Will this boot?

[ReapsOS]

I've got a Silverstone Tek Case with a 300w PSU for the basis of my Media Center

Ideally I don't want to change the case right now, but I'm looking at getting the following:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G Socket AM2+ onboard VGA 8 channel audio mATX Motherboard
Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5
AMD Phenom X3 Triple Core 8450 2.1GHz Socket AM2+ 2MB L3 Cache


I've had problems using a motherboard with PCI-e and a 300w PSU so I'm asking first.

Thanks in advance, and apologies if i've posted to the wrong forum.

[strike-down]

that all depends on the graphics card you use dude. Different cards have different requirements. What card you using?

[ReapsOS]

sorry, i'll be using the onboard graphics (Integrated ATI Radeon HD3200-based graphics DX10)

I can see the confusion from me talking about PCI-E. Last time i was using the onboard graphics, but the tech support person I spoke to at the time still said that was the problem

[strike-down]

well, as long as the PSU is a decent one, not a cheap imitation PSU, then it should be fine. The componants you've got there dont go over the 300w, so afaik it'll work.

[strike-down]

and i would also suggest using the 8450e cpu to save yourself a bit of cash with the electricity bills
same performance, lower power usage

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...E15347,00.html

For performance comparison of all the phenom cpus

[Webby]

Why the triple core? Also be aware that 780G boards are limited to 95W processors which is what that triple core is so no overclocking.

If your going to use it for just media purposes save some money and get the duel core 4850e for £48 cheaper initial outlay and running costs and will be plenty powerful enough for any media application.

[strike-down]

Webby has a point, the 4850e X2 would suit your needs very well. I recently setup a home media server (mini ITX) using a 4850e X2 cpu (as webby advised), and the thing runs like a dream . It never uses 100% of the cpu at any stage (even with all 7 other computers connected to it and streaming data, while watching a video on the same machine).

[ReapsOS]

When I was looking around, the Phenon X3 was only about £10 more than the X2 so I thought, might as well, as it's AM2+ instead of AM2.

Since looking around I've found the X2 for about £10 less, so it's now overall £20 less

[ReapsOS]

I'm also wondering, does the motherboard that I've chosen support Wake On Lan?

[Webby]

Looking at the manual (online) it is not in the bios options with wake on mouse etc. so i would say not.

[ReapsOS]

pants.

Any suggestions for a motherboard, i'm not too fussed on either amd/intel, so here's my requirements

must have/be:
mini atx
onboard graphics (the best possible please - using for a media center so video decoding is important)
hdmi out with hdcp (i know it does normally, but with computers can this carry the audio as well?)
wake on lan
works with 300w psu
no northbridge/southbridge fans

preferred:
4 ram slots
digital audio out (tos-link)
hdmi 1.3 support

Thanks to everyone for all the replies so far, you've been a huge help!

[Will404]

why wake on lan????
you actually use it

[ReapsOS]

I want to be able to schedule recordings when the computer is off, so using WOL can turn it on and then using webguide to make the changes. Unless this can be done another way?

[strike-down]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...2c+uATX%2c+VGA

might be a bit out of budget, but it has all the features you want (i think it has WOL aswell, maybe wrong) But it has a decent integrated gfx controller

[Will404]

I thought that most TV tuners had the ability to turn on the pc when the recording was about to start.
I thought that this one can do it:http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...T+Tv+Card+++++

http://lifestyle.hexus.net/content/i...em=9710&page=1 review from hexus

[ReapsOS]

Sorry for the confusion - yes the tv card can wake up the media center when a recording is already scheduled, but in order to schedule something new when the pc is off, you need a way to wake it up, so that's why i'd like WOL.