First HTPC build - advice needed

[kieran45]

Hi guys (and girls),

Appreciate all the support and advice that comes throught this forum. I have been reading for a while, and have finally decided to pull the plug on my first HTPC. I have built normal PC's before, but never a HTPC, and would really appreciate some advice on the components I have tentatively decided on before I start to build.


Case - Antec Fusion - I have some space issues, so small and good looking case needed.
Mobo - Asus PVE VM HDMI - on board G35 graphics, HDMI
CPU - E4500 - cheap, lower power, enough grunt ?
Cooler - Scythe Ninja mini - can run passive in this case
RAM - 2GB Kingston 667
Hard Drive - WD GP 1TB - tons of space, quiet and cool running
DVD RW - maybe upgrade to BluRay later?
Keyboard - Logitech Dinovo Edge - light, very cool
Tuner - AverMedia AverTV Duo Hybrid?

I have a logitech universal remote I hope will work with the inbuilt IR receiver in the case.

Will be using Vista Ultimate.

I would like it to be able to connect via HDMI, watch and record digital TV, playback media collection, maybe BluRay eventually. Must be very quiet and look good in TV cabinet.

Main queries I have are:
The tuner - I want dual digital tuners, no real experience with tuners though. any other suggestions would be great.
Onboard graphics - will these be enough for what I am looking for? I can get a dedicated card later on if I need.
Is this going to be able to do what I want from the machine?

Any advice from those more experienced than me would be appreciated.

[dgaust]

Case - Antec Fusion - I have some space issues, so small and good looking case needed.

Good choice, it's certainly a good looking case and well built.

Mobo - Asus PVE VM HDMI - on board G35 graphics, HDMI

Don't know anything about it, though as I understand it the G35 has hardware acceleration of HD content. Or at least it will with future driver updates.

CPU - E4500 - cheap, lower power, enough grunt ?

Should be powerful enough for everything, especially if you have hardware acceleration of HD content.

Cooler - Scythe Ninja mini - can run passive in this case

Let me know how that goes, my current cooler seems to be on the way out and I am planning on replacing it. I've been looking at one of the coolermaster GeminII coolers either the S or the double one.

RAM - 2GB Kingston 667

For onboard graphics I would recommend 800mhz RAM.

Hard Drive - WD GP 1TB - tons of space, quiet and cool running

I would personally prefer to have separate drives for the OS and storage, especially recorded TV. I run a 250gb drive partitioned (40gb for OS, rest for music/picutre/stored dvd) while the 500gb is for recorded TV and overflow.

DVD RW - maybe upgrade to BluRay later?

Why not blu-ray now. Don't think it's going to lose the war, and they've had massive price drops recently. You can pick up the Pioneer drive for around $250 (obviously a bit more than you stock drive).

Keyboard - Logitech Dinovo Edge - light, very cool

It is cool, I like mine though I've found I barely use it. I'm planning on replacing it with the DiNovo Mini keyboard when they are available. But for the wow factor, they are great.

Tuner - AverMedia AverTV Duo Hybrid?

I've heard a lot of good things about them. The DigitalNow Dual Hybrid S2 is alos very good.

I have a logitech universal remote I hope will work with the inbuilt IR receiver in the case.

It will, though the response time is a little slower than with the MS IR receiver and you don't get triple tap functionality (the SMS text input functionality). I have mine disabled, and use the MS IR receiver with the harmony 880.

I would like it to be able to connect via HDMI, watch and record digital TV, playback media collection, maybe BluRay eventually. Must be very quiet and look good in TV cabinet.

Not having used the scythe cooler I don't know how quiet it is, but with the case fans on low you can't hear them and the PSU is also very quiet. The only thing I can hear in my system at the moment is the CPU cooler and that is only because it is dying. I don't know how the G35 deals with HD content but if it's half as good as the 8600GT or 2600Pro/XT it'll be fine.

[kieran45]

Thanks, dgaust for taking a look and for the advice.

Cooler - Scythe Ninja mini - can run passive in this case

Let me know how that goes, my current cooler seems to be on the way out and I am planning on replacing it. I've been looking at one of the coolermaster GeminII coolers either the S or the double one.

I have the big version of this in my everyday PC, and its great. I have seen a few builds with this case and mobo, and this cooler fits right next to the case fans, so is supposed to run well passive. If I end up going with this one I will let you know how it works out.

Hard Drive - WD GP 1TB - tons of space, quiet and cool running

I would personally prefer to have separate drives for the OS and storage, especially recorded TV. I run a 250gb drive partitioned (40gb for OS, rest for music/picutre/stored dvd) while the 500gb is for recorded TV and overflow.

I was planning to partition the disk for OS and storage. I figured that one drive would be quieter and cooler than 2.

DVD RW - maybe upgrade to BluRay later?

Why not blu-ray now. Don't think it's going to lose the war, and they've had massive price drops recently. You can pick up the Pioneer drive for around $250 (obviously a bit more than you stock drive).

I know, I know, I should do it right first. None of the DVD rental stores near me have much of a range yet though, and saving a bit over $200 makes it a bit easier to slide this not entirely vital purchase past the missus.

Thanks again for the advice.

[dgaust]

Originally Posted by kieran45

I have the big version of this in my everyday PC, and its great. I have seen a few builds with this case and mobo, and this cooler fits right next to the case fans, so is supposed to run well passive. If I end up going with this one I will let you know how it works out.

Might take a look at it myself. Although I did find this on the GeminII cooler in the Fusion, since it's bigger and I have a slightly hotter CPU i might go that way.

Originally Posted by kieran45

I was planning to partition the disk for OS and storage. I figured that one drive would be quieter and cooler than 2.

Live TV is always buffering, thus the drive is always in use. Separating them is probably for the best, and to be honest the heat and noise difference between the drives would be negligible.

Originally Posted by kieran45

I know, I know, I should do it right first. None of the DVD rental stores near me have much of a range yet though, and saving a bit over $200 makes it a bit easier to slide this not entirely vital purchase past the missus.

Quickflix is awesome.... $30 a month for 10 dvds/blu-ray discs, or $36 for an unlimited number. It's much cheaper than renting them from the stores. And even though it's through the mail it's very convenient

Originally Posted by kieran45

Thanks again for the advice.

You're welcome

[jimbojumbo]

Case - Antec Fusion - I have some space issues, so small and good looking case needed.

Good Choice, I've got it's little brother the NSK2480b, essentially the same design, great airflow.

Mobo - Asus PVE VM HDMI - on board G35 graphics, HDMI

Don't know this model but I always get Asus boards, rarely let me down.

CPU - E4500 - cheap, lower power, enough grunt ?

Dunno, I'm an AMD man myself?

Cooler - Scythe Ninja mini - can run passive in this case

I've added one in my case and run it passive also added a Scythe Slip Stream Fan 800rpm (www.pccasegear.com/prod6024.htm) as well, its cool (about 5-10c over stock cooler) and whisper quite.

RAM - 2GB Kingston 667

Love Kingston memory, for the exrtra 30 bucks i'd go 800

Hard Drive - WD GP 1TB - tons of space, quiet and cool running

Samsung are apparentley very quite, my Seagate is the loudest thing in my unit if you put your ear to the case, but only because everthing else is so smooth.

DVD RW - maybe upgrade to BluRay later?

I use whatever is available!.

Keyboard - Logitech Dinovo Edge - light, very cool

I have some generic POS I use once in a blue moon, I RDP to the box for any maintenance.

Tuner - AverMedia AverTV Duo Hybrid?

I'm a Avermedia fan, haven't used the DUO but am told it is good.