What do you rekon of this HTPC setup? Good/Bad?

Pengoz · 7th October 2006, 9:42 AM

After reading thru various threads here, I've come up with the following HTPC setup. Its not the greatest setup but I rekon its sufficient for my needs.

My aim was a system under $500 that will be cool & quiet (passively cooled) while I can watch a DVD or Xvid and record a hdtv stream.

Well here it is, let me know if anything I selected sucks or will have performance issues:

CPU: AMD 2800+ S754, $60
Motherboard: MSI RS482M-IL S754, $85
HDD: Seagate 160Gb SATAII, $80
Case: Antec NSK 2400, $140
Tuner Card: A16A-OEM AVERMEDIA OEM A16A Hybrid DVB-T HD PCI Card, $110
Video card: Onboard, $0
Sound Card: Onboard, $0
RAM: Existing 512Mb DDR266, $0 <---- Can replace this with 1GB (2x512mb) DDR400 when I upgrade my main box.
DVD Burner: Existing DVD Burner, $0.
Total: $475

I've gone with a 160gb hdd, as I think that should be enough. Due to work I only watch a small amount of tv. I mainly watch stuff I've grabbed off the net, rather than stuff off the free to air stations but every now and again I'll record stuff off the TV. Once I've watched something, I tend not to keep it so the recording or xvid file will be deleted after watching it, which will free up disk space. Thus I believe 160gb hdd for the time being should be more than enough.

I won't play games on it, thats what my main pc is for.

The htpc will output to a standard CRT TV, with sound being played thru the TV speakers. Next year I'll get a plasma though and then will pop in a better sound card then as at the moment audio will run thru the tv speakers.

Would love your comments on the above setup. Would the above specs be enough to watch a dvd/xvid and record a hdtv stream at the same time?

Prices are average prices from staticice.

Thanks!

EDIT: Revised list...

MrSmith · 7th October 2006, 11:16 AM

I'd get a 250gb hdd, which isn't that much more - If you plan on recording down HD stuff..

I'd get a seperate TV Tuner and Sound card, it'll make a big difference in an HT setup.

7th October 2006, 9:42 AM	#1
Pengoz Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gold Coast Posts: 2,704	What do you rekon of this HTPC setup? Good/Bad? After reading thru various threads here, I've come up with the following HTPC setup. Its not the greatest setup but I rekon its sufficient for my needs. My aim was a system under $500 that will be cool & quiet (passively cooled) while I can watch a DVD or Xvid and record a hdtv stream. Well here it is, let me know if anything I selected sucks or will have performance issues: CPU: AMD 2800+ S754, $60 Motherboard: MSI RS482M-IL S754, $85 HDD: Seagate 160Gb SATAII, $80 Case: Antec NSK 2400, $140 Tuner Card: A16A-OEM AVERMEDIA OEM A16A Hybrid DVB-T HD PCI Card, $110 Video card: Onboard, $0 Sound Card: Onboard, $0 RAM: Existing 512Mb DDR266, $0 <---- Can replace this with 1GB (2x512mb) DDR400 when I upgrade my main box. DVD Burner: Existing DVD Burner, $0. Total: $475 I've gone with a 160gb hdd, as I think that should be enough. Due to work I only watch a small amount of tv. I mainly watch stuff I've grabbed off the net, rather than stuff off the free to air stations but every now and again I'll record stuff off the TV. Once I've watched something, I tend not to keep it so the recording or xvid file will be deleted after watching it, which will free up disk space. Thus I believe 160gb hdd for the time being should be more than enough. I won't play games on it, thats what my main pc is for. The htpc will output to a standard CRT TV, with sound being played thru the TV speakers. Next year I'll get a plasma though and then will pop in a better sound card then as at the moment audio will run thru the tv speakers. Would love your comments on the above setup. Would the above specs be enough to watch a dvd/xvid and record a hdtv stream at the same time? Prices are average prices from staticice. Thanks! EDIT: Revised list... Last edited by Pengoz; 7th October 2006 at 2:45 PM.

7th October 2006, 11:16 AM	#2
MrSmith Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: nor perth Posts: 2,393	I'd get a 250gb hdd, which isn't that much more - If you plan on recording down HD stuff.. I'd get a seperate TV Tuner and Sound card, it'll make a big difference in an HT setup. __________________ [X2 4200+, Asus 8600GT Silent, 1gb, modded Antec Plusview2] [Dell i6400/1.83Ghz C2D, 1gb ddr2, 256mb X1400] [Middlesbrough FC, Fremantle Dockers, Perth Glory] [Myspace, trades] \|\|Dr. Pepper Club Member #001\|\|