HD HTPC recommendations & build thread

[suniil]

My ASUS M2A-VM HDMI has shipped from Scan today. Need to sort out other components ASAP for a bundle deal with Scan.

Requirements:-

a. High definition Video & audio streaming (future upgrade to blueray / hd dvd drive)
b. VS2005 & J2EE development (10% of actual usage of system)
c. Satellite tuner card (possibly HD ready)

Components

AMD AM2 Athlon 64 4600 + Windsor Core (EE) - £77.55
2Gb (2X1Gb) Corsair Value Select, DDR2 PC4300 (533), 240 Pin - £75ish
500 Gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.9, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache - £78.71
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD) - £69.90
LiteOn 16x DVD+/-RW/RAM SATA black drive & S/W - £22.31
PSU - what rating i should go for?
HTPC case - recommend me a nice black micro ATX case to go along with other AV Gear

Recommendations welcome!

Thanks
Sunil

[DanceswithUnix]

For a case & PSU, I have my eye on the Antec 2400 or possibly the Fusion. Just waiting for enough cash to start the project. The reviews seem very positive.

[suniil]

Antec Fusion is an excellent Case, but i need in full black! my shortlists are Silverstone LC11 & Ahanix MCE301. LC11 was perfect for me, but reviews are not good and only 300w PSU may restrict future upgrade

For a case & PSU, I have my eye on the Antec 2400 or possibly the Fusion. Just waiting for enough cash to start the project. The reviews seem very positive.

[YorkieBen]

that mobo takes normal ram not laptop so-dimms

[suniil]

my bad! corrected

that mobo takes normal ram not laptop so-dimms

[Sprite]

Antec Fusion is an excellent Case, but i need in full black! my shortlists are Silverstone LC11 & Ahanix MCE301. LC11 was perfect for me, but reviews are not good and only 300w PSU may restrict future upgrade

Apparently Antec are bringing out a black version of the NSK 2400 and the Fusion as well I think. Not sure of ETA though so maybe better off with a different case.

[suniil]

thanks!

already checked with antec, which will be out by mid may 07

Apparently Antec are bringing out a black version the Fusion as well I think.

[suniil]

mates, anyone suggest me a good HDD for operating system, ideally around 200/250GB

Components

AMD AM2 Athlon 64 4600 + Windsor Core (EE) - £70.00
Crucial 2Gb (2X1Gb) 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300
- £74ish
500 Gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.9, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache - £78.71
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD) - £69.90
LiteOn 16x DVD+/-RW/RAM SATA black drive & S/W - £22.31
PSU - what rating i should go for?
HTPC case - recommend me a nice black micro ATX case to go along with other AV Gear

[lanceuppercut]

mates, anyone suggest me a good HDD for operating system, ideally around 200/250GB

Components

samsung t series for quietness! ideal for a htpc i would've thought?

[suniil]

thanks, i'll check it out

samsung t series for quietness! ideal for a htpc i would've thought?

[Marcvs]

i heard the samsungs had slightly higher failure rates

[DanceswithUnix]

No idea where you heard that from.

All hard drives can have failures, but I have never heard of Samsung having a bad batch of drives (like the IBM Deathstars or sticky head Seagates) which is normally where these rumours come from.

Last I looked Samsung were still giving a 24/7 useage warrenty on their standard drives, most manufacturers give a duty cycle in the small print saying you can only have it on for so many hours per day average. For HTPC that is important (and their confidence in their product is nice to see too).

[doddsy]

Samsung spinpoints are great. I've had 2 and I've not had any problems with them and have only heard good things from other people.

[suniil]

Thanks guys.

I've got/on the way the following so far:-

AMD AM2 Athlon 64 4800 EE version
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI motherboard
Crucial 2Gb (2X1Gb) 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300
Seasonic S12-430 PSU
Samsumg Spinpoint 250GB HDD
Samsung SH-S183L/BEBN x18 18x DVD RW
Zalman 135 HTPC case in black

Yet to order

Windows Vista Home Premium
500 GB HDD (seagate/samsung/wd?)

[lanceuppercut]

how much heat (and in turn noise) does the AMD produce compared to a c2d?

i know you cant do much about it now since you have the mobo being shipped, but if its a htpc you're after, surely you're going to want low heat = fan not on much = low noise.

[saltynay]

a seagate 320gb cuda's are quiet you could raid 0 and get a slight performance boost and 640gb storage.....

you will want a htpc cpu heatsink for ultimate silence. A psu also makes quite a bit of noise so check that it is quiet or silent one.