HTPC build

S

shravan98

New Member
I'm thinking of building a HTPC but am not so sure on which motherboard and CPU to use and I'm not certain whether to use Integrated graphics or a dedicated video card (i want to play HD video). Any suggestions with parts will be very helpful. My budget is around $500-$800 Australian dollars (about USD$510-USD$810). Will use Windows media center or XBMC (will trial both)

I would like to:
- Watch HDTV (will buy tuner)
- Play DVDs (have separate BD3d player)
- Browse internet casually
-

Possible parts list:
CPU - http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Pentium-Dual-Core-Processor-BX80571E6500-Retail/dp/B002LM38YK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289031664&sr=8-1 or any better. Not sure cache is large enough or is fast enough.
Mobo - http://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-GeForce-Intel-Motherboard-G45ITX-B-/dp/B003GSLCSC/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1289035742&sr=1-2 or http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-4DDR3-2200-CrossFireX-Motherboard-GA-H57M-USB3/dp/B0034HROM8/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1289035716&sr=1-6. Looking to spend max AUD$150 here.
Wireless keyboard w/ touchpad - http://cgi.ebay.com/2-4GHz-RF-Wireless-MCE-Slim-Keyboard-Touchpad-Touch-Pad-/120499953268?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item1c0e5b5e74#shId
Still working out other parts.
 
You can use on board video for the use you describe.
Newer motherboards that have ob video can handle hd/br/3d movies.
But I don't think there's much out there in the way of 3d as it pertains to movies/tv.
Aside from it being processed, the quality of the tv/hd/cable/etc also depends on the incoming signal's properties since the HW only processes it.

I'd use(and actually am)a board w/obv. If decided to do anything more graphically demanding in the future,
the obv can be disabled and upgraded to a physical card.

A good dual core will do what you're asking.
AMD may be a better value w/o sacrificing perf. for the use you describe.
Reguardless, I think you'd be safe with obv and you could invest the saved budget on some of the other HW. (mobo/cpu/psu)

If you're going to do any modern gaming I'd get a mobo w/o obv, w/ 4 cores and a physical vc.

Personally I'd go with axt.
 
hey mate check out www.pccasegear.com.au

I'll make you a build from the above website

CPU: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=187_345&products_id=13376

Mobo: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=138_803&products_id=14197

RAM: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=186_538_913&products_id=13601

GPU: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_876&products_id=15530

HDD: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_344&products_id=11863

PSU: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_354&products_id=5776

Case: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_547&products_id=7692

Total: $651 before shipping.

It'll do everything you want and more. You will also be able to play games with ease on high/highest settings and play 1080p videos without a problem.
 
shravan98 said:
I would like to:
- Watch HDTV (will buy tuner)
- Play DVDs (have separate BD3d player)
- Browse internet casually
-
Click to expand...
linkin said:
It'll do everything you want and more. You will also be able to play games with ease on high/highest settings and play 1080p videos without a problem.
Click to expand...

Does it need to be clarified if it will be used for gaming because the ob HD4250 chosen will also do gaming but perhaps won't perform as well @ the high/highest settings?

That board has obv, so does it mean that that gpu will crossfire with it? I don't think I'ts compatible for that. Here's some marks on it tho.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/video_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+M880G+with+Mobility+Radeon+HD+4250

The hd4290(890g)has 200mhz more @ stock and can be clocked to at least 1,000 for a 25%+ gain. 4290 & 5450 can be crossfired.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-890gx-radeon,2571-7.html

It may sound like I'm promoting the obv or crossfirex, but I'm not. Just putting the info out here.
 
Benny Boy said:
Does it need to be clarified if it will be used for gaming because the ob HD4250 chosen will also do gaming but perhaps won't perform as well @ the high/highest settings?

That board has obv, so does it mean that that gpu will crossfire with it? I don't think I'ts compatible for that. Here's some marks on it tho.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/video_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+M880G+with+Mobility+Radeon+HD+4250

The hd4290(890g)has 200mhz more @ stock and can be clocked to at least 1,000 for a 25%+ gain. 4290 & 5450 can be crossfired.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-890gx-radeon,2571-7.html

It may sound like I'm promoting the obv or crossfirex, but I'm not. Just putting the info out here.
Click to expand...

It would be better to use dedicated video.
 
linkin said:
hey mate check out www.pccasegear.com.au

I'll make you a build from the above website

CPU: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=187_345&products_id=13376

Mobo: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=138_803&products_id=14197

RAM: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=186_538_913&products_id=13601

GPU: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_876&products_id=15530

HDD: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_344&products_id=11863

PSU: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_354&products_id=5776

Case: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_547&products_id=7692

Total: $651 before shipping.

It'll do everything you want and more. You will also be able to play games with ease on high/highest settings and play 1080p videos without a problem.
Click to expand...
I really like this build. I think i might change the case but the rest looks awesome.

Why? How come? What for? (<--needs to know too)
Click to expand...

If it's possible I willl do some gaming but I wont do any hardcore gaming.
 
Last edited:
That's everything you will need apart from a copy of windows and a dvd drive, assuming you have keyboard/mouse/screen, or do you need those too?
 
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