Author Topic: Check me specs (new mATX HTPC box)  (Read 1595 times)

Check me specs (new mATX HTPC box)
on: February 19, 2008, 14:07:19 PM
Hi all

Ive not posted on here for a while so  :wave: to anyone who remembers me!

My Shuttle SN41G2 which i bought from SteveF many moons ago has finally died and and it happens to be the mobo that has gone, i had just bought a few bits to update it as i wanted to use it to download and burn to DVD footage taken with my new Panasonic Vid Cam so typical.

I dont want to go overboard but i want something i could use as a media box as well and have a good base for future upgrades, so how did i do? (all from Tekheads)

608094 Apevia X-Qpack II Silver Aluminum Case No Window - 500W Psu
 
607141 Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD Xpress 1250 PCI-E (Socket 775) DDR2 mATX Motherboard
 
605704 Corsair Twin2X 2GB DDR2 (2x1024MB) XMS2 6400
 
608031 Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2.00GHz Conroe 1MB Cache LGA775 (800 Mhz)
 
607273 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATAII NCQ 3Gb/s 160GB 8MB Cache OEM
 
608653 Pioneer DVR-115D 20x DVD ±R/±RW Dual Layer Silver - OEM

Be gentle as its my first rig since the socket A nforce2 days!
 

Re:Check me specs pls (new mATX box)
Reply #1 on: February 21, 2008, 08:33:08 AM
I think ill just order it this morning then, ill take no comments as a good thing :)

Does anyone have experiance with XP Media Center and Vista? just wondered which is going to be best to use.

  • Offline Beaker

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Re:Check me specs (new mATX box)
Reply #2 on: February 21, 2008, 08:44:13 AM
personally I would suggest a better CPU if you arent going to overclock it.

Re:Check me specs (new mATX box)
Reply #3 on: February 21, 2008, 10:14:21 AM
Do you think i would be ok with a E4xxx or should i go for an E6xxx?

I wanted to try and keep costs low initially thats all

Check me specs (new mATX box)
Reply #4 on: February 21, 2008, 10:49:43 AM
E4500 are good value: http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=607864

I moved from Media Centre to Vista Ultimate, the media centre features are basically the same just depends if you want XP or Vista at the end of the day

Re:Check me specs (new mATX box)
Reply #5 on: February 21, 2008, 11:03:08 AM
Thanks guys, ill go for the E4500 then for the time being.

Should hopefully be ordering today!

Re:Check me specs (new mATX box)
Reply #6 on: March 15, 2008, 17:35:08 PM
Ive still not ordered anything yet as i keep changing my mind, i decided to spend a bit more and im just waiting to hear from Tekheads to see if they can supply everything.

Can anybody recommend a HTCP case or is the Antec a good bet? Also what should i go for remote wise?

Pioneer BDC-S02BK 5x BD-ROM + 12x12 DVD±RW Serial ATA Dual Layer ReWriter - (Black)
Samsung SpinPoint T 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.66GHz (1333FSB)
Asus P5E-VM HDMI Intel G35 Micro-ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2
Antec Fusion Black HTPC Case - 430HE Watt PSU
Netgear WG311 54Mbps Wireless Desktop PCI Network Adapter
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32-Bit Edition DVD - OEM
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775)

Ill add a GFX card next month for playing games on it, its going to be hooked up to a new 37"/40" lcd of some desciption.

  • Offline Mark

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Re:Check me specs (new mATX HTPC box)
Reply #7 on: March 15, 2008, 17:52:16 PM
silverstone cases are good - I have one

check xcase.co.uk for an idea of whats out there

Re:Check me specs (new mATX HTPC box)
Reply #8 on: March 19, 2008, 15:40:28 PM
Finally ordered last night from Tekheads lol

Asus P5E-VM HDMI Intel G35 (Socket 775) PCI-E DDR2 mATX Motherboard
Pioneer BDC-S02BK 5x Black Blu-Ray Reader with DVD±DL Writer - Retail
Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3GB/s 16MB Cache - OEM
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz Wolfdale 6MB Cache LGA775 (1333 Mhz)
Corsair Twin2X 4GB DDR2 (2x2048MB) XMS2 6400 C5
Antec Fusion Black Media Centre Desktop Case - 430W PSU
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (SKT 775) CPU Cooler
Microsoft Vista Home Premium 32BIT Edition DVD - OEM
Edimax 54Mbps Wireless Hi-Gain EW-7318USG USB Adapter with (4dBi) ExternalAntenna
Microsoft XP Media Centre 2005 Remote Controller

Spot on service as usual and even managed to source me the mobo and blueray drive which they didnt stock :bowdown:

Thank you guys for your help.

  • Offline mrt

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Re:Check me specs (new mATX HTPC box)
Reply #9 on: March 19, 2008, 15:59:57 PM
I am so glad you changed your mind about the 607141 Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD Xpress 1250 PCI-E (Socket 775) DDR2 mATX Motherboard.

I too am currently building a new HTPC.  My intention is to play hi def mkv files and install a blu-ray drive.  The Fatality boards apparently are a nightmare with blu-ray.  If you google it you will see what I mean.  Loads of people with probs.  I was almost about to get one myself, but someone recommended I did not go for it.

A bit overkill on CPU, well unless you plan on gaming.

Only criticism, would be to have gone for the Philips VMC remote over the MS one.  Just looks about a billion times slicker.  Oh, and is a 4in1 and works a treat.  Although you can always bay it and get one at a later date.


Re:Check me specs (new mATX HTPC box)
Reply #10 on: March 20, 2008, 08:43:25 AM
I had seen a few bad comments about the Abit board myself, i think ive gone crazy looking at all the reviews on mobos.

I just didnt know what to go for on the remote front so thanks for the recommendation on the phillips one, ill get it all up and running and maybe look at one of those in a few months.

I will be gaming with it but just left out the gfx card for a few months also as i didnt just want to bang something in there and have to upgrade it again, it also gives me a few months to see whats around and decide what i want.


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