Spec me a mini htpc build

[Biscuit]

Remember the i3 isnt a quad, its only a dual. The cheapest quads (IIRC) are the Athlon II X4s.

Games like BFBC2 and COD:BO use a lot more of your CPU cycles than previous games so it is starting to become more common however unless its bang up to date games your playing on you wont really need it. Seems odd that you would be thinking of it anyway as you already have a PS3 and a seperate gaming machine, what do you see yourself playing on the HTPC?

[Pob255]

Not currently, none that really demand one, there are couple of games that are getting close though, it'll all depend on the game.

How about a phenomII x2 955BE then you have the chance to unlock the extra cores

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Remember the i3 isnt a quad, its only a dual. The cheapest quads (IIRC) are the Athlon II X4s.

Games like BFBC2 and COD:BO use a lot more of your CPU cycles than previous games so it is starting to become more common however unless its bang up to date games your playing on you wont really need it. Seems odd that you would be thinking of it anyway as you already have a PS3 and a seperate gaming machine, what do you see yourself playing on the HTPC?

mainly football and racing games only. basically a game i can use a control pad or steering wheel if i feel like relaxing in the sofa for a quick game.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Not currently, none that really demand one, there are couple of games that are getting close though, it'll all depend on the game.

How about a phenomII x2 955BE then you have the chance to unlock the extra cores

Are phenomII x2 955BE as fast as a i5?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Are phenomII x2 955BE as fast as a i5?

He meant Phenom II X2 555BE.

I would go with the following setup TBH:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/238326

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/205849

The motherboard even has USB3.0 and SATA3.0 too.

[Biscuit]

IIRC:
racing games are usually GPU limited and football games are not particularly heavy on requirements in general so i wouldn't worry too much about going dual or tri core

[j.o.s.h.1408]

may i ask what IIRC means lol

[Jay]

If I Remember Correctly

[Pob255]

Cat is correct I meant the 555BE sorry.

At £70 it's cheaper than an i3 and faster if you can unlock the extra cores
although the athlonII x3 450 @ £60 that cat linked is better all round, it's only in single thread situations that the 555be beats it.
And for the cheapest i5 you're looking at twice the cost before the motherboard.

Must admit I thought you wanted a small system not an ATX system from the title.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

If i can fit two pci cards and my 260gtx which has a fat cooler on it then yea a mini atx will be fine

[cigbunt]

ive got the BE 550 it failed to unlock the cores!

[j.o.s.h.1408]

i'l see if i can save a few pennies for a sandy bridge

[j.o.s.h.1408]

About to press buy here

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It seems a waste of money for an HTPC.

You might as well wait for the Core i3 2100 to be released.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

yea in a way it does but im gunna game on it occasionally too.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It is overkill though. Everyone I know has a weaker CPU than a Core i5 2500K and yet they have no issues playing many modern games.

If you really want to stay with Intel I would get a Core i3 TBH and ditch your GTX260.

A Core i3 540,an H55 motherboard and a GTX460 1GB would destroy a Core i5 2500K and a GTX260 in most games and still be cheaper.

A Core i3 2100,an H67 motherboard and a GTX460 1GB would destroy a Core i5 2500K and a GTX260 in most games and still be cheaper.