Noob HTPC build.. advice please

Hatch-it Man

Hi all,

I have some parts left over from a previous computer build and am thinking of putting together a HTPC .. My media player has packed in so this is prob as good a time as any to do it.
Not looking to do anything to fancy like recording live TV.. just want to be able to watch movies, music etc.. for now any way.

I was thinking of a budget of about 400eur.

These are the components I have already..

AB9 QuadGT(Intel965+ICH8) (Socket 775),
Q6600 quad core,
256MB GeForce 8600 GT
2.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 463MHz 5-5-5-18 Crucial Ballistix

Any input would be appreciated.. maybe I would be better of just buying a WD TV live Hub or something ?

Carter P Fly

For a HTPC the bits you have are fine for the most part but I have a 8600 GT and the fan is noisy for a HTPC and it also doesnt do Audio over HDMI, better spending a very little amount of money and get something like a 5450 for very little money

http://www.dabs.ie/products/sapphire-technology-ati-radeon-hd-5450-650mhz-512mb-ddr3-pci-express-dvi--low-profile--6L9B.html?refs=52400000

You can get a 32gig SSD from memory C for not a lot of money, less then 100 euro for a completly silent and ultra fast drive.

For an OS you cant relaly go far wrong with a Linux build like kubuntu and use XBMC or Boxee as a player. You can add a mythtv backend to these if you want TV at a later date. Win 7 media center is also a good option and can run well on fairly low spec machines. My Win7 Ultimate HTPC runs great on a Pentuim D dual core 3 gig.

Im presuming you're going to access your media from a second pc or perhaps a NAS in the house in which case you can get away with a wireless N but a wired connection is better.

What you spend on a PC case is up to you and you can easily add in a blue ray drive for less the 400euro

Hatch-it Man

Thanks for the feedback Carter, will take your advice re GPU and SSD.