Opinions -- components for HTPC

Mark Adams · Jul 3, 2006

I'm looking at components for the HTPC project later this summer.
Here's what I'm thinking so far:

* Case SILVERSTONE LC20B-M Black

* mobo/CPU Asus P5P800SE w/ Pentium 4 - 3.0 GHz / 1MB Cache - HT
Technology (Model 531), w/1GB generic RAM

* Video Chiefmax ATI Radeon 9550 8X AGP 256MB with DVI and TV
Out Retail Box

* Tuner Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE

* Hard Drive Seagate ST3400832AS 400GB Serial ATA SATA 7200RPM 8MB
Cache Size

For now, I'm looking at going with the onboard 6-channel sound. Anybody
see anything you feel like warning me about?

--
Mark E. Adams, 2004 -- drop the "dot" to email me.
http://adamslan.shyper.com -*- Mandriva User# 263042

CONSIDER: ===========---------,,,,,,,,,............. . . . . .
A plethora of individuals with expertise in culinary techniques
contaminate the potable concoction produced by steeping certain edible
nutriments.

Rod Speed · Jul 3, 2006

Mark Adams said:
I'm looking at components for the HTPC project later this summer.
Here's what I'm thinking so far:

* Case SILVERSTONE LC20B-M Black

I dont bother with anything special there myself,
but then I couldnt care less about the appearance.

I did get a nice quiet power supply for a generic midi tower case.

No extra fans either, mainly so its nice and quiet.

* mobo/CPU Asus P5P800SE w/ Pentium 4 - 3.0 GHz / 1MB Cache - HT Technology (Model
531), w/1GB generic RAM

Thats what I'd go for myself, I find the intel cpu box fans are nice and quiet.

That motherboard is getting a bit long in the tooth now, just agp.

* Video Chiefmax ATI Radeon 9550 8X AGP 256MB with DVI and TV
Out Retail Box

Thats a little low tech, no component output. How much that matters
really depends on what you are doing HDTV wise. I use one myself.
Dunno if the Chiefmax comes with the special connector, the Sapphire
I have only came with the composite connector, the lowest quality op,
not the svideo signals.

* Tuner Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE

* Hard Drive Seagate ST3400832AS 400GB Serial ATA SATA 7200RPM 8MB Cache Size

I prefer the Samsungs myself, much quieter.

Mark Adams · Jul 3, 2006

Thanks for the response Rod. See inline comments.

Rod said:
I dont bother with anything special there myself,
but then I couldnt care less about the appearance.

I wouldn't, but space is an issue here. I don't have any place to put a
conventional case, so it's going to have to go on a shelf in the
(minimalist) entertainment center. I decided to go for a nice one.

I did get a nice quiet power supply for a generic midi tower case.

I plum forgot to include this item in my original list:

* PSU Antec ATX12V 400W

No extra fans either, mainly so its nice and quiet.

And I am going to spring for a couple of 80mm fans for the back of the
case. If they are loud I'll just disable them. I'm kind of heat
conscious these days.

Thats what I'd go for myself, I find the intel cpu box fans are nice and quiet.

That motherboard is getting a bit long in the tooth now, just agp.

See comments about the video card below. I looked at PCI Express
boards, but do I really need flaming graphics for a system that won't be
playing games?

Thats a little low tech, no component output. How much that matters
really depends on what you are doing HDTV wise. I use one myself.
Dunno if the Chiefmax comes with the special connector, the Sapphire
I have only came with the composite connector, the lowest quality op,
not the svideo signals.

I don't have an HDTV and I live in the sticks where, according to the
cable tech I talked to last week, we may not see HD offered here in my
lifetime. Component outs are good to the extent that more options are
always good, but I have no foreseeable need for them.

The connector here is VGA and S-video. There's something else and a DVI
to VGA adaptor is available. It isn't top of the line, but how will a
high-end graphics card help me with HTPC stuff? What features should I
be looking for?

And again, I am not terribly interested in anything I have to slap a
heatsink and fan on -- I'm more interested in something air cooled and
quiet.

http://3btech.net/chatira958xa1.html

I prefer the Samsungs myself, much quieter.

I've never used a Samsung drive. What's the reliability like? According
to Pricewatch.com they're, well, pricey.

Thanks again Rod. All suggestions are appreciated.

--
Mark E. Adams, 2004 -- drop the "dot" to email me.
http://adamslan.shyper.com -*- Mandriva User# 263042

CONSIDER: ===========---------,,,,,,,,,............. . . . . .
* Caytln slaps Lisa
<Caytln> catfight

<LisaHere> Watch it girl, I like that.
<LisaHere>

<Caytln> figures

Rod Speed · Jul 3, 2006

Mark Adams said:
Thanks for the response Rod. See inline comments.

I wouldn't, but space is an issue here. I don't have any place to
put a conventional case, so it's going to have to go on a shelf in the
(minimalist) entertainment center. I decided to go for a nice one.

