[CashMcL]

Greetings all,

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon trying to piece together a new HTPC build after getting a couple of the $20 for $40 coupons from google offers. This is my first HTPC build, although I have build several of my past desktops. It will be used primarily for playing 720p and 1080p videos from local storage, with little or no need for games. For now I will simply use the 3TB I have on my primary desktop, but I plan on building a NAS box once the HDD prices drop back down in the future. I wanted a SSD for fast boots.


I'm hoping to get some insight about the build I'm planning:


CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 840 - $60
http://www.microcenter.com/single_produc...id=0371961

MOBO: ECS A880GM-M6(1.0) AM3 AMD 880G Micro ATX - $40 ($75-$35MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813135285


SSDhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820167047

CASE/PSU: hec Micro ATX media center w/ 300w PSU - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811121100

RAM: G.Skill 4gb (2x2gb) DDR3 1333 - $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820231396

IR/Remote: Rosewill RRC-126 - $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6880101002


Total $275 after $105 in rebates
(also used 5x of the google offers $20 for $40, making the entire build total $175 out of pocket)


So, hows it look?

I plan on installing ubuntu that launches into xbmc. I have zero experience with Linux. I don't want to spend the money on another windows licence. Any good guides/walkthroughs for how to do this? Bad idea?

The CPU might be a little overkill. But for $60 at Microcenter its hardly more expensive than some cheapo processors. Is this an ok processor for a HTPC? I also considered the i3-2100 for $100 from microcenter. But its $40 more and a comprable motherboard w/ HDMI looked atleast $10+ more than the one I have listed.

The remote just seemed like a cheap way of buying an IR receiver. I imagine I can replace it with a more capable remote in the future?


Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[eskro]

remote is great, ask user named Beer40onze,
he loves that remote!
but im not sure it works great in linux...
u can refer to my HTPC guide for working Linux remotes..

overall, build works,
im just not sure about ECS motherboard, reliability...
im not familiar with that brand...

and, again, u should buy a Nvidia GPU if your going with Linux,
as suggested in my HTPC GUIDE...

[CashMcL]

Thanks for the quick response eskro.


Glad to hear the remote should be a workable option.

I know i'm taking a risk with the ECS board, I don't have any experience with the company. But at $40 after MIR it was quite a bit cheaper than anything else with an HDMI out.


I actually did read through your guide (assuming you mean the eskro HTPC