Preferred form factor for a HTPC

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Preferred form factor for a HTPC

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#286299 31-Dec-2009 17:51

richms: atx means you can have a space between cards in it, whereas mini means the heatsink on the grapics one is virtually touching the next one over.

Unless you are using onboard graphics, of course. And with the recent generations of onboard graphics (ION, 780G, 790G) why wouldn't you?

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#286306 31-Dec-2009 19:32

The middle of the 3 things to the left of the screen which is at a proper height for viewing.

Don't know about all that wood - not really my styling but that cabinet thing is just the right width for it which is pretty awesome.

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#286311 31-Dec-2009 20:40

Nice. Very very nice.

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#286362 1-Jan-2010 11:30

Kookoo:
Nety:

Sorry browned but my case is ATX and fits in perfectly with my amp and my CD player. All depends if you have full size gear or not.

Sorry, where on this photo is the HTC? No, really.

Second component down.

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#286365 1-Jan-2010 11:33

richms: The middle of the 3 things to the left of the screen which is at a proper height for viewing.

Don't know about all that wood - not really my styling but that cabinet thing is just the right width for it which is pretty awesome.

Yeah I want to replace the filing cabinet with a proper component rack. Originally it was ideal as my wife was doing home care for small children so having it high up was perfect. However that is no longer and issue. However it is on a long list of to-do’s

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#286366 1-Jan-2010 11:34

Nety: Second component down.

That is very very nice. Wow.

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#286368 1-Jan-2010 11:37

Kookoo:
richms: atx means you can have a space between cards in it, whereas mini means the heatsink on the grapics one is virtually touching the next one over.

Unless you are using onboard graphics, of course. And with the recent generations of onboard graphics (ION, 780G, 790G) why wouldn't you?

I now have a mobo with 785G chipset and have considered giving it a go but it still seems they are on the edge as far as our Freeview is concerned from other threads on Geekzone. Also I like the idea of being able to upgrade the GPU.

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#286391 1-Jan-2010 13:28

Nety: I now have a mobo with 785G chipset and have considered giving it a go but it still seems they are on the edge as far as our Freeview is concerned from other threads on Geekzone.

I can't comment directly on the 785G chipset, but I built my current HTPC using a Gigabyte 780G motherboard in April 2009, and I've never encountered any issues playing recorded Freeview|HD programmes on it.

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#286405 1-Jan-2010 15:43

780g is fine with recent drivers if I do not run a PCIe card as well for a second screen. If I do it seems to break acceleration for the onboard.

1 screen on the VGA or DVI out and it is fine for freeview other than when there are reception glitches. If I RWE and FF it will reset the decoder and resume ok.

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#287941 7-Jan-2010 22:33

i have a full atx size case too as its the exact same size as the onkyo amp it is matched with. the case was chosen for looks rather than for compatibility/size. i could just have easily fitted all my kit in a uATX case or bought a mini or shuttle with the same specs.

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#287957 7-Jan-2010 23:25

I want to get one of these when they become available in NZ.
Since I have a WHS box with MediaPortal TV Server running on it on the network I don't need the tuners in the HTPC next to the TV :D

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#287964 7-Jan-2010 23:46

Its got an optical drive on it which is something unneeded IMO for a front end.

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#287965 7-Jan-2010 23:53

richms: Its got an optical drive on it which is something unneeded IMO for a front end.

I would say otherwise.
I currently use an older Asus Eee Box which doesn't have an optical drive and the wife keeps annoying me as she can't watch a DVD if a friend brings one around.
I have ripped all my DVDs to the server so it's not a problem most of the time.
A blu-ray drive would be better though...

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#287969 8-Jan-2010 00:50

I would just use a USB one off it when needed. Drives die, its small, slot loading and not $30 to replace when it does.

I am at the stage where I get a new drive every 2-300 discs now, they just become too unreliable.

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#287972 8-Jan-2010 00:58

True but for the amount that it would be used the drive should last as long as the unit itself.
You can get the Asus EeeBox with the same specs as the one I linked to but without an ODD and it is the older style. EB1012 I think.

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