New HTPC

[woffen]

Hi guys, great so see a HTPC section on this forum. To the point, I'm in need of a new HTPC and have come up with a few alternatives but can't decide on anything.

I was pretty sure I was gonna get one of the new Zacate boards but somehow they didn't really impress me all that much after all.

Pros:
No need for a dedicated GPU
Smaller build is possible
Price
Power consumption

Cons:
Powerful enough?

The other option would be the Core i3 2100/T with a mini-itx mobo and I could use my HD5570 card in that build. This might be a little overkill for movies and music as I won't game on it. This could easily be fitted in the Silverstone SG05 (http://www.google.fi/imgres?imgurl=http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2009/05/silverstone-sg05-review/17.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2009/05/01/silverstone-sg05-review/1&h=1024&w=1280&sz=157&tbnid=y_zU6fvnlfZwBM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsilverstone%2Bsg05&zoom=1&q=silverstone+sg05&hl=fi&usg=__UGWbnUarBlR0OvYm9YnQkgV4QGQ=&sa=X&ei=C8ZwTd_UG4T1sgb0mLm_CA&ved=0CDwQ9QEwAg) mini-itx case.

Pros:
Powerful

Cons:
Price
Power consumption

I will have a different server for streaming my videos and music so I only need to fit one SSD.

What do you guys think of these ideas? There are other options as well so if someone has good experience with anything please let me know. Llano is 4 months away still so that is quite a long wait but would probably be ideal. I have a PS3 for Bluray discs.

[Andy_007]

I recently built a Dual purpose HTPC\Office comp. I used the following parts

ZOTAC 880GITX-A-E
AMD Phenom II X4 840
Corsair Value Ram 2x2GB 1333mhz
Silverstone SG05

It turned out to be quite a quick little system, Very cool and silent.


Hi guys, great so see a HTPC section on this forum. To the point, I'm in need of a new HTPC and have come up with a few alternatives but can't decide on anything.

I was pretty sure I was gonna get one of the new Zacate boards but somehow they didn't really impress me all that much after all.

Pros:
No need for a dedicated GPU
Smaller build is possible
Price
Power consumption

Cons:
Powerful enough?

The other option would be the Core i3 2100/T with a mini-itx mobo and I could use my HD5570 card in that build. This might be a little overkill for movies and music as I won't game on it. This could easily be fitted in the Silverstone SG05 (http://www.google.fi/imgres?imgurl=http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2009/05/silverstone-sg05-review/17.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2009/05/01/silverstone-sg05-review/1&h=1024&w=1280&sz=157&tbnid=y_zU6fvnlfZwBM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsilverstone%2Bsg05&zoom=1&q=silverstone+sg05&hl=fi&usg=__UGWbnUarBlR0OvYm9YnQkgV4QGQ=&sa=X&ei=C8ZwTd_UG4T1sgb0mLm_CA&ved=0CDwQ9QEwAg) mini-itx case.

Pros:
Powerful

Cons:
Price
Power consumption

I will have a different server for streaming my videos and music so I only need to fit one SSD.

What do you guys think of these ideas? There are other options as well so if someone has good experience with anything please let me know. Llano is 4 months away still so that is quite a long wait but would probably be ideal. I have a PS3 for Bluray discs.

[woffen]

What kind of temps are you getting with that setup? I think if you had a dedicated GPU in there as well the temps would be much higher though.

[shoota]

the 5570 isn't exactly a gaming card and hence won't run very hot. people are putting MUCH hotter cards in that case than a 5570. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Intel setup you mentioned.
That being said however this is an area where amd setups shine. they are low power, run cool and are cheaper all while being plenty powerful enough for an htpc.
check out some of the amd mini-itx stuff

[Serra]

To give you an idea of hardware requirements/performance, I currently use an Atom 330/ION based system to do more than what you're asking for and it works out smoothly, with a few caveats.

- I am able to play back encrypted blu-ray discs smoothly
- I am able to use XBMC to play back music and regular DVD's smoothly
- I am able to use flash content (eg. Hulu) smoothly, even in HD

Issues:
- Silverlight (aka Netflix) is a gigantic failure because there is no hardware decode
- I cannot run XBMC while playing back blu-ray (I blame the fact that XBMC is designed to take 100% CPU)


So... it seems to me that as long as your GPU is capable of basic HD decoding (which I believe the i3 can), you shouldn't need a discrete video card. All the issues I have seem to be CPU related, which I expect an i3 would fix up. You might try using the i3's built-in GPU before adding in your own.

[josh1980]

I recently bought a sound card. It converts any audio you send it to 5.1(can do 7.1). I put it in after 2 years of using my onboard 5.1. Let me tell you, I'll never use onboard again for my home theater!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271006

I bought that card because it's pci express. There's alot of PCI cards around that are cheaper, but I wanted to use the latest slot in case PCI disappears. If you want to find other comparable cards for less, the key chip that converts any input to surroundsound is the C-Media CMI8788 .

