Recycled parts = HTPC - spec check

Hi all,

got a few bits and bobs lying around so thought i would configure a htpc - but don't tell the girlfriend :crazy:

present spec looks like this:

MSI NF4 Platinum s939 ATX - have already
amd64 3000 venice s939 - have already
2x512mb OCZ ddr ram
SilverStone LC17S (Silver) Aluminum Front & SECC Body Desktop case (w/o PSU)
Antec Truepower 380w psu - have already
Hauppauge Wintv-Nova-T-500 Pci Tv Tuner Card
media centre remote
Edimax EW-7128G 54Mbps Wireless PCI Card
Samsung spinpoint 200gb HD - have already
MCE 2005 - have already
2x 120mm Nexus fans - have already

It will be networked to my main pc upstairs (see my system)

Questions:

- do I need to have a separate graphics card if I have the tvtuner card? want to play back .avi and .xvid files in addtition to having tv and music

- re tv card - do I need a dual card? I don't record anything ever and don't have sky

- any tips or changes to the spec? anything forgotton?

ta :)

You need to have a gfx card to output to your tv. The tv card just sorts out the tv signal for your compy to deal with! A dual tv card can let you watch one channel whilst recording another, or record 2 at once. If you feel you don't need it then get a single model.

thanks for that

I may have to retire my x800 to the htpc then! I smell another thread for a new gfx card for my main pc - are people still liking the 7 series nvidia and the ati x1900's?

- what cable do I need to output from my gfx card dvi to my tv (RGB and s-video are present)

re tv card - what are the feelings regarding pci vs usb versions? any alternatives seen the pvr150 for £40 each from scan

- also has anyone used the edimax pci wireless card before? any good?

thanks

PCi tv cards are much better than usb. I think for value the 1950pro is looking good at the moment, check out the bargains thread. What outputs do you have from you gfx card? If there is an s-video life will be much easier!

unfortunately only got dual dvi

so will need to use my existing dvi > vga adaptor and then look to use

vga to s-video

or

vga to rgb (homebrew lead required as I understand it...)

I am afraid I cannot help you there! My tv has vga input.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frazered

vga to rgb

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ok sourced one :mrgreen:

now to the rest of it!

- anyone have the edimax products from scan?

- x1950pro or go for an 8800 series?

ok updated spec

MSI NF4 Platinum s939 ATX - have already
amd64 3000 venice s939 - have already
2x512mb OCZ ddr ram
SilverStone LC17S (Silver) Aluminum Front & SECC Body Desktop case (w/o PSU)
Antec Truepower 380w psu - have already
media centre remote
Edimax EW-7128G 54Mbps Wireless PCI Card
Samsung spinpoint 200gb HD - have already
MCE 2005 - have already
2x 120mm Nexus fans - have already

TV Card???
Ati x300 / x550 / x600 / x700 / x800 / x1300 ???

advise on the above in bold would be welcomed :)

well found a x1600pro with hdtv and divx support so that is sorted

outstanding item is the tv card

how do people find the hauppage products?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frazered

how do people find the hauppage products?

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usually in the TV card section of an online store, or by typing hauppauge.co.uk :P

Some complain a lot about their poor software and drivers. I haven't had problems with my Nova-T 500 yet. They are the largest manufacturer of cards, and they have a suport forum as well, which is a lot more than can be said for most OEMs.

They also have Vista drivers in beta, most other don't

I'd consider swapping the fan out on the PSU, once those things hit 1400rpm or so they aren't very quiet and in a restricted airflow case it's likely to push to about 1800rpm when you've got video files playing or being encoded.

Also it's worth looking into how much you can undervolt that venice core and maybe underclocking it.

tv card - have seen the nova-t 500 for £55 inc shipping at ebuyer - seems to be the card to go for and its price is better than anywhere i have seen yet

psu - it only has the one fan in the back - think it is 60mm - it was totally silent in my sonata so hoping it will perform the same

80mm

And yes it's quiet when first turned on (though not silent, less than 30db I would guess) but once the unit heats up thanks to it's fairly low efficiency and lack of airflow it soons puts out a fair bit of noise, more than I would be happy with for a media system personally.

Widening the air inlet slits and putting a quiet, lower rpm fan in mine solved that and it only ever hits 1600rpm under load and stays at around 1300 most of the time which makes it pretty much silent at anything over a foot or so away.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GrahamGarside

80mm

And yes it's quiet when first turned on (though not silent, less than 30db I would guess) but once the unit heats up thanks to it's fairly low efficiency and lack of airflow it soons puts out a fair bit of noise, more than I would be happy with for a media system personally.

Widening the air inlet slits and putting a quiet, lower rpm fan in mine solved that and it only ever hits 1600rpm under load and stays at around 1300 most of the time which makes it pretty much silent at anything over a foot or so away.

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interesting stuff - is it a straight fan swap with these? what fan did you swap for , panaflow, nexus ?

cheers

Just for a fan out of a compaq powersupply which is branded Nidec BETA SL and is rated at 12V 0.15A and is very quiet even (Nidec for those that don't know make the motors for the quietest Samsung Harddrives)

It wasn't quite a straight swap. The antec fan has two connectors. One for the power and ground, and one that goes to a motherboard header for an rpm reading which also has a ground line. I desoldered the cheap looking antec fan and soldered the Nidec one in it's place and then mounted it with the rubber thingys that come with the sonata instead of normal screws.