First HTPC - advice please (excuse my ignorance)

rushN · **24th February 2006, 02:35 PM**

Hi everyone

My first post, so g'day! Sorry I didn't introduce myself in the proper thread, but I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and post here

This is a fantastic community; I've learnt so much reading through the forums over the last couple of weeks.

I'm new to this HTPC game so would like advice on the following config please. All info has been taken off the auspcmarket web site (total, about $2400). I started with one of their pre-configured boxes and made a few changes. I don't need a mega-grunt system, but want something that will last a number of years and looks good.

System will be used mostly for recording FTA digital, watching DVD's, storing my meagre CD collection on the hdd and copying the DVD's I own to the hdd for easier reference/play. It might play the odd game/educational title for my 7 year old. Will be connected to my 42" plasma via HDMI and to my Pioneer amp (how, I'm not sure yet!).

Any suggestions/modifications would be greatly appreciated.

Operating System
Microsoft Windows MCE2005 Media Centre Edition

Case
SilverStone SST-LC10M black Desktop case, w/VFD & iMon IR remote, stealthed CDROM bay, front IO ports

PSU
GTR 500w Extreme Quiet Power Supply, 20+4 pin ATX, 8x HDD, 2x SATA, 2x FDD, 120mm fan, 2x 12v rails

Motherboard
Asus A8N-SLI-Premium Skt939 AMD64 board, 2x PCI-x16, 3x PCI, SATA RAID, IEEE1394, 2x GigaLAN, Audio, heatpipe

CPU
AMD Athlon64 3800+ Venice 64-Bit CPU, Socket939 w/AMD fanheatsink

RAM
PC-3200 512MB GeIL 184-pin DDR SDRAM CAS 2.5 w/blue heatspreader

HDD
320Gb Western Digital "JB" 7200 RPM ATA/100 IDE Hard Drive, 8mb cache

Tuner
Fusion Dual-Digital TV Tuner PCI card

Video
Sparkle GeForce Ultra2 6600LE 512MB DDR2 128-bit Video card, PCIx16, VGA & DVI, video out

Optical Drive
Asus DRW-1608P2 Black 16x DVD±R, 8x Dual Layer+R IDE Drive

Other
Microsoft Windows Media Centre IR remote control w/USB dongle

Cheers
Denis

GlenR · **24th February 2006, 03:01 PM**

Hi and welcome rushN.

First of all, you will find that the LC10M comes with IR receiver and remote that is compatible with MCE so you won't relly need the M$ remote. I have that case and the remote works well.

Ther's a few $$$ saved already.

Everything else looks pretty good and should work. Just amke sure the WD HDD isn't too noisy. I have no experience of them so I won't say yes or no, just point out that some drives can be noisy and annoying.

You possibly have gone a little overboard on the memory too. MCE doesn't place a huge load on the system, so the u-beaut memory with heatspreader may be more than needed. Of course, if you are looking to gaming...

Same for the video card. 512M of on-board is heaps foe MCE. 256 is plenty and 128 will still work fine. Again, if gaming is in your plans, different issue.

On the whole, it looks like you've done your homework pretty well and the box should rock! (Nice case choice BTW

)

rushN · **27th February 2006, 09:08 PM**

Thanks for the reply GlenR.

Anyone else have an opinion? I don't want to spend this sort of money without knowing the system is up-to-scratch.

Cheers

simbot82 · **27th February 2006, 09:26 PM**

Read up on the Dvico Duel tuner. Alot of people love them and alot have huge issues with them.

I would also look at a SATA2 hdd as your Mobo supports it. The LE on the end of your video card means light edition which I am pretty sure also means whilst it says it is 512mb it actually means it can steal up to 512 mb ram for use as video Ram, it is prob only 64mb. I would suggest looking at another vid card, such as a 6600 full version.

pantonious · **28th February 2006, 10:55 PM**

I have the DVICO Dual...there is one main issue i am having, which DVICO have told me they are working on, and is apparently quite easy for them to fix

if that is fixed, i will be completly and utterly happy with it!!!

i agree with simbot82 regarding the video Card...even a 6200 NON-turbocache card would do you fine for MCE, even light gaming...

i'd suggest getting 1Gb of RAM, and lowering the CPU to a 3500...there is very little performance difference between the 3500 and 3800 (i have both!), but the 1Gb of RAM will make a larger difference...especially with record 2 programs at once and possibly watching DVD...

AND...i'd also suggest getting a smaller HDD (80-120) for the OS installation and any programs, and then getting a larger (like your 320...or my 2x250

) for recorded programs and DIVX/etc...

One very common thing to do here is to make Acronis/Ghost backups of your setup as your are getting it going, that way if you encounter a major problem you can restore a previous image...ie, i have one after a fresh install and activation, one after all M$ updates are done (including RU2), one after all Drivers are install EXCLUDING the Tuner Card Drivers and one after i've set everything up and have a working MCE Machine...

SOOOO, if you do make the Acronis/Ghost backups of your system, and need to restore your data, then you will loose all your downloaded/recorded programs UNLESS they are on a separate HDD...

and yeah, SATA2 is the better way to go if you can, normally not very much more expensive too...and you might want to look into the Samsung HDDs, they are generally quieter and cooler then most others...

danscott · **28th February 2006, 11:51 PM**

Hello and welcome. My opinion is based purely of my own experience and therefore is very subjective.

My hardware requirements have dramatically changed over the years of using them. I used to chase low noise pretty WAF compliant hardware.... Now I well that I've graduated into a near "server" setup. My best recommendatation would be to have a serious look at not having the PC in the living area at all. Low noise , good looking components cost a huge premium and isn't needed if the computer can be housed in a cupboard, pantry etc. All that is needed in the living area is the screen, a usb connection to the pc accomodating a hub, with the remote reciever and external dvd drive hanging off it. A wireless keyboard and mouse may also be useful depending on your tenancy to fiddle

Sound also needs to be fed from the computor to the amp.

If you follow the HTPC case theory, as your needs in the system grow, you may find yourself in a similar situation to me where HTPC cases packed full of drives, hot processors etc and cooled by low speed quiet fans and heat starts to become a major issue. That may be a year or so off though ..

Good luck with the system.

simbot82 · **1st March 2006, 09:46 AM**

so dan you going with an xbox 360 as extender