First HTPC Build Advice

SmashingPilot

Hi, I've been a long time lurker on this forum, trying to read and keep up to date with everything. I've decided to finally take the plunge and build a dedicated HTPC for the living room over midterm from college.

As far as software and working with a computer I'm ok but haven't a clue when it comes to builds and understanding the best spec/value hardware available.
This is where I'm turning to you all you folks for a little information and help.
I've heard of hardwareversand and it seems like a reputable site for buying from.

So basically I'm looking for the individual pieces of hardware needed and at the best value for money, wanna do this cheaply as possible.

I plan on using Windows Media Center for doing everything, best option???

Need to be able to watch satellite/cable tv - The blackgold bgt3595 seems to be the best option for this.

Have a Blu-Ray disc drive for watching movies.

A 1TB hard drive for downloads etc..

A case that fits neatly under the TV on the stand.

Is a graphics card needed? I have one, otherwise onboard HDMI would be fine. That would run 1080p video ok?

I think thats the main main things I want from the HTPC but as for the other vital components, I'm not sure what I'd need.
I'd probably be looking to stick to a budget of possibly no more than €500, less if possible.

Not sure what else really but if I've forgotten any details I can fill you in.

SmashingPilot

Decided to make a first test build and see what everyone thought/had any advice to give.

CPU: Intel Pentium Dualcore E5500 "Box", LGA775
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G41MT-D3 ,Intel G41, mATX, DDR3, PCI-Express
RAM: 2GB Corsair DDR3 PC1333 x2
Case: Compucase 7KJCBS-FE30U, Micro-ATX, 300Watt-Netzteil
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1000GB, SATA II
Disc Drive: Samsung SH-B123L Retail

Total Price (Including Assembly): €334:17

Then need to include the price of BGT3595 card.

Carter P Fly

I jave a very similar setup, I recently got the same motherboard and it has built in audio over HDMI and also a SSD. Im setting them up now to replace my current mainboard. I have an ATI HD5450 passive videocard in my current setup. If your gonna be playing blueray you will be neding hardware HD decoding which the onboard graphics wont handle.

You can pickup a suitable HD card for little money on Dabs.ie, elara.ie, komplett.ie etc.

Ideally the best and quietest setup is to have a solid state disk (32gig is fine from memoryc.ie) as your OS disk as these are incredibly fast and absolutly silent and to have a second large storage disk for your movies and recordings etc.

I dont store anything on my HTPC, instead its all on large disks on my office PC and I have the drives mapped over a gigabit network. I, However, dont recors tv, If I did id have a stoarage disk in my HTPC for that.

slave1

For media file playback portal XBMC is simply stunning

Carter P Fly

XBMC is a excelent media player but if one wants to have a media player and TV without going linux win7 media center, while flawed, is still the best windows based all rounder out there.

SmashingPilot

Thanks for the advice so far. I've more or less ordered all my parts, TV card arrived today. I'm still having trouble finding a cheap case (with PSU) that will fit under my TV on the stand. Can anyone recommend me a case to suit my needs and with a sufficient PSU.

Carter P Fly

SmashingPilot wrote: »

Thanks for the advice so far. I've more or less ordered all my parts, TV card arrived today. I'm still having trouble finding a cheap case (with PSU) that will fit under my TV on the stand. Can anyone recommend me a case to suit my needs and with a sufficient PSU.

A case that will be on display in the livingroom will not be 'cheap'.

If you plan on having it behind a cabinet door out of sight then prices start at free.

SmashingPilot

Thought I'd give you an update on my build progress. In the end, decided to purchase items from dabs.ie and went with a few different choices.

Motherboard/RAM/Processor: http://www.dabs.ie/products/asus-amd-performance-bundle--includes-m4a78lt-m-motherboard--amd-phenom-ii-x2-560-be---2gb-ddr3-memory--73GY.html

1TB HDD: http://www.dabs.ie/products/samsung-1tb-spinpoint-f3-7200rpm-sata-3gb-s-32mb-65QC.html

Blu-Ray Disc Drive: http://www.dabs.ie/products/samsung-12x-bd-rom-dvdrw-lightscribe-sata-757C.html

Case: http://www.dabs.ie/products/best-value-s001-micro-atx-desktop---tower-combo-450w-63KX.html

Then got the BGT3595 as my TV card.
All in all, cost me €312 (including delivery) for the parts and then the cost of the TV card.

Still waiting on the case to arrive, should be here tomorrow but have set the computer up and everything is running smoothly. Considering it was my first build, everything was very straightforward. Can't see why more people dont do it. Many thanks for the suggestions here also.

Carter P Fly

SmashingPilot wrote: »

Thought I'd give you an update on my build progress. In the end, decided to purchase items from dabs.ie and went with a few different choices.

Motherboard/RAM/Processor: http://www.dabs.ie/products/asus-amd-performance-bundle--includes-m4a78lt-m-motherboard--amd-phenom-ii-x2-560-be---2gb-ddr3-memory--73GY.html

1TB HDD: http://www.dabs.ie/products/samsung-1tb-spinpoint-f3-7200rpm-sata-3gb-s-32mb-65QC.html

Blu-Ray Disc Drive: http://www.dabs.ie/products/samsung-12x-bd-rom-dvdrw-lightscribe-sata-757C.html

Case: http://www.dabs.ie/products/best-value-s001-micro-atx-desktop---tower-combo-450w-63KX.html

Then got the BGT3595 as my TV card.
All in all, cost me €312 (including delivery) for the parts and then the cost of the TV card.

Still waiting on the case to arrive, should be here tomorrow but have set the computer up and everything is running smoothly. Considering it was my first build, everything was very straightforward. Can't see why more people dont do it. Many thanks for the suggestions here also.

To add to that you'll probably be looking for some Quiet Cooling so a BIG psu fan and 120 mm case fans may be required, the case only has 60mm fans setup but in general the bigger the fan the lower the pitch so that harder it is to hear.

Think strongly about getting a SSD from memoryc as your OS disk and your terrabyte one for storage.

Can you report back on that case when you get it. Pics online are fuzzy and Im looking for a case for a HTPC which is a present and I want to know if its suitable for display or not.

SmashingPilot

Ye, was considering getting a SSD but don't currently have the funds for it right now. Will definitely look to get one at some point though, thanks.

The case looked like it might be ok but I'm not too picky. I will, however, post up my own pics for you once its all in place and installed. So hopefully in the next couple days.

tmcw

Carter P Fly wrote: »

Can you report back on that case when you get it. Pics online are fuzzy and Im looking for a case for a HTPC which is a present and I want to know if its suitable for display or not.

Googling the part number: CSCITS001

SmashingPilot

I just finished putting all the parts into the case late last night. When I get home from college I will post pics for you.
At first thought, the case is ok looking but nothing fancy. It has a flap for hiding the disc drive meaning everything is flush and all the same. Space within the case is quite restrictive, have to plan what to put in first. Or maybe there is a normal routine for placing parts within a case?

The front case has three lights, a very bright blue one surrounding the power button, then two slightly dimmer and smaller lights indicating HDD power/when disc is being read/written to. I can already say these will more than likely become a little annoying if placed in view beneath a TV but you can just disconnect the power.
Not sure what else to say about it but pics will go up late.

livEwirE

Any sign of the pics mate?

SmashingPilot

Sorry man, been so busy in college, Up early, home late. So will get those pics in the morning and if I get a chance post them here. Apologies again.

SmashingPilot

So after all the waiting, sorry again, here are some pics I took. Hope they're ok, just took them with my phone as I couldn't find a camera. Anything else, just ask.

livEwirE

Good stuff mate, thanks:D