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Thread: DIY HTPC / Light Gaming Rig (from old components)

  1. #1
    Senior Member cptwhite_uk's Avatar
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    DIY HTPC / Light Gaming Rig (from old components)

    Here's the deal: The TV's D-sub port has developed a fault, luckily I have a spare HDMI port Unluckily my living room's PC doesn't have a HDMI port

    The PC is currently a big old Antec ATX case so my thoughts are to cannibise the components from the current PC and try and build a a nice HT/SFF PC for the bits, these are:

    Intel E2140 (currently running at 3Ghz) + Arctic Cooler 7 Pro
    XFX 650i Ultra motherboard
    Enermax 525W PSU
    8800GT 512Mb (2x DVI)
    2Gb RAM (probably Corsair, can't remember brand)
    80Gb Seagate 3.5" drive
    DVD/R Rom
    Antec SLK3000B Case

    I also have a 3850 256Mb sitting around (2x DVI)

    The system also needs to be capable of some light gaming, say Left 4 Dead @ 60fps 1280x1024

    The system as it currently stands is a noisy bugger, mainly due to the AC7 Pro I think, not sure if it PWM is set-up correctly.

    My budget is £150 or so, and I'm happy to sell what I don't use to help towards the budget (although if neither of the graphics cards are used, the 8800GT will be going in another PC).

    I'm not sure which way to take this, just swop out the graphics card for something mid range with a HDMI port, or rebuilt the whole PC with one or two new components around a nicer chassis (if it's possible within my budget!)

    Any thoughts all?

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    Re: DIY HTPC / Light Gaming Rig (from old components)

    You need a DVI to HDMI cable and for sound you need you will need a male to male 3.5mm audio cable, if your TV does not accept HDMI and 3.5mm audio simultaneously then you will need a graphics card that can send out from the DVI cable.

    Most cheaper Nvidia cards don't do this, to do this you attach a cable from the motherboard to the graphics card. I have not done this but have read people doing this. ATI cards can do this with some sort of built in sound card.

  3. #3
    Senior Member cptwhite_uk's Avatar
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    • cptwhite_uk's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450i Gaming plus Wifi
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 3700X
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb DRR4 Trident Z 3200 C16
      • Storage:
      • Adata XPG SX8200 Pro 1Tb NVME SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RX 6800 16Gb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair SF600 Gold
      • Case:
      • Ncase M1 v6
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF (2560x1440 144Hz Nano IPS)
      • Internet:
      • Bt 500 Mbps

    Re: DIY HTPC / Light Gaming Rig (from old components)

    My TV has 3.5mm jack, but I'm not sure if this means it's gauranteed to accept audio via it if it's set to HDMI as the source.

    How do you attach the motherboard to the graphics card for sound exactly? Got any info or links on that?

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    • Keyboard's system
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    Re: DIY HTPC / Light Gaming Rig (from old components)

    Have you considered gettiing a mATX mobo which would allow you to get a somewhat shorter tower, or even a squater, wider case such as the Antec NSK-1380 or cheaper E-Cute 910.

    Alternatively, sell everything and get something like http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167153 for £150 and transfer your OS. I think these things can do light gaming, and they are very compact but very unexpandable

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