HTPC your expertise and assessment are well appreciated

[Tarek_H]

Hi Guys I've been thinking about building my HTPC for few months now and i finally going to go for it, as you guys already went through it your feedback is appreciated and it'll help me a great deal before i start ordering the parts.

First of all, the machine will be used for:
- Regular every day use (web surfing, email, MS office use, mp3… etc.)
- TV vewing - Free atellite channels (Hot bird, Niles Sat… etc.)
- Ability to record different programs on different channels
- Playing DVD
- Media Storage
- Occasional gaming

Here is my box config:

Case: Zalman HD160XT Plus
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3R
CPU: Core™ 2 Duo E8400 Freq:3GHz L2 Cashe:6MB
Rams: Corsair 2GB DDR2 800Mhz
Graphic Card: NVidia 8600GT
Audio Card: Onboard Realtek ALC888 codec (High Definition Audio - 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel) - is this good enough?
TV Tuner: Hauppauge HVR2200
Hard drive:
- Primary: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
- Secondary: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb
Optical Drive: Pioneer Black Blu-Ray Combo SATA Model BDC-202BK - OEM
OS: Windows vista Home Premium SP1 32bit
Fax Modem: ENCORE ENF656-ESW-NDPR 56Kbps Fax Modem - Retail
Speaker System: Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker
Remote Control: Harmony® 670 Advanced Universal Remote (I already own it, will it work?)

I think this motherboard can host all the hardware.

do you guys think this setup is decent enough and all the different parts work togather fine to achive my goal?

Thanks for your help,
TH

[TiggerK]

Yep, top looking setup, good choices allround methinks, but you might as well get the E8500 CPU, should be only $30 or so in it at the moment.

Only possible change would be the video card, it'd be a tradeoff between performance, size (to fit in the case) and of course noise level. Nothing wrong with the 8600GT, ideally with DDR3 RAM onboard.

I'd be looking at a 9600GT personally, but they are much bigger cards than the 8600GT so you'd need to check that they'll fit inside that case (Which I'm not familar with). If you hunt around you may find a silent one, but they're quiet these days, with the fans only spinning up higher when they are worked hard. The 9800GT is worth a look too, but all depends on just what kind of gaming you're after.

Cheers
TiggerK

[TiggerK]

Oh and yes audio is fine as you'll be no doubt using the digital out of the MB anyway.

Not sure about your remote... others may know for sure, should be OK.

Cheers
TiggerK


P.S Modem?? Dial up I assume?

[Tarek_H]

Thanks guys, I'll look into upgrading:
Graphic card to: 9600 GT
TV Tuner to: HVR-4000

I checked around and remote should be fine.
any recommendation for liquid cooled cases?

[vlad]

You could complement it with one of these:
http://www.digitalnow.com.au/dvbscards.html

[Tarek_H]

Originally Posted by TiggerK

Oh and yes audio is fine as you'll be no doubt using the digital out of the MB anyway.

Not sure about your remote... others may know for sure, should be OK.

Cheers
TiggerK


P.S Modem?? Dial up I assume?

you are correct TiggerK, Dialup/fax

Thanks,
TH

[TiggerK]

I wouldn't bother with liquid cooled stuff personally, maybe I'm just not hip, but I just don't see the point. Keep liquid away from PC's, keep it simple, keep it good, no worries.

Cheers
TiggerK

[Tarek_H]

Thank you, point well taken. One last concern! I might end up getteing a case with no IR and i already own a logitech Harmony 670 remote control can't i just get some sort of external IR USB component and place it on top of my case? if so what is it and will i be able to wake up the pc with it ... etc?

or should i just buy something like: Anyware GP-IR01BK Windows Vista Infrared MCE Black Remote Control

Thanks,
TH

[Tarek_H]

I just noticed Hauppauge HVR4000 don't support PAL/SECAM, i found a company that create card supporting NTSC/PAL....etc. call LeadTek (www.leadtek.com) the problem now is I am confused and don't know which of their products equivalent to the HVR4000! Please help.
Digital and analog cards are found here:
http://www.leadtek.com/eng/tv_tuner/...hipseriesid=18

TH