HTPC Build Advice pls

Inquitus

Hi,

After much thought I have decided to keep my desktop and build a new HTPC from scratch rather than canabalising it.

I am going with this case

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=930&cat=0&page=

An OEM Copy of Home Premium Vista to include MCE

https://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=330707

After this its your advice I seek, just how powerful a CPU and GPU do I need to be all good for HD? Please recommend bang for buck, I can game on the desktop so I just want a reasonably future proof (for a while) HTPC.

What components need to be HTPC Compliant? just the Graphics Card and my TV?

Components as Quiet as possible please.

So to summarise pls recommend:

1. CPU
2. GPU
3. PSU
4. MOBO
5. Sound Card or will onboard do?

Tnx a mil,

Inqui

8T8

[CPU] Core 2 Duo E6600

[GPU] 8600GTS *

[PSU] Seasonic or Tagan 500W or thereabouts

[Mobo] Intel chipset P35 or P965 will do

[Sound] Largely depends on sound system what will be being used ?


* The 8600GTS because it has full GPU acceleration for HD-DVD/Blu-ray, and if your TV is a 1366x768 model then it is good at gaming for that resolution. Alternatively a Radeon HD 2600XT may be worth a look in as it has even better HD-DVD/Blu-ray offloading, same performance as 8600GTS supposedly but there will also be passive versions so no fan. However the 2600 series is not yet out sometime this month I think.

If the performance holds up the 2600XT is the better one to get of the two because of the passive cooling and it's UVD for HD-DVD/lu-ray even a lowly Sempron with one of these can handle HD movies with only 5% CPU usage. Plus the 2600XT comes with built in HDMI output & sound controller for HDMI audio.

kaisersose77

have ati annouced any models like the 8500gt (if your only interested in the HD acceleration and dont care if its not good for gaming) and if so have they mentioned a price?

8T8

Yes the 2400 series will have UVD/HDMI support & of course passive cooling and cheaper than the 2600 series.