Help me build a HTPC.. please

[vanderoo]

So I have a $1300 budget and basically want a very quiet, relitively fast and reliable dedicated Media Centre to run Blu-Ray movies, music and other downloads. I won't be incorporating 5.1 audio into it only 2.1 and have been eyeing off the Logitech z Cinema USB 'surround' speakers. Oh and It will all be connected to my Sony Bravia 42" X series.

I really am looking advice from the ground up as I am getting a techy friend to build it, but I don't necessarily trust his judgement on good parts, so any brands and models I can suggest based on your expert advice will be essential.

thanks for all the help with this, I'll list a few requirements below:

Mid-High end video card re:9600gt
7200rpm HDD
Dual Core not quad
BD drive with burning capabilities (unless it blows the budget)
good quiet fans (really need advice here)

that's all I can think of for now.

[xtop]

i gotta be honest, if thats all youre doing on it, just get a ps3

[prerich]

Originally Posted by xtop

i gotta be honest, if thats all youre doing on it, just get a ps3

PS3's can't burn BD's and they are far from quiet.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by prerich

PS3's can't burn BD's and they are far from quiet.

my ps3 is super quiet Can;t evn hear it running

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by vanderoo

So I have a $1300 budget and basically want a very quiet, relitively fast and reliable dedicated Media Centre to run Blu-Ray movies, music and other downloads. I won't be incorporating 5.1 audio into it only 2.1 and have been eyeing off the Logitech z Cinema USB 'surround' speakers. Oh and It will all be connected to my Sony Bravia 42" X series.

I really am looking advice from the ground up as I am getting a techy friend to build it, but I don't necessarily trust his judgement on good parts, so any brands and models I can suggest based on your expert advice will be essential.

thanks for all the help with this, I'll list a few requirements below:

Mid-High end video card re:9600gt
7200rpm HDD
Dual Core not quad
BD drive with burning capabilities (unless it blows the budget)
good quiet fans (really need advice here)

that's all I can think of for now.

Intel E8200 dual core 2.66ghz processor = $162
Foxconn M7PMX-S LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i HDMI = $59
LITEON Black 4X Blu-ray Disc Triple DVD BurnerDH-4B1S-13-VAC $239
WINTEC AMPX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 (4gb's worth) $31.99 for each 2gb dimm
Thermaltake Mozart Media Lab VC4000SNS HTPC Case $120
Rosewill Stallion Series RD600N-2SB-SL-BK 600W ATX12V Psu $70
AVerMedia AVerTVHD MCE A180 HDTV Tuner Card $50
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RP HDD $85
EVGA 512-P3-N861-TR GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 $110

Ad Whatever OS you want either windows or vista for about $170 each and you have your system built for $1150+ Shipping. All prices above are from Newegg.com

[prerich]

Originally Posted by vanderoo

So I have a $1300 budget and basically want a very quiet, relitively fast and reliable dedicated Media Centre to run Blu-Ray movies, music and other downloads. I won't be incorporating 5.1 audio into it only 2.1 and have been eyeing off the Logitech z Cinema USB 'surround' speakers. Oh and It will all be connected to my Sony Bravia 42" X series.

I really am looking advice from the ground up as I am getting a techy friend to build it, but I don't necessarily trust his judgement on good parts, so any brands and models I can suggest based on your expert advice will be essential.

thanks for all the help with this, I'll list a few requirements below:

Mid-High end video card re:9600gt
7200rpm HDD
Dual Core not quad
BD drive with burning capabilities (unless it blows the budget)
good quiet fans (really need advice here)

that's all I can think of for now.

Here's a thought:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127374 $199.00

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - combo deal at newegg 275.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136155 (blu-ray burner 235.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148274 $140.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227347 $86.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116490 $180.00

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...587&CatId=3429 $270.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171016 $60.00

I'll let you choose your own posion when it comes down to your speakers -(you're the one that has to live with them )

This is at the high end of the spectrum for what you want - I came in over budget at $1446.00 you can get a different case from Tigerdirect for 80.00 taking saving you 200.00 coming in at $1245.00 still on the high end of the spectrum - I could have done this for less than $800.00 It can be done (actually I could do it for less than 600.00)!!!!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brett_day

Intel E8200 dual core 2.66ghz processor = $162
Foxconn M7PMX-S LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i HDMI = $59
LITEON Black 4X Blu-ray Disc Triple DVD BurnerDH-4B1S-13-VAC $239
WINTEC AMPX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 (4gb's worth) $31.99 for each 2gb dimm
Thermaltake Mozart Media Lab VC4000SNS HTPC Case $120
Rosewill Stallion Series RD600N-2SB-SL-BK 600W ATX12V Psu $70
AVerMedia AVerTVHD MCE A180 HDTV Tuner Card $50
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RP HDD $85
EVGA 512-P3-N861-TR GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 $110

