HTPC help

[l33t p1mp]

I have a couple HTPC questions. I am trying to keep it around the 1 grand range. Heres what I got so far:
Antec 900
E7200
Big Typhoon
2 640 gig drives in raid 0
8800 gts 512
520HX

For the motherboard, I want a p35, but it has to be sli capable, unless theres a cheap p45 that also does sli and can overclock an e7200.
For the ram, I am not sure if you can run ddr2 800 on a ddr2 1066 mobo and overclock it. If not, I am looking at a nice set of reapers and ballistix ddr2 800. If a 1066 mobo cant run 800, I need a ddr2 800 mobo instead but still able to do the things mentioned above.

For now, I think that it is all I can type, but if I need more, I will add. Thanks in advance. :)

[Rammsteiner]

I have a couple HTPC questions. I am trying to keep it around the 1 grand range. Heres what I got so far:
Antec 900
E7200
Big Typhoon
2 640 gig drives in raid 0
8800 gts 512
520HX

For the motherboard, I want a p35, but it has to be sli capable, unless theres a cheap p45 that also does sli and can overclock an e7200.
For the ram, I am not sure if you can run ddr2 800 on a ddr2 1066 mobo and overclock it. If not, I am looking at a nice set of reapers and ballistix ddr2 800. If a 1066 mobo cant run 800, I need a ddr2 800 mobo instead but still able to do the things mentioned above.

For now, I think that it is all I can type, but if I need more, I will add. Thanks in advance. :)
I certainly missed something in your post making clear you need to OC, a SLI capable P35/P45 motherboard (which doesnt excist) and 2 HDD's in RAID 0.

If you could explain that then we might be a whole lot further since this doesnt look like a HTPC at all.

[Ensamvarg]

Why would you need an SLI board with just 1 card? And isn't that kinda overkill for a HTPC? As the guy above me said you cannot get SLI on a P35 chipset as it's an Intel chipset and not an NVIDIA one.
800 Mhz RAM would be fine for a HTPC build, not sure why you'd need to overclock :shrug:

[Marvin_The_Martian]

HTPC's can crunch when you're not using them :shrug:

Other then that, that's real overkill for the intent you say you want it. Not only in price, but in consumption as well. And, htpc's usually have a tuner card or two in them yet you mention nothing of the likes. Antec 900 is not a case for a htpc.

/thread and makes mental note not to read someone's post unless I'm really really bored.

[Exahertz]

what are you trying to do with it? watch movies, play music and browse the web? or do you want to be able to play games on it as well?

my HTPC consists of

Asus A8N32-SLI deluxe with a FX-53 cpu
Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT 512mb
2gigs of ram
1 ATA IED 500gig WD hard drive
1 SATA 1000gig seagate Harsd drive.
1 lite-on DVD writer drive

if you're not going to play games then dont waste your money in high proformance hardware. you will never use it...
If you just have to spend money, then bank on TeraBytes!!! :D
The more storage space you have the better friends you and your DVR program will become :up:

[l33t p1mp]

Not really an HTPC per se, but it will be used as an htpc and for a gaming machine. Since p35/p45 doesnt work for sli, what should I get? 780i? A bit too expensive, and 680i is a piece of junk.

[zanzabar]

for an hpc/gaming rig u 1) dont want sli or xfire since that would be noisy and 2) dont want NV chipsets since they are less reliable and noisy 3) u would need at least a 750W sustained psu if u wanted sli and that wont go with most small cases and would add more heat than needed

if u want sli start out with or step up to a gx2, and u should probly be looking to ati to get native HDMI and with teh 4870 at the $200 price next week u cant beet that, or the 4850 in the $130 bracket, and then sli and xfire arnt valid future proofing, by the time that u need a 2nd card it will be unavailable if u buy NV and for both it will be replaced by something atleast 2x as fast for a simmilar price and there will be new hardware shaders that u will want

for MB look at a biostar tforce p45 (the $150 one) or a p5q-E

and for the HD for the 640GB make sure its a WD or samsung if u can find one


then last the TT bigT is overpriced and not as good even cheap tower HS like the xigmatek with its back plate kit, and the TT is again noisy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019


having a 780i u should know its weak points and why not to get NV, even the bios is far inferior with voltage controls

and get this ram mushkin acent
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146789


and have u thought of going matx and mini p180 thats a great htpc combo


edit, any MB with ddr2 will do 800mhz its saying its highest rating not its only, some boards are 1200mhz but will never do that reliable

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

and get this ram mushkin acent
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146789
e
that is excellent ram, it clocks like a beast with only 2.1v

[Rammsteiner]

Not really an HTPC per se, but it will be used as an htpc and for a gaming machine. Since p35/p45 doesnt work for sli, what should I get? 780i? A bit too expensive, and 680i is a piece of junk.
Not that it's really my problem, but why bother since you already have some nice setups in your rig:confused:. Anyhow, P45 and a HD4870? That would crap over the 8800GTS easily and it would also require a whole lot less power. Or eventual X48 and 2x HD4850 for that matter.

For pure HTPC I'd suggest to look into AMD though. Not because I use AMD my self, but they've got the RS780D chipset (790GX). That's one of the fastest IGP solutions for HTPC dedicated usage around. It saves a lot of power, heat. You'd only need a X2 4850e or even a Phenom 9150e/9350e and be done with it. Very silent but delivers more than enough power for a HTPC setup.

If you're really looking forward into your already posted plans, then just drop in some tuners in your current PC because that will be a whole lot more usefull. Because what it seems like to me thus far this is anything but a HTPC unless calling any PC with a tuner inside a HTPC.

Im not going to post much details since Ive to go in a short while but I'd rather look into this:

CPU: AMD Phenom 9150e
Motherboard: DFI Lanparty JR 790GX-M2RS (M-ATX)
RAM: 2x1~2 GB DDR800 preferably with 4-4-4 timings
Storage: 1x 1TB to store for media, 8~16GB SSD for boot disk
Cooling: Looking into someting to fit in a dedicated HTPC case, preferably with a low noise 120mm fan.
Rest: Nice HTPC case to fit with your other equipment, (dual)tuners, Blu-Ray reader and eventually a dedicated soundcard for better quality.

Then you're all set, below 1K easily and a lot more usefull. If you're seriously looking into previous posted things, as I said, then drop in some tuners in your current PC and be done with it.