2nd Budget HTPC

[SA]

Hi again,

Silly me volunteered to upgrade my dad's clunking Pentium II to an HTPC - budget stuff. Just checking specs...let me know if I've stuffed up

Cheapie case with 400W PSU - $40
Mobo - Asus A8N VN-CSM w/ Geforce 6150 onboard - $115
CPU - Athlon 3200+ (Venice core) - $157
RAM - Kingston 2x512mb PC 3200 DDR - $140
HDD - WD 160GB SATA II - $100
CPU Cooler - stock AMD (have one already)
Optical - Samsung SH-W162Z - $58
Tuner - Avermedia A16A OEM pack - $105
Cooling - GlacialTech GT9225EBDL 92mm - $6
OS - MCE $167

Total - $888 + P/H

(Prices sourced from hboutlet.com.au and excelcomputers.com.au)

I have an MCE remote and IR receiver I'm not using from my HTPC, and the keyboard/mouse will be recycled from dad's existing PC.

Can I get away with less??

I'm thinking:

1. I could drop RAM back to 512MB (if I do that, is it better with 2x256 or 1x512 module?).
2. Maybe a lower spec CPU? like going with a socket 754 CPU like a Sempron 2800+ or 3000+ and a mobo like this one but will the 6100 onboard gfx handle the HDTV?

(Doing 1+2 would save about $170!)

Thanks, team!
SA

[vbap]

Originally Posted by SA

1. I could drop RAM back to 512MB (if I do that, is it better with 2x256 or 1x512 module?).
2. Maybe a lower spec CPU? like going with a socket 754 CPU like a Sempron 2800+ or 3000+ and a mobo like this one but will the 6100 onboard gfx handle the HDTV?

I believe to get that motherboard's onboard graphics to play nicely with MCE, you must configure it in DualChannel mode, so you have to use 2 sticks of memory.

I would also suggest that for the budget HTPC, don't configure HD channels for viewing. Depending on how much a "videophile" your dad is (and kind of TV you're plugging into), he probably won't notice the difference between SD and HD, and he also may start recording HD shows and wonder why he runs out of HDD space so quickly...!
Sticking to the SD channels would help keeps the demands of the system low...

[whitford]

SA? How's it?
I'm looking at exactly doing the same thing.
Question:
- The audio? is it only stereo out? or does it actually do spdif out as well?
- Any alternative onboard motherboard that will do decent video, stereo, spdif?

THanks...

[whitford]

I found this: http://us.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_prod...YPE=LP&SITE=NA

or how about this: http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/Mo...=GA-K8N51GMF-9

what do u think?

Can this do HD? I want to output to a 32" Sony Bravia LCD - if possible at 1366 x 768.

Thanks...

[SA]

Originally Posted by whitford

SA? How's it?
I'm looking at exactly doing the same thing.
Question:
- The audio? is it only stereo out? or does it actually do spdif out as well?
- Any alternative onboard motherboard that will do decent video, stereo, spdif?

THanks...

Hey whitford...specs mention spdif

Anyone run an integrated Geforce 6100 mobo with MCE? Any probs with SD or HD FTA?