speakers??


Althernatively, you could go for i7 860 + P55.

Gamer Paladin E850
Case ( CoolerMaster CM 690 Gaming Tower Case - Black )
Processor ( Intel® Core™ i7 860 Processor (4x 2.80GHz/8MB L3 Cache) )
Motherboard ( Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 -- Intel P55 Chipset CrossFire Supported w/7.1 Sound, Dual-Channel DDR3, Gb LAN, S-ATA 3.0 Raid, USB 3.0, Dual PCI-E MB )
Memory ( 8 GB [2 GB X4] DDR3-1333 Memory Module - Corsair or Major Brand ** Free Upgrade to DDR3-1600 ** )
Video Card ( ATI Radeon HD 5750 - 1GB - Single Card )
Case Lighting ( None )
Power Supply ( 650 Watt -- Corsair CMPSU-650TX Power Supply - SLI Ready )
Processor Cooling ( Asetek Liquid CPU Cooling System (P55) )
Video Card Brand ( Major Brand Powered by ATI or NVIDIA )
Primary Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
Data Hard Drive ( 1 TB HARD DRIVE -- 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0Gb/s - Single Drive )
2nd Optical Drive ( [8X Blu-Ray] LG BLU-RAY Re-Writer, DVD±R/±RW Burner Combo Drive - Black )
Optical Drive ( 22X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
External Hard Drives [USB 2.0/eSATA] ( None )
Sound Card ( 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard )
Speaker System ( None )
Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )
Floppy Drive ( None )
Monitor ( None )
Operating System ( Microsoft Windows 7 Professional + [Free 60-Day !!!] Microsoft Office 2007(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access ....) - 64-Bit )
Warranty ( Standard Warranty Service - Standard 3-Year Limited Warranty + Lifetime Technical Support )
Rush Service ( Rush Service Fee (not shipping fee) - No Rush Service, Estimate Ship Out in 5~10 Business Days )
Advanced Build Options ( Tuniq TX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound - The best interface between your CPU and the heatsinks )
Video Camera ( None )
Power Protection ( None )
Headset ( None )
Printer ( None )
Meter Display ( None )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer - Black )
MP3/MP4 Player ( None )
USB Flash Drive ( None )
2nd Monitor ( None )
iBUYPOWER Labs - Noise Reduction ( None )
iBUYPOWER Labs - Internal Expansion ( None )
Netbook / Notebook Bundle ( None )
iBUYPOWER PowerDrive ( None )
 
Last edited:
brodas3 said:
So, give me a good build for this. I don't want a htpc case. My corner computer desk is setup in our living room. I have no problems with a tower in my living room. As of today, we have a tcp50g15 Panasonic Plasma on a corner wall mount above the desk. I like this setup. My home theater system, dvd player, ps3, Wii, all set up on the corner hutch of my desk. With the nice oak desk, it looks like it was all meant to be there. We have a small house, 3 bedroom, and no other space to even put a desk. 3 kids (One more comin on Monday! My wife is being enduced into labor Monday morning! BOY!), there isn't a lot of room here.

So, what processor? What graphics card with digital audio support? I can order the above system with sound suppression. Help me out here with a GOOD system. I tried to look into top of the line for today, as this system is going to have to last me the next 5 - 10 years. Yes, I know, my wife has told me I'm the Tim Taylor of overkill, but I don't want short changed on some piece of crap that is going to be 100% obsolete in a year or two. I really don't like anything but intel processors. I had an AMD before and didn't like it. I am buying a system in the next 48 hours one way or the other. Help me out here and put me in the right direction. Yes I would love to have a good system under a grand, but I will spend the money on a good quality system, that is not going to be last years news, tomorrow!

Thanks
Click to expand...

So now you don't want an HTPC? That makes a world of difference. In that case your first build is fine, just bump the graphics card up to a 5870 if you have the money.

Also don't order sound suppression, it rarely works at all unless the system is built ground up for being quiet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top