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Build help/suggestions
https://seek42.net:443/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21741		 Page 2 of 2
Author:  HiTechRedneck [ Wed 01-20-2010 1:48PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
@ MirageX

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Streaming internet (hulu, netflix, etc) and some light gaming (steam acct running left4dead and burnout). I plan on hooking this machine up to my home entertainment center and leaving it there.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Around $500, get all warm and fuzzy when I read "free shipping"

3) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Case, CPU, RAM, HD, Mobo, additional graphics card

4) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Not reusing anything yet.

5) Will you be overclocking?
No...I'm clueless in this department.

6) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support?
Nothing exceptional, at most firewire and preferrably SLI

After some more digging and checking of funds, the following looks acceptable:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=333


and add this graphics card:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =E145-9504
Author:  zeroluck [ Wed 01-20-2010 5:01PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
if you're hooking it up to an entertainment center, you might want to check out this thread. it describes what i did when building my htpc. i game on it and watch movies.

http://seek42.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21630

also check out boxee if you have any local media you want to watch.
Author:  MirageX [ Thu 01-21-2010 11:59PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
An HTPC build, where coolness and quietness are key factors, sounds like your best bet.
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 240 $56
MOBO: ASUS M3N78-VM $75
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W $40 AR

One of these depends on your local storage needs (or whatever HDDs you have in mind)
HDD: F3 Spinpoint 500GB $55
1TB Version $90

This setup will stream Blu-Ray content easily, as the onboard video chipest is designed to take the majority of the load.
Also, the mobo has HDMI out, providing both audio and video.

However, I am unsure about its "maximum" gaming potential.
Therefore, you could throw in one of ATi's new HD5000 series cards.

GPU: HD5670 for $100.

Which would again provide the HDMI and would cover your "light gaming needs".


That leaves you with a Case and RAM.

I'm sure someone here on seek has 2-4gb (depends on your OS choice) of DDR2 they would be willing to sell cheaply, but if not

RAM: 2x1GB RAM $43

And for the case, just go online (newegg,amazon, etc..) and look for what you like, as this is mostly personal preference.
Also, HERE are some cases that will appear more like your other components around your media center.

TOTAL: $370-$410 without a case before shipping

P.S. Don't forget an optical drive if you need one. You didn't mention you did, but just reminding.

Of course, that prebuilt is simple to purchase and setup, which has its benefits.
Author:  zeroluck [ Fri 01-22-2010 7:58AM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
MirageX wrote:
GPU: HD5670 for $100.

Which would again provide the HDMI and would cover your "light gaming needs".


That asus motherboard has onboard nvidia graphics, and an nVidia chipset, with nvidia hybrid SLI and hybrid power options, so I would recommend against putting an ATi card in it.

My HTPC has an nVidia onboard 8200 and chipset, and it runs the HL2 engine at 60fps, and it will also play Modern Warfare 2. Definately not a beast, but I put a GTS 250 in it for awhile and the HybridPower feature is really cool. You plug your hdmi into the onboard vid card and enable hybrid power in BIOS, and it actually uses the PCIe card to do the 3d graphics and shuts it off when you're not using it.

The Hybrid SLI doesn't work with video cards outside its own series, so unless you have an 8xxx card it is useless, in which case the performance gains are not so great anyhow.
Author:  MirageX [ Fri 01-22-2010 1:17PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
Good to know the onboard is capable of such things, and yea the hybridpower is pretty neat.

IMO, the ATi card would not cause any issues and is really geared towards low heat/excellent audio capabilities.

Therefore, you decide if you need more power OP.

BTW, I would stay away from any SLI/Crossfire config for this type of build, as there will always be a cooler, faster, and more flexible single GPU solution when you feel the need to upgrade.
Author:  zeroluck [ Fri 01-22-2010 2:33PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
MirageX wrote:
IMO, the ATi card would not cause any issues and is really geared towards low heat/excellent audio capabilities.


it's never a good idea to have nvidia and ati drivers on the same system -- i know this from experience.
Author:  dar9q7 [ Fri 01-22-2010 6:47PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
my htpc uses that same mobo, but I use an nvidia 9400gt graphics card for my 720p and it runs without a hitch. I used the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e processor because it was cheap and low power, although it might be a little underpowered, it doesn't really bother me for a media pc. I may upgrade it this summer when i have more cash.

Here is my order straight from newegg (6/26/09):


AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH5050DOBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103298

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface - Retail
Item #: N82E16815116036

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151171

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136317

ASUS M3N78-VM AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131318

hec Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC 7K09 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811121027

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231148

ASUS EN9400GT/DI/512M(LP) GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121292

Subtotal before shipping: $543.92
Author:  amd2800barton [ Sun 01-24-2010 12:56PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
zeroluck wrote:
MirageX wrote:
IMO, the ATi card would not cause any issues and is really geared towards low heat/excellent audio capabilities.


it's never a good idea to have nvidia and ati drivers on the same system -- i know this from experience.


I never had any trouble with it. Neither has any of the other builds I've seen with it.
Author:  MirageX [ Sun 01-24-2010 4:41PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
And if you're planning to use a dedicated video card and not the onboard, just don't install the nvidia drivers.

There are multiple possibilities.
Author:  zeroluck [ Sun 01-24-2010 6:31PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
MirageX wrote:
And if you're planning to use a dedicated video card and not the onboard, just don't install the nvidia drivers.

I have an XFX Geforce 8200 motherboard. When you install the nvidia chipset drivers (think -- sound, southbridge, raid) also comes the video driver.

MirageX wrote:
There are multiple possibilities.

like buy a motherboard with an ATi chipset for ATi cards, and motherboard with nVidia chipset for nVidia cards. it makes sense.

Besides, what's the point of buying a motherboard with onboard video at all if you plan on using only the discrete video card?
Author:  ShadowCat38 [ Tue 01-26-2010 9:39AM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
integrated SLi?
Author:  zeroluck [ Tue 01-26-2010 5:43PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
ShadowCat38 wrote:
integrated SLi?


performance gains are negligible, and it only works with nvidia cards, (of the same series) so in this case it would only work if you bought an 8xxx series card (which rules out radeon cards)

hybrid power mode is the only thing that i would consider using ( i have 2 boards with the 750a chipset ) but it doesn't work outside the 8xxx series either, so it won't work with the gts250 or the gtx 260 in each system.
Author:  blitzvergnugen [ Tue 01-26-2010 8:29PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
zeroluck wrote:
ShadowCat38 wrote:
integrated SLi?


performance gains are negligible, and it only works with nvidia cards, (of the same series) so in this case it would only work if you bought an 8xxx series card (which rules out radeon cards)

hybrid power mode is the only thing that i would consider using ( i have 2 boards with the 750a chipset ) but it doesn't work outside the 8xxx series either, so it won't work with the gts250 or the gtx 260 in each system.


The newer series nVidia have a low power that works as good as the hybrid power mode and made the logistics 100x simpler. So nvidia dropped hybrid power like a sack of rocks...
Author:  zeroluck [ Tue 01-26-2010 9:10PM ]
Post subject:  Re: Build help/suggestions
so basically the onboard video is useless unless you want to use 4 monitors or actually use it as primary
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