New build thoughts?

r1chard · **5th November 2008, 01:30 PM**

The following is my likely build (replacing a dead Shuttle XPC), assuming I can find a shop in Melbourne that'll sell the Shuriken.

The system will be used for watching digital TV (with occasional pause / instant record but little to no pre-set recording), DVDs, video files (I'm slowly ripping all our DVDs for convenience), music and web browsing (we like pausing movies every now and then to go search IMDB / wikipedia

Case: Antec Fusion v2
Power: Corsair VX-450
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H (mmm, onboard graphics RAM)
CPU: AMD 4850E
RAM: Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400 C5DHX
CPU Cooler: Scythe Ninja Mini
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-2014L1T 20X DVD±R/RW SATA LightScribe

I've tried to do my research to make sure this will be as quiet a system as possible. I believe the stock cooler for the 4850E is quite loud, hence the Shuriken which gets superb reviews. The Corsair is way over-specced for the system, meaning it should run very cool and quiet.

I'm always a bit uncertain about what RAM to get. The PC6400 seems appropriate for the CPU...

I already have an Avermedia DVB-T card, a cheap DVD drive that is relatively quiet when I force it to spin slowly and a 150GB disk that will go in it unless I'm feeling $115 richer and grab a WD Caviar 750GB too

I also have a wireless keyboard/mouse.

It'll most likely run the latest Ubuntu with Freevo (or possibly just a straight desktop with Amarok and Kaffeine.) I just can't see the point in spending the $170 or so for Vista / MCE.

arkay · **5th November 2008, 03:09 PM**

Hi r1chard,

Specs look good.

Given you have no real need for recording TV I would suggest mythbuntu with XBMC.

Mythbuntu is nice and light (uses the XFCE desktop environment) and comes pre-canned for remote configuration etc. You can later install myth if you want to but don't have to if you don't want to use it.

Alternately just go for ubuntu proper (if you want a ful desktop) and try out XBMC.

XBMC is a superb piece of playback software, way better than freevo in my opinion. It will do everything you need in terms of avi, DVD, digital photo and music playback (no need for amarok).

If you don't want to set up Mythtv (no recording), there are other options for direct playing live tv. Kaffeine, mplayer, vlc etc etc.

With a little scripting work it should be relatively easy to program a remote button to switch between XBMC and your liveTV solution to enable full remote control capability, no keyboard required.

Cheers,

Arkay.

r1chard · **5th November 2008, 03:48 PM**

Thanks Arkay. I reckon I should probably give ol' mythbuntu another try when I do this build. XBMC under ubuntu hadn't occurred to me. Will give that a try too!

I guess I'll find this out from poking around but it's not clear from your post whether XBMC can play live TV.

This ubuntu forum post seems to indicate that it can, with mythtv

arkay · **5th November 2008, 04:09 PM**

R1chard,

It can. Up until recently I've been saying that it was a little unstable, couldn't rew/ff or pause live TV, and it caused the backend to crash a couple of times.

Interestingly I tried this again today as I've recently upgraded XBMC to the latest version and it worked flawlessly.

I do have everything necessary to change a mythbuntu rig's remote control to enable one button to switch between Mythtv and XBMC. this is how I use mine. Myth for all things TV, XBMC for everything else. It's a great solution, stable, attractive and fully functional.

So even if you find the mythtv support within XBMC a little lacking I still think it would be a good idea to set up the Myth side of things.

There is a fair amount of documentation already on the site and I'm adding more all the time.

Need any help. Just ask

Cheers,

Arkay.

scottb721 · **5th November 2008, 05:36 PM**

Richard,
Where are you buying from ?

I'm considering this same MB/CPU combo now.

I've already purchased an Intel CPU as I've been waiting for a GeForce 9300 motherboard but no sign they'll be here any time soon :-( and I don't really want to go to a GF7100 board.

Then I considered switching to an AMD CPU and go with a GF8200 board, but, after seeing your post the GA-MA78GPM-DS2H looks much better for not much more money.

________________EDIT___________________
The Asus version starts at approx $100 vs $130 for the Gigabyte - differences ?

r1chard · **5th November 2008, 07:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottb721

Where are you buying from?

http://www.pccasegear.com/ who were the only mob in Melbourne that I could find selling the Shuriken. Their prices are really quite good (I usually buy from CPL but they don't sell the Shuriken). I'm definitely going to be getting a 750GB HD now

(a Samsung)

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottb721

The Asus version starts at approx $100 vs $130 for the Gigabyte - differences?

Which Asus version? I did find a cheap mini-ATX Asus board at one point but it only had an internal S/PDIF connector, and you had to buy the external plate from Asus directly. Yuck.

scottb721 · **5th November 2008, 09:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1chard

Which Asus version?

Asus M3A78-EMH

r1chard · **5th November 2008, 09:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottb721

Asus M3A78-EMH

Yep, that's the one. Internal S/PDIF.

scottb721 · **6th November 2008, 06:45 AM**

I actually added a connector to the back of my case that I plug into the SPDIF header.

Does the Asus also have the sideport memory ? EDIT - looks like it use up to 256Mb of shared memory.
Was the SPDIF issue the only thing that turned you off it ?

Thanks

r1chard · **6th November 2008, 08:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottb721

I actually added a connector to the back of my case that I plug into the SPDIF header.

Does the Asus also have the sideport memory ? EDIT - looks like it use up to 256Mb of shared memory.
Was the SPDIF issue the only thing that turned you off it ?

Pretty much - where did you get the connector from? I can't find any supplier who will sell them - hence my comment about having to go back to the manufacturer (was suggested to me by a sales rep)

scottb721 · **6th November 2008, 08:57 AM**

Jaycar sell panel mount RCA connectors that are insulated from the chassis they are fitted to. I wired a cd-rom audio cable to it which plugs into the header and fitted the connector to a hole i drilled in the back of the case.

r1chard · **6th November 2008, 12:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottb721

Jaycar sell panel mount RCA connectors that are insulated from the chassis they are fitted to. I wired a cd-rom audio cable to it which plugs into the header and fitted the connector to a hole i drilled in the back of the case.

Hmm, I think I'll pay the small extra to have it built in