Ad Whatever OS you want either windows or vista for about $170 each and you have your system built for $1150+ Shipping. All prices above are from Newegg.com

Good specing! I was trying to go as high as his budget would allow him to My next post will be a bargin type that meets his specs.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by prerich

Good specing! I was trying to go as high as his budget would allow him to My next post will be a bargin type that meets his specs.

thanks! i was tryng to maximize his budget too! (nice spending other peoples money lol) he could certainly upgrade to the e8400 in this one and still come in under budget though. i too will try and build a budget one based off of his specs! then we can compare again

[xtop]

Originally Posted by prerich

PS3's can't burn BD's and they are far from quiet.

the newest 80gb are plenty quiet and the loudest thing on them is the hard drive. and according to his budget burning isnt a huge must have, but i appreciate you rolling your eyes.

why spend 1300 dollars on a media center when a 400 dollar console does the same thing.

[bhampton]

I would get the PS3 too.

(I guess that's why I donated my HTPC and bought a PS3. I was a HTPC user from 1999, via hardware dvd decoder cards, to 2005 or so... but I far prefer the PS3 these days.)

[bhampton]

Quote "why spend 1300 dollars on a media center when a 400 dollar console does the same thing."

I think the answer to this depends on how you want to spend you time. If you just want to buy something, plug it in and enjoy it that one thing but others want to configure and maintain something for hours each day and the HTPC is the perfect fit. Got the latest drivers? Patches? Decoders? Service Packs? Security Updates? Virus Definitions?... There's no end and I can see that being enjoy-able if you have nothing better to do.

It's hard to beat the thrill of getting a Windows machine to actually work. It takes about all you can give it but when you can get it working it's like a living miracle, makes you feel invincible.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Quote "why spend 1300 dollars on a media center when a 400 dollar console does the same thing."

I think the answer to this depends on how you want to spend you time. If you just want to buy something, plug it in and enjoy it that one thing but others want to configure and maintain something for hours each day and the HTPC is the perfect fit. Got the latest drivers? Patches? Decoders? Service Packs? Security Updates? Virus Definitions?... There's no end and I can see that being enjoy-able if you have nothing better to do.

i based my suggestion on him wanting a media center, which the ps3 does just fine. i understand people wanting an htpc, but i thought i'd help the op out

[brett_day]

Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz $119
Foxconn M7PMX-S LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i HDMI = $59
Linkworld Black body/ Silver strip Steel 6280-01 Micro ATX Media Center $37
HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725050GLA360 (0A35415) 500GB 7200 RPM $65
Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $30
LG Black 6X Blu-ray Disc Burner & HD DVD-ROM Drive GGW-H20LK $235
AVerMedia AVerTVHD MCE A180 HDTV Tuner Card $50
hec Orion XPOWER585 585W ATX12V 2.01 PSU $28
PNY VCG96512GXEB GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 $95

That can be built for $830 with either vista or XP shipping will be about another $50 so all in all $880 for a very respectable HTPC

[bhampton]

Regardless,

I just said what I believe. Maybe that will help the OP too?


-Brian

[brett_day]

guys, he wants a HTPC so he can get a blu ray burner in there. I love my ps3I think it is awesome, so to each his own. Some people prefer HTPC over PS3

[bhampton]

OK,.... I'm out.

I really loved HTPCs for years but eventually... not so much.

Either way,... Good Luck,

-Brian

[xtop]

and again, it was a simple suggestion, nothing more.

[Kirsty_Mc]

Number one tip to avoid juddering pictures...

...DO NOT install Norton Antivirus

That particular piece of crap just eats system resources and keeps chugging away at the drives... hence crap graphics.

[Driver_King]

Use protection. Clean up house. Make sure you keep everything organized. Keep up to date. Does that help?

[vanderoo]

Thankyou Brett-day and prerich for those suggestions, both very fine looking PC's, (yours especially prerich with that very sexy case and the 9800GT) I'm in australia so some of those prices will definately be more over here, but I can handle that. Juat a quick question, should I run the TV off a DVI-HDMI cvonverter or get a HDMI port on a seperate card?

RE the PS3 it is something I have considered but as someone eloquently put, half the fun in having a HTPC is fine tuning it and getting it to work exactly the way you want to, there is a sense of accomplishment when you build the perfect machine for your needs and tweak it just right. Nothing like a learning experience.

besides, I'm looking to wirelessly integrate the system into the other 3 PC's around the house as well. Any other suggestions are welcome.

thanks