Cheap HTPC.

[Silk_the_Absent1]

So we have the big TV, and a PS3. And while the PS3 is a great Blu-ray player, and easily the best (non-computer) upconversion for DVDs I've seen, the browser, well, sucks. Constantly running out of memory, so I'm thinking of putting together a cheap HTPC. Originally, it was going to be the P4 Northwood rig in my sig, but that is, at least for now, replacing one of the systems that was taken out in the lightning strike.

I was thinking of doing a mini-ITX system to save on space and power consumption, but I also want to be able to run at the native 1080P of the TV, and so far, I'm not sure if there are any reasonably cheap mini-ITX boards out there that can. I have a 40GB IDE 2.5" hard drive that, if I go mini-ITX, I'd use to save space, and I have a socket 939 Winchester 3000+ that I know works, and a couple of X2s that I don't know if they work (no working boards to test them). As far as an OS goes, probably Ubuntu, or another one of the "easier" distros.

Basically, what I want is something to use for internet browsing, VLC (for videos that the PS3 can't play), and to connect to my home network via wireless (the PS3 and my sister's Wii are already on wireless, and I'm trying to avoid having to run network cable to the TV area).

Anyhow, that's pretty much it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

-Adam

[C'DaleRider]

Have you investigated Windows Home Server as an alternative to your OS selection? Been playing with a copy myself and it is quite nice and very stable....and requires little hardware to make work outside an 80GB hard drive (smallest it'll load onto.....)


ps.....you can request up to three copies of that software in a 120-day evaluation set.....that'd give you a year of use for nada.

And, as some have done, request several sets with different names/email addys......not suggesting that, just that people have done so.

To find this, just go to MS's website, search up Home Server and there's a link to request these on that page.....no cost at all, no shipping, etc.

[Silk_the_Absent1]

I'll check it out, but for now, the hardware is a bit more pressing.

-Adam

[Lemmy]

You could get one of these, but I'm not sure it can play 1080p

[MrWicked1968]

this one can do 1080p: Jetway JNC81-LF AM2+

a bit pricey though.

TT Lanbox case
Seasonic SS-300T PSU
AM2 X2 BE-3200 45w
2GB Transcend DDR2 800 SODIMM
WD 250gb HDD $40 and free shipping, almost too good a deal to pass up

and Bob's your uncle! granted, the TT case might be a tad big, but the other mini-ITX compatible cases newegg has use proprietary PSU's. This way you'll at least have some use for the case in the future.

[Silk_the_Absent1]

Yeah, I've been considering that case (as well as the Microfly, similar but 1x120mm fan instead of 2x60mm) as well. I'm thinking that, if I go with that or the Microfly, I'd probably be better off going with a standard microATX board. Cheaper, as well as being better for long-term.

I'll see if any of my friends here have a 939 board I can use to test these two X2s and the DDR I have sitting around, since it kind of seems a waste to no use them if they do work. If they don't, that X2 will be perfect (I have a Brisbane 3600+, which is identical to that, just with 65W consumption). Actually, I'm watching Phenom II prices, and they are dropping fast. If I can hold off until a Phenom II gets to where I want it, no more than $150, then I can just cycle the 3600+ in my rig now down to the HTPC. I'd think that Seasonic would still be fine for a rig like that. Probably take a video card upgrade later on, too (Still need to rebuild the living room system, and I might eventually give the HTPC the 6600GT that is currently in use).

Anyhow, I'm rambling, more so than normal, so I'd better step away from the keyboard.

-Adam

[rupertbear]

I want to build a cheap HTPC system. I'm looking for a cheap CPU with around 2GB of memory. I wil then add an ATI HD3400 VPU to take HDTV decoding off my weak central processing unit. And what part do you suggest for the specification of cpu, memory, case and VPU.
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