Help selecting new motherboard with integrated graphics - HTPC

[Thebatfink]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a new motherboard to replace my Abit F-I90HD which seems to be on its way out.. What I want to know is, whats the best motherboard to get?!

Must have priority -
Highest spec integrated graphics that are available
HDMI output / SPDIF output (for playing BLURAY)
Min 3 x SATA ports
Intel Socket 775 (For E4400 Core2Duo) with 800FSB support (I believe this is the FSB of my processor?)

Other Ideals -
Passive cooling wherever possible as this is used in the living room and I would like it as silent as I got the F-I90HD to run.

Everything else including cost is non important.

I would consider a non integrated graphics solution but I'd rather not be sticking in £200 graphics cards just to watch some bluray and surf.

I've been out of the game for so long buying PC components I just have no idea whats hot and whats not these days so any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks!
Batfink

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

These Nvidia 9300 based motherboards should do the trick nicely:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164476

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151370

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151427

I would also look at getting a new PSU as your issues could be related to this also.

This should do the job for around £30:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166784

If you want to go for a modular PSU then this Enermax is also good:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400W-...PeakPower-440W

[scaryjim]

I would consider a non integrated graphics solution but I'd rather not be sticking in £200 graphics cards just to watch some bluray and surf.

An ATI HD4350 will happily hardware accelerate your bluray movies (depending on support from your media player, that is ) for £30. I suspect the Geforce 9400GT would do the job as well. There's a few passively-cooled models of each available. You could couple these with any motherboard you fancy!

[Thebatfink]

Thanks for the replies!

I'd like to stick to integrated, until such time it cant keep up then I suppose I'd move to external.

As far as most powerful integrated graphics go, these nvideas are the best yes? Dunno how they would compare to the ATI Express X1250 integrated do you? This was in my Abit board im replacing. The Asus board you posted is taking my fancy! Of those, if you where buying, which would it be??

Thanks guys.
Batfink

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks for the replies!

I'd like to stick to integrated, until such time it cant keep up then I suppose I'd move to external.

As far as most powerful integrated graphics go, these nvideas are the best yes? Dunno how they would compare to the ATI Express X1250 integrated do you? This was in my Abit board im replacing. The Asus board you posted is taking my fancy! Of those, if you where buying, which would it be??

Thanks guys.
Batfink

The 9300 is the best integrated graphics card for Intel processors from what I have read. It has 16 stream processsors which is the same as the 9400GT although the latter is of course faster.

Here are some reviews of the motherboard:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article892-page1.html

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2333126,00.asp

http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/...ds/1827_1.html

http://www.tbreak.com/articles/28/1/...-VM/Page1.html

http://www.trustedreviews.com/mother...us-P5N7A-VM/p1

[Terbinator]

Nvidia 9300/400 would work perfectly.

[Thebatfink]

Hi again guys.

Doing my price check travels, I came accross this board.. GeForce "9400"!

Is this a step up from the 9300?? You have any expirence information regarding this one or should I still go for the 9300 your suggesting..

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Gigab...A-II-SATA-RAID

Thanks!
Batfink

[scaryjim]

The 9400 has slightly higher clocks, I think - otherwise they're identical. The 9300 / 9400 are *much* faster / better than the X1250 you're replacing. They also compare favourably with AMD's 780G / 790GX in most respects, except price! If price is no issue for you though, the 9400 board is probably the best you'll find.

EDIT: This hexus motherboard review confirms that the clock speeds are the main difference and will give you a runb down of the main features of the motherboards.

[Skinleech]

Yep, another thumbs up for the 9300/9400 series. My 8300 series motherboard is spot on for all my HTPC needs video wise, and does a nice 7.1 16bit/48khz PCM output over HDMI also.

You should have no need for a separate video card in 99% of cases.