HTPC specs

[kopite]

Hey guys,

After my other post about chipsets I think i`ve made my mind up and am thinking about the following specs:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, AMD 780G
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e AM2 Dual Core 2.5GHz, 512KB x 2 Cache
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400
Blu-ray drive LG GGC-H20L, maybe

I`d be using a Sata drive for OS to start with but might migrate over to Compact flash at a later date.


The question I have is do those specs look lik they will work fine for HD playback at 1080p?

[TAKTAK]

The question I have is do those specs look lik they will work fine for HD playback at 1080p?

put simply?

yes

[Will404]

Hey guys,

After my other post about chipsets I think i`ve made my mind up and am thinking about the following specs:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, AMD 780G
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e AM2 Dual Core 2.5GHz, 512KB x 2 Cache
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400
Blu-ray drive LG GGC-H20L, maybe

I`d be using a Sata drive for OS to start with but might migrate over to Compact flash at a later date.


The question I have is do those specs look lik they will work fine for HD playback at 1080p?

If you are using it as a media center pc, then wont you need to get a seperate cooler for the cpu, so that it runs silently. I dont know about the AMD standard coolers, but the intel ones are loud.

[crazyfool]

i am in the proccess almost an identical setup for a htpc and if you want it silent it seems the scythe ninja mini is the way to go... should be able to run passive on that proccesor... at least i hope so cos that wot i'm going for lol

[kopite]

If you are using it as a media center pc, then wont you need to get a seperate cooler for the cpu, so that it runs silently. I dont know about the AMD standard coolers, but the intel ones are loud.

As far as I am aware the mobo is all passibely cooled.

I have a zalman cooler which i`ll be using on the chips which should keep the noise right down

[Lourdes]

Yes that's fine, no need for 4GB RAM though, 2GB of cheapo DDR2-667 would be plenty.

Might want to consider an Intel setup as well; G45 boards are nice and give you full 7.1 channel audio over HDMI if you ever need it, 780G lacks this.

[kopite]

I thought the AMD chipset could do Sound over HDMI?

Also the price of ram atm I thought 4 GB would be the best option it might be overkill but its not that much more expensive..

[Webby]

The AMD does 5.1 over HDMI if you really need/have 7.1 then look at G45 maybe, personally I would stick with the AMD setup for a start the CPU will be cheaper and cooler (at only 45W).

[Lourdes]

The 780G only does S/PDIF over HDMI.

[kopite]

ORder has now been placed

The mobo has been changed to the abit one as it was on today only at scan.

The goods should all arrive on thursday so i`ll get it all built and set up and should have my HTPC working by the weekend.


I was going to use vista for the OS and use the media centre from it. Does this have HD playback as standard or is it possible to use Powerdvd with it?(so its part of the media centre)

[crazyfool]

vista doesn't support hd out of the box and it cant play either blu ray nor hd dvd in media center. You would need powerdvd or an alternative program for this but there is a way of getting media center to open powerdvd to play blu rays etc... when one is inserted

[kopite]

Just been trying to fit my old zalman cooler and it doesnt have the correct brackets to fit the AM2 chips set. Looking at the scythe mine it doesnt mention am2 in the list of CPU`s it will fit. Are you sure it will work?

[crazyfool]

the scythe ninja mini fits on am2 chips... i got one on mine

[kopite]

Ah just found the mine is a different cooler altogether lol