I plum forgot to include this item in my original list:

* PSU Antec ATX12V 400W

And I am going to spring for a couple of 80mm fans for the back of the case. If they are
loud I'll just disable them. I'm kind of heat conscious these days.

Yeah, can be a problem with those small cases.

See comments about the video card below. I looked at PCI Express boards, but do I
really need flaming graphics for a system that won't be playing games?

Really depends on whether you plan to update your TV any time soon.

A PCI Express motherboard does give you more future, we are already
starting to see the range of choice with AGP dropping noticeably.

I don't have an HDTV and I live in the sticks where, according to the cable tech I
talked to last week, we may not see HD offered here in my lifetime.

I bet thats a biased lie. But what matters is what you are
doing TV wise, whether better than svideo is desirable.

Component outs are good to the extent that more options are always good, but I have no
foreseeable need for them.

Sure, svideo is pretty decent even on my big glass widescreen HDTV.
Not as good as component tho. And I have replaced all the VCRs with digital
TV tuner cards, 4 of them in fact, so my video files are very high quality.

The connector here is VGA and S-video.

So is mine. I just meant that my card didnt come with the special svideo
connector, it comes with an adapter that plugs into that svideo connector
on the card that just provides a single RCA composite output. Thats well
down on what a decent svideo output is quality wise and so I just meant
that you do need the special connector if your TV can take svideo input.
Costs peanuts tho, you just need to add it to the card.

There's something else and a DVI to VGA adaptor is available.

It isn't top of the line,

Yes, its basically being runout now.

but how will a high-end graphics card help me with HTPC stuff?

Basically if your TV can accept component inputs, you'll get a
better picture than if you use the svideo output from that card.

What features should I be looking for?

Basically component video if your TV can do that.

And again, I am not terribly interested in anything I have to slap a heatsink and fan
on -- I'm more interested in something air cooled and quiet.

Yeah, thats one real advantage with that video card, no fan.

http://3btech.net/chatira958xa1.html

I've never used a Samsung drive. What's the reliability like?

Pretty good, tho storagereview doesnt have any data on that 400G Samsung yet.

According to Pricewatch.com they're, well, pricey.

They arent here, but I'm on the other side of the world.

Thanks again Rod. All suggestions are appreciated.

No problem, thats what these technical groups are for.

Dave · Jul 3, 2006

Mark Adams said:
I'm looking at components for the HTPC project later this summer. Here's
what I'm thinking so far:

* Case SILVERSTONE LC20B-M Black

* mobo/CPU Asus P5P800SE w/ Pentium 4 - 3.0 GHz / 1MB Cache - HT
Technology (Model 531), w/1GB generic RAM

* Video Chiefmax ATI Radeon 9550 8X AGP 256MB with DVI and TV
Out Retail Box

* Tuner Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE

* Hard Drive Seagate ST3400832AS 400GB Serial ATA SATA 7200RPM 8MB
Cache Size

For now, I'm looking at going with the onboard 6-channel sound. Anybody
see anything you feel like warning me about?

Yup. NEVER use generic RAM. Try OCZ or Kingston brand. -Dave

Rod Speed · Jul 3, 2006

Dave said:
Yup. NEVER use generic RAM. Try OCZ or Kingston brand.

Thats completely silly, generic ram works fine here.

Mark Adams · Jul 3, 2006

Rod said:
Thats completely silly, generic ram works fine here.

I hear the concerns about generic RAM. The thing is I'm buying a bundled
mobo/CPU/RAM package (see link below). My thinking on this is that I
can get a reasonable price on a hardware bundle that both matches my
specs generally and is likely to work after I assemble it. This is also
partly why I'm interested in a motherboard that has an established
performace record rather than bleeding edge technology.

Heretofore I have bought name-brand RAM from Crucial and I've been very
happy. I'm hoping that I won't get bit on the hardware I'm looking at,
hence my questions here.

http://www.portatech.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=13489

--
Mark E. Adams, 2004 -- drop the "dot" to email me.
http://adamslan.shyper.com -*- Mandriva User# 263042

CONSIDER: ===========---------,,,,,,,,,............. . . . . .
Computers are like air conditioners. Both stop working, if you open
windows.
-- Adam Heath

Thibault · Jul 10, 2006

Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.

And when it doesn't, you can waste a lot of time and sanity tracking
down where those weird random bugs come from. I had a few occurance of
faulty RAM modules, and it can be a real pain.
It's all a matter of how much you value your personnal time. Is it worth
more or less than the few bucks you can save by picking generic over
brand name?

Thibault

Rod Speed a écrit :

Rod Speed · Jul 10, 2006

Thibault said:
Rod Speed wrote

Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.

Just as true of branded ram.

And when it doesn't, you can waste a lot of time and sanity tracking down where those
weird random bugs come from.

Hardly ever. Anyone with a clue just runs memtest86 and
returns the generic ram if the motherboard doesnt like it.

I had a few occurance of faulty RAM modules, and it can be a real pain. It's all a
matter of how much you value your personnal time. Is it worth more or less than the few
bucks you can save by picking generic over brand name?

Its a lot more than a few bucks.