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Thread: I'm lazy can you spec me a HTPC

  1. #1
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    I'm lazy can you spec me a HTPC

    hi all,

    I am feeling really lazy and I need a HTPC. I suspect that someone here can spec me a more than 1/2 decent one

    My requirements:

    Quiet, it must be near silent under use.
    Small, the actual box itself should be as small as possible
    large storage, capacity for a big fast SATA hard disk.
    Networked, 100MBit and 802.11g would be nice
    Remote KB / mouse, I think I'm goign to get one of the new MS MCE keyboards if that would work.
    Folding, it should be able to run folding in the backgraound 24/7
    sVideo and 5.1 sound outputs
    some USB / firewire ports would be a bonus
    if it had a 1/2 decent GFX card that would allow me to play some games on the telly that would be a bonus. It doesn't have to be a killer gaming rig though.

    it will be connected to my TV (a 32" CRT widescreen) and a 5.1 surround sound setup.

    cost, under £800would be nice, under £700 would be much better.

    Thanks in advance everyone and remeber that

    cheers ht

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    Preference's? AMD/INTEL? ATI/NVIDIA? Shuttle,Biostar,Aopen? M-ATX?
    Vorsprung Durch Technik

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    wow fast responces thanks alot,

    my preferences are for a quiet good looking well performing box. I've always had AMDs at home when I build my main PCs but not for any religious preference. If an Intel box gives me better bang for buck that that's where I'll go.

    ATI/NVIDIA, as above.

    I presume that Biostar and AOpen are case manufacturers. My preference is for a clean looking HTPC type case, Blue neons and LED fans are definitely not on the shopping list. I need it to sit with my stereo boxes, consoles and sky box and not be noticed.

    M-ATX is an option that I've considered but tbh I'd rather have a more modern CPU/memory bus so that it's got at least a chance of running Doom 3 / CS:Source (at low res due to the telly) and getting some folding done before the world ends

    Thanks

    HT

    EDIT: I'll be needing Windows XP MCE I guess, is there a 64 bit build of this yet?

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    Biostar and Aopen are barebone's manufacture's. Same as shuttle

    I would personally buy a ST20G5,an AMD64 3200 Venice core, 1 gig of ram, Seagate,Samsung,Western Digital Hard Drive and Buy an ATI Graphics card because then you can use the onboard as well with surround view. Should fit quite nicely under budget.


    Although this will stick out abit with your other components as it is more of a cube shape design. The Chemming case might suit you better but there is a lack of good motherboards that work with this i believe.

    I don't think there is a 64bit build of Windows XP MCE yet.
    Vorsprung Durch Technik

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    a shuttle shaped PC would be just fine, it's not as though a gamecube, PS2 and XBox fit well together...

    Can you use but the internal (on board) graphics as well as an additional PCI-Express card?

    HT

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    Yes you can with the ST20G5 as long as it is a ATI PCI-E Graphics card you are using.
    Vorsprung Durch Technik

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    Is the MZ855-II available yet in the UK, it takes Pentium Ms and looks about half the height of your typical shuttle style SFF case. Its been claimed as "silent" in a review.

    You can see them here http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&sku=A457-6006

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    A system i am collecting parts for at the moment at the moment. Might be of some use

    Case: LC11-m beautiful case - black or silver, with vfd and excellent remote which can run any software inc media centre 2005

    Mobo: Asus A8N-VM CSM - coming soon - excellent motherboard with great onboard graphics - tv out, dvi, hd sound

    AMD64 3200 Venice core

    1 gig Ram

    Terratec Cinergy 2400i DT dual dvb-t tv card

    Windows Xp with free mediaportal software beats Windows Media centre in my opinion

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    This is what I ordered from scan today...
    Quantity Description
    1x AMD A64 3200 VENICE OEM S939
    1x MSI RS482M4-ILD S939
    1x Hiper uATX Media Chassis Black
    1x Pioneer DVR-K05 DL Slim Slot
    1x Compro DVB-T300 PVR/TV DVBT
    1x PCI Riser w/o AGP Adapter
    1x 250G Samsung SATA2 7200 8MB
    1x Cors VS 1GB (2X512 PC3200)C2.5
    1x 45CM Akasa SATA Cable Rt Angle
    1x MS MEDIA CENTER CONT KIT OEM
    1x MS MediaCentre MEC 2005 OEM

    I think the total came to about £500 (I added a few extra bits which put the price higher. The only problem was that I had to source the CPU fan from another store. It was on offer as well which convinced me... damn scan and their one day offers

    Any help/comments?
    Nick
    Abit IP-35 Pro, Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3Ghz, 8800GTS 512, Zalman Reserator1 External Watercooler, 4GB DDR2, 76GB Raptor 10k, 300GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 2x Maxtor 250GB 7.2k, ViewSonic VP201s & Dell 2408

  10. #10
    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
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    I really like the new MS MCE Keyboard myself...

    The Hiper case isnt bad.

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    Quote Originally Posted by DavidM
    I really like the new MS MCE Keyboard myself...

    The Hiper case isnt bad.
    Yeah, I was tempted but my budget wouldn't stretch that far. Stop tempting me scan... I've already been tempted by your one day offer

    Nick
    Abit IP-35 Pro, Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3Ghz, 8800GTS 512, Zalman Reserator1 External Watercooler, 4GB DDR2, 76GB Raptor 10k, 300GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 2x Maxtor 250GB 7.2k, ViewSonic VP201s & Dell 2408

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    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
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    Only problem for me - one of my systems is MCE powered, one isnt - so I cant use the keyboard on both

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    Quote Originally Posted by DavidM
    Only problem for me - one of my systems is MCE powered, one isnt - so I cant use the keyboard on both
    Its also a shame its not a rf keyboard. I really like my logitech as I don't need to fiddle around with line of sight. What is the mouse nipple thing like? I never really liked them on laptops and I can't see if you are meant to use your index finger or thumb on the MCE one.

    Nick
    Abit IP-35 Pro, Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3Ghz, 8800GTS 512, Zalman Reserator1 External Watercooler, 4GB DDR2, 76GB Raptor 10k, 300GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 2x Maxtor 250GB 7.2k, ViewSonic VP201s & Dell 2408

  14. #14
    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
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    Can't recall to be honest... you're tempting me to consider one again, you swine

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    Quote Originally Posted by DavidM
    Can't recall to be honest... you're tempting me to consider one again, you swine
    Revenge

    Nick
    Abit IP-35 Pro, Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3Ghz, 8800GTS 512, Zalman Reserator1 External Watercooler, 4GB DDR2, 76GB Raptor 10k, 300GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, 2x Maxtor 250GB 7.2k, ViewSonic VP201s & Dell 2408

  16. #16
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    Hey Nick1

    What do you think of the Hiper uATX Media Chassis? There looks like theres 2 cd drive slots. Any chance of fitting a vfd or some other display on the left hand side?

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