[Andy_007]

CPU temp 45C, MB temp 50C, HDD temps 32-35C. That was with full load with othos with room temp of 22C. The 5570 wouldnt put out much heat at all.


What kind of temps are you getting with that setup? I think if you had a dedicated GPU in there as well the temps would be much higher though.

[woffen]

the 5570 isn't exactly a gaming card and hence won't run very hot. people are putting MUCH hotter cards in that case than a 5570. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Intel setup you mentioned.
That being said however this is an area where amd setups shine. they are low power, run cool and are cheaper all while being plenty powerful enough for an htpc.
check out some of the amd mini-itx stuff

Yea, I've seen some crazy builds in that tiny little case. However they can't have been virtually silent. I checked out some AMD mini-itx except Zacate and found a lot of interesting alternatives.


To give you an idea of hardware requirements/performance, I currently use an Atom 330/ION based system to do more than what you're asking for and it works out smoothly, with a few caveats.

- I am able to play back encrypted blu-ray discs smoothly
- I am able to use XBMC to play back music and regular DVD's smoothly
- I am able to use flash content (eg. Hulu) smoothly, even in HD

Issues:
- Silverlight (aka Netflix) is a gigantic failure because there is no hardware decode
- I cannot run XBMC while playing back blu-ray (I blame the fact that XBMC is designed to take 100% CPU)


So... it seems to me that as long as your GPU is capable of basic HD decoding (which I believe the i3 can), you shouldn't need a discrete video card. All the issues I have seem to be CPU related, which I expect an i3 would fix up. You might try using the i3's built-in GPU before adding in your own.

I think Zacate should be good enough then for my needs?

The Intel built-in GPU's are certainly powerful enough, they just lack a little on drivers and such. If I remember correctly they can't show 23,97hz properly or something.


I recently bought a sound card. It converts any audio you send it to 5.1(can do 7.1). I put it in after 2 years of using my onboard 5.1. Let me tell you, I'll never use onboard again for my home theater!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271006

I bought that card because it's pci express. There's alot of PCI cards around that are cheaper, but I wanted to use the latest slot in case PCI disappears. If you want to find other comparable cards for less, the key chip that converts any input to surroundsound is the C-Media CMI8788 .

The 5570 should at least be capable enough as a soundcard for movies, I don't know about the Zacate boards. I have a USB DAC for 2 channel music so that is covered at least, only movies will use onboard / 5570.


CPU temp 45C, MB temp 50C, HDD temps 32-35C. That was with full load with othos with room temp of 22C. The 5570 wouldnt put out much heat at all.

That sure doesn't sound hot. Thanks

EDIT

I just found a really nice looking case:

http://www.wesena.co.uk/product.php/6/2/itx7_2

Anyone have any experience with one of these?

[josh1980]

The 5570 is compatible enough. I thought my onboard sound was "good enough". The reason I decided to give my card a try is because if I watched a youtube video, I'd only get sound from the front 2 speakers(which wasn't as loud as 5.1, nor through all the speakers :( ). Sure you can change your settings to force the 2 front to the 2 back also, but then you screw up true 5.1. The same type of scenario plays out for emulators(5.1 didn't exist when SNES or Genesis was out), some websites like Hulu , streaming radio stations, CDs and MP3s, and I wanted 5.1 (or at least virtual 5.1) from any and all sources. Thanks to the new sound card, anything I use my computer for gives me 5.1 output. It's disappointing to have to keep turning the volume up for youtube, then down for a movie. Eventually you realize every time you watch something that is stereo that your source isn't 5.1 and you aren't using anything more than 2 speakers.

[woffen]

The 5570 is compatible enough. I thought my onboard sound was "good enough". The reason I decided to give my card a try is because if I watched a youtube video, I'd only get sound from the front 2 speakers(which wasn't as loud as 5.1, nor through all the speakers :( ). Sure you can change your settings to force the 2 front to the 2 back also, but then you screw up true 5.1. The same type of scenario plays out for emulators(5.1 didn't exist when SNES or Genesis was out), some websites like Hulu , streaming radio stations, CDs and MP3s, and I wanted 5.1 (or at least virtual 5.1) from any and all sources. Thanks to the new sound card, anything I use my computer for gives me 5.1 output. It's disappointing to have to keep turning the volume up for youtube, then down for a movie. Eventually you realize every time you watch something that is stereo that your source isn't 5.1 and you aren't using anything more than 2 speakers.

I at least don't want my music in 5.1. But we all have different tastes. Thanks for your input.

[woffen]

After a long wait the motherboard finally arrived. The setup is:

Antec ISK 300-65
Asus E35M1-Deluxe
4 GB DDR3
Corsair Nova 32GB SSD

The two Noctuas run with the U.N.L.A adapter so the machine is virtually silent unless you stick your ear close to it. Very happy with the outcome and so far no problems with any playback, and feels quite snappy with the SSD.

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo219/woffen/DSC_2378.jpg

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo219/woffen/DSC_2375.jpg

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo219/woffen/DSC_2368.jpg