Spec me a budget HTPC

[handscombmp]

You've got me interested in doing one now.

Espically as i could add a tv card to it easily.

any pics of it in action

[shadowmaster]

You've got me interested in doing one now.

Espically as i could add a tv card to it easily.

any pics of it in action

Will do Just need to run out and get some dinner.

Did some stress testing on prime 95 and it survived half an hour before my niece wanted to play plants vs zombies. I will do some more stress testing later but I get the impression that its stable.

[Domestic_Ginger]

There is one problem though, I cant read the temperatures of the core, at single core I could but for some weird reason both cores are showing zero? Also what's the best stability test program, prime 95?

There should be a mobo sensor for reporting the CPU temps. If you are going on core temps then you can get a direct correlation in single core at various speeds. This *should* apply when you go dual. It works on my GB so should on your MSI. Otherwise just use the mobo sensor as I'm not sure core temp is the safe temp referred to on the safe temp spec (could be wrong). The sensor if unlabelled will be the one which climbs by far the fastest when running prime. The software that comes with the board may also help as it should label teh sensor correctly . both hwmonitor and speedfan can read mine; its called tmnp01 (or similar) though. Apologies for all the jibba jabba.

Grats on the unlock btw; I'm really tempted to make my own HTPC now too!

[shadowmaster]

Ok here are some pics as promised.



As you can see my wiring is not very professional, I promised myself I would do it properly this time but I'm too lazy

Here are some pics of the set up. The fusion is a pretty big case, barely fits in the stand



And here is whats its all about. Cars in 1080p.

[handscombmp]

Build looks very nice

Couple more questions then.

What OS have you got running and what codecs have you got installed it play (what i asssume is) a 1080p mkv.

Are you using any frontend software and do you know if the board can bitstream hd surround sound.

Thanks

[shadowmaster]

Build looks very nice

Couple more questions then.

What OS have you got running and what codecs have you got installed it play (what i asssume is) a 1080p mkv.

Are you using any frontend software and do you know if the board can bitstream hd surround sound.

Thanks

The OS is Windows 7 home. Currently the codes are from the CCCP (Combined Community Codec Pack), however there may well be better codecs are out there but I need to do some research on the matter.

No frontend software is being used at the moment. In regard to the sound, one issue with the motherboard is that it does not have a coaxial/optical out. So I have to connect it the soundbar via 3.5mm to RCA cable. Therefore I doubt I would even get normal surround sound. If you had a hdmi sound bar or amplifier then you would get hd audio as I believe the motherboard is capable of it.

What I am planning on doing is trying to get spdif (optical/coxial) motherboard bracket so I can try using an optical cable.