Building an AMD HTPC - Capable of Blu-ray HD Audio Playback

[Comment Bot]

Please feel free to comment about our story entitled "Building an AMD HTPC - Capable of Blu-ray HD Audio Playback"

[Mr.Tweak]

Did everyone enjoy this article? Want to see more like it?

[tanka12345]

I like this article and would like to see more. The only thing I don't like is that I can't afford to build things like this by myself.

[carni4]

Mine is better and cheaper

AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor $175.01
ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $72.99
G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) PC2 6400 $49.99
GIGABYTE GV-R485MC-1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB $199.99
ASUS Xonar Essence STX Virtual 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface 199.99
Hauppauge WINTVHVR1600 DUAL Tuner $99.99
Antec Neo Power 500 500W Modular Power Supply $74.99
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB $119.99
LG Black 6X Blu-ray Disc Burner $229.99
Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Black Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case $169.95
Logitech diNovo Edge 2-Tone USB Bluetooth Wireless Mini Keyboard $166.99
Logitech G7 Black USB RF Wireless Laser Mouse $72.99

Total: $1,652.85 (all prices from newegg)

[yanman]

Thanks for writing and posting up this article, it's great to have more resources on HTPC builds.

However, I don't see why you bothered with 790GX, discrete GPU and sound card when an 8200-based board would do all that you required. A 780G would be a perfect choice also except for the small problem with not being able to pass through 8 channel LCPM, but otherwise an excellent chipset and not requiring all these separate parts.

I'd like to have seen a system with:
- 4850e (as you said, best for HTPC - lowest power and does the job)
- 8200 or 780G board i.e. GA-M78SM-S2H or GA-MA78GPM-DS2H
- good value RAM (nothing special, it's a HTPC after all)
- WD10EADS (lowest power, suitable performance)
- Bluray combo drive (not writer as 1st preference, after all most people won't use burning capability)
- Twin tuner like the compro E700
- Nice case, nothing over the top
- 80PLUS or better PSU to carry on the efficient power theme
- Nice remote like the Logitech series
- RF based keyboard and mouse, more reliable than blutooth or IR i.e. gyrotech

[Zenphic]

Dang, sucks how the ATI Radeon HD3300 wasn't playing nicely with the sound card. I hear it's suppose to handle 1080p videos without a sweat! Why didn't you guys go with something a bit cheaper than the 9600GSO? ATI HD3450 or something of that kind might have been a good alternative.

[RoCPuter]

I built and now market a system very much like you're describing. The nice thing about ours is flexibility to adapt.

Case = Qpack2 (Modded) 500 watt PSU
Veris display and controls / remote with Imedian Imon
MOBO = Media Live diva 5.1 w/AMD 4850e CPU
HDD = Hitachi 500Gb sata
DVD = Lite on Blu-ray reader DVD DL writer
TV Tuner = Visiontek TV wonder HD 600
Ram = Ultra 2Gb PC5400 (1 stick)
Iogear wireless keyboard / mouse (33' long range)
Windows Vista home premium 64-bit (better OS for up to 8Gb ram)

Plans are to add a cable card tuner when they become more functional (OEM OCUR restrictions) and maybe a video card for gaming. The picture below is a mock up of what I built for my neighbor.

Originally Posted by yanman

Thanks for writing and posting up this article, it's great to have more resources on HTPC builds.

However, I don't see why you bothered with 790GX, discrete GPU and sound card when an 8200-based board would do all that you required. A 780G would be a perfect choice also except for the small problem with not being able to pass through 8 channel LCPM, but otherwise an excellent chipset and not requiring all these separate parts.

I'd like to have seen a system with:
- 4850e (as you said, best for HTPC - lowest power and does the job)
- 8200 or 780G board i.e. GA-M78SM-S2H or GA-MA78GPM-DS2H
- good value RAM (nothing special, it's a HTPC after all)
- WD10EADS (lowest power, suitable performance)
- Bluray combo drive (not writer as 1st preference, after all most people won't use burning capability)
- Twin tuner like the compro E700
- Nice case, nothing over the top
- 80PLUS or better PSU to carry on the efficient power theme
- Nice remote like the Logitech series
- RF based keyboard and mouse, more reliable than blutooth or IR i.e. gyrotech

[criteriadan]

Originally Posted by RoCPuter

I built and now market a system very much like you're describing. The nice thing about ours is flexibility to adapt.

Case = Qpack2 (Modded) 500 watt PSU
Veris display and controls / remote with Imedian Imon
MOBO = Media Live diva 5.1 w/AMD 4850e CPU
HDD = Hitachi 500Gb sata
DVD = Lite on Blu-ray reader DVD DL writer
TV Tuner = Visiontek TV wonder HD 600
Ram = Ultra 2Gb PC5400 (1 stick)
Iogear wireless keyboard / mouse (33' long range)
Windows Vista home premium 64-bit (better OS for up to 8Gb ram)

Plans are to add a cable card tuner when they become more functional (OEM OCUR restrictions) and maybe a video card for gaming. The picture below is a mock up of what I built for my neighbor.

Nice going

[RoCPuter]

Thanks, for the money I think it's a sweet setup. I'm currently looking to market them for $1,299 but this is a tough economy to sell in. What is really impressive about this setup is how cool this SFF case is and it comes in colors!

[mitchmiller]

I'm a newbie trying to learn about HT, I learned a lot from the article, but I have to echo Yanman's question about why you needed the video and sound cards. If you went with a board like the ASUS M3N78-VM, you would have NVIDIA 8200 and full HDMI output. You said you're going to run everything through your A/V receiver, anyway. I don't understand what the cards add?

Help!

Mitch


[QUOTE=yanman;280905]Thanks for writing and posting up this article, it's great to have more resources on HTPC builds.

However, I don't see why you bothered with 790GX, discrete GPU and sound card when an 8200-based board would do all that you required. A 780G would be a perfect choice also except for the small problem with not being able to pass through 8 channel LCPM, but otherwise an excellent chipset and not requiring all these separate parts.