Motherboard recommendations please.

apophis

Hi all, i am planning on putting together a htpc and i want to use, if possible, a good Micro ATX or Mini ATX motherboard, with good on-board graphics and built in wifi, could anyone tell me please if such a thing exists, and if possible put some recommendations my way, my starting point is a fusion remote black ht pc case given to me by a friend.
many thanks in advance,

apophis :cool:

Monotype

Mini-ITX, do you mean?

How good do you want your onboard graphics? Just smooth for videos and animations or actual gaming?

You can get some nice mini-ITX motherboards for FM2...
http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=70162


Or you can save a bit and get an mATX since your case supports it.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/66940/MSI+FM2-A75MA-E35%2C+FM2%2C+mATX.article

It might be worth investing in something with optical sound though, if that's what you plan on using. I think this might be the one that I have.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/79808/ASRock+FM2A75M-ITX+R2.0%2C+FM2%2C+ITX.article

Or mATX flavour:
http://www.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/70782/ASRock+FM2A85X+Extreme4-M%2C+FM2%2C+mATX.article

Now, the APUs is where the graphics capabilities are in the system. A 5400K is plenty for most HTPC needs.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/Socket+FM2/66806/AMD+A6+5400K+Black+Edition+mit+AMD+Radeon+HD+7540D+Grafikeinheit%2C+Box%2C+FM2.article
You can spend more on the likes of a 6800K which has more powerful graphics and is a quad core, but it's not necessary for the most part.

Now if you want something with a bit more power in it, you could go with an Intel Haswell board. They have a nice selection of features, but are more expensive. You could go with something like this.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/79701/MSI+Z87I%2C+ITX%2C+Sockel+1150.article
Or since you probably wouldn't be overclocking, you could save a little and get a H87 motherboard. There's a range of CPUs supported, just look for socket 1150/

apophis

Hi Monotype, that was very kind of you to take time to post all those choices, i now have a good reference point for what is available to me.
again many thanks.


apophis :cool: