HTPC Build(First PC build ever) Need Your EXPERT opinions

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huinz

42 posts

Geek

#40459 28-Aug-2009 18:16

HI aLL

Im an experienced pc user and am now making the step towards building my own PC which will be an HTPC
But what I need from you is ur advice and opinion on if my setup WILL actually work or not and if so what needs to be corrected before ordering parts, which are listed below

CPU:Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66Ghz
Power Supply:COOLER MASTER 550W eXtreme
Case:Antec Fusion Remote HTPC Case
Memory: 4X (Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5 2GB PC-6400 (800MHz) DDR2 RAM (SO 8GB RAM)
Motherboard:Asus P5Q-EM Intel G45 Chipset
Hard Drive:WD 1TB SATA 7200rpm hard drive
Optical Drive:LG BH08LS20 8X Super Multi Blu-ray DVD
Graphics Card:Asustek HD4350 HDMI 512MB DDR2 PCI-E
TV Tuner: HAUPPAUGE WINTV HVR-1200

Any HElp will be greatly appreciated,
THANKSSSSSS!!!!!!

slotherby

85 posts

Master Geek

#251402 28-Aug-2009 18:37

In my opinion you are overdoing the RAM. There are some good reviews on Tom's Hardware that show that once you get above a certain amount there is very little gain. I would put the money into a 2nd Hard Drive and make it RAID1.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the HVR-1200 a single tuner card? If so I would definately go for a dual tuner card. I have 3 tuners in mine.

huinz

42 posts

Geek

#251407 28-Aug-2009 18:59

thanks, will take into account,

dale77

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#251425 28-Aug-2009 21:00

The antec case is nice, very quiet and seems well designed from a cooling and installation perspective.

I don't use the display on mine, just the IR receiver. I also have no need for the front audio knob, as my universal remote controls the amp instead. So, if I was building again, I would look for a cheaper case without the nifty audio control knob and the display... That said, a replacement case would have to be as good as the Antec's other virtues.

Video card looks good for HTPC, if you want to game a bit more you might want to look at a 4670. The card you have seems to support 8-ch sound over HDMI, which you'll want for blu-ray if you're using a receiver. I successfully run an HD3200 which seems marginal for interlaced HD in other systems. The 4350 has twice as many stream processors as the HD3200 at 80. The 4670 has 320 processors...

I run 2Gb on my system, so I agree your 8g could be swapped for a second drive. Rather than RAID1, I might look at an OS + media drive split. Recording to the second drive might grease the wheels on your system some. That said, the RAID1 suggestion gives you piece of mind with all those important digital recordings, at the cost of half your storage. Your call.

HTPC: Antec Fusion 430, Intel i3, Gigabyte 1050, Corsair 4x1Gb, Hauppauge WinTv, Logitech z-5500, Logitech Harmony 525, Yamaha Rx-v6a, Samsung KS8000 4k, Windows 10, Mediaportal 1.30, BLU-RAY: Panasonic UB820

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#251429 28-Aug-2009 21:31

I have the little brother of the Fusion, the Antec 2480B. The layout is very similar to the fusion but it's much cheaper, althought the front face doesn't look quite as nice (although it fits in fine with my other components). I'm also not sure if you need a power supply that big for the components you're planning on putting in there, the 2480B comes with a 380W which might be enough, there's a few calculators on the web for it.

I'd recommend you reduce the amount of RAM and spend a bit of money on a HVR-2200 instead (dual tuners).

For the graphics card you might want to look at the Sapphires, they have passively cooled 4550s (which I have) and aparently they've just come out with the 4670. The quality of deinterlacing in the 4550 and 4670s are aparently a bit better than the 43xx series video cards.

If you go for a WD drive you might want to go for the Greenpower drives, they're a bit quieter, generate less heat and require less power.

You might also want to look at a lower spec motherboard, if you're going to get a video card there's no real need for a G45 chipset board.

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#251725 30-Aug-2009 13:11

meesham: I have the little brother of the Fusion, the Antec 2480B. The layout is very similar to the fusion but it's much cheaper

Having looked at the Antec Fusion I also decided to use the Antec NSK2480 instead. The interior layout of the two cases is identical. The Fusion's display wasn't important to me, and while a built in IR receiver would have been nice my existing Hauppauge MCE remote with USB IR receiver were a reasonable alternative. As the Antec 2480B comes complete with a reasonably cool and quiet 380W power supply, the overall saving is quite worthwhile.

My Windows Vista HTPC runs quite happily with 2GB RAM. While memory is relatively cheap, there's no real advantage in adding any more.

FreddyK

84 posts

Master Geek

#251729 30-Aug-2009 13:34

One cool thing you can do if you choose to use go with so much RAM, is that you can create a RAM drive and then use this to store teh temp files from time-shifting live TV, saving wear and tear on your HDD (and noise).

I love your setup. My only concern is the powersupply. Unless they have significantly change things with the case, if you install a different powersupply, then you wont be able to start the PC using the remote. For whatever reason, they decided to add a custom connector to the powersupply rather than offer an adaptor. May not be a biggy for many people, but just be aware.