My HTPC, Suggestions on improvements please.

[alvse]

Hey guys and gals

I have been lurking on these forums for a while and have jsut built my first HTPC with old and new part (I had some bits and pieces lying around.. lol)

Here is the configuration on the HTPC

Case: Silverstone LC17
- Drive bays; Internal 3.5" x 6, External 5.25" x 2
Power Supply: Coolermaster eXtreme Power 650W
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E6320 (1.86Ghz, 4MB L2 Cache, 1066Mhz FSB)
Motherboard: Intel DP35DP
- Onboard 8-channel (7.1) audio subsystem with five analog audio outputs and one optical S/PDIF digital audio output using the Sigmatel STAC9271D* audio codec
- Six Serial ATA 3.0 Gbps ports, including 1 eSATA port with RAID support
- Consumer IR receiver and emitter (via internal headers)
- Twelve USB 2.0 ports
- Two IEEE-1394a interfaces (1 external port, 1 internal header)
- Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbits/sec) LAN subsystem using the Intel® 82566DC Gigabit Ethernet Controller
- Support for up to 8 GB of system memory
Memory: 2GB DDR2 667 (2x 1GB)
Video: Asus Geforce 7600 GS Silent
HDD1: Seagate 120GB SATA
- Partition 1 (20GB); Windows Vista Home Premium
- Partition 2 (90GB); MP3's
HDD2: Maxtor 500GB SATA
- Single Partition; DivX Movies & TV Shows, DVD Library 1
HDD3: Seagate 500GB SATA
- Single Partition; DVD Library 2
HDD4: Western Digital 500GB SATA
- Single Partition; DVD Library 3
HDD5: Seagate 750GB SATA
- Single Partition; DVD Library 4
TV-Tuner: Divico Fusion HDTV Home

Connected to;
- LG 42inch Plasma (not Hi-Def )
- Sony 5.1 Reciever


You may be wondering why I have 3 different brands of 500GB Hard Drives... it's so I can tell them appart when servicing the HTPC.

I have the DVD library going, slowly putting my entire collection onto HDD. TV works fine, I think I need to get a dual tuner next. Got all my MP3's on there, and am thinking of starting a photo library.

Do you guys have any suggestions on any improvements I can put into the HTPC. Leave comments on what you think of this setup.

Thanks

[DDH]

alvse

Looks like a nice setup. I have just built a new VMC server around the DP35DP myself. Have found it very good so far. Have you had any driver issues with Vista and the Intel stuff? I had a problem and still don't know if it was the Dolby drivers, been too afraid / busy to retry.

I can tell you the DP35DP will happily run 6 x SATA and a PATA HDD - you can never have too much space!

Best of luck.

[alvse]

I've installed the standard drivers off the DP35DP CD... I haven't had any issues yet. My recieve doesn't work too well with 48kHz, so I turned that off and am just running at 44.1kHz for PCM sound... The surround sound with Dolby Digital works a treat over the optical out.

[pantonious]

on the tuner option...i reccommned the Digital Now Tiny Twin Tuner...

Is about the size of a USB Thumbdrive, and is a Dual Tuner. And works VERY VERY well!!!

www.digitalnow.com.au

What sort of cooling are you running on the CPU?

[alvse]

I am using the stock standard intel heatsink and fan... it runs pretty cool...

I just put in an extra 2 Thermaltake 90mm fans for the HDD bays just to give it some extra cooling since there will eventually be 3 HDD's in each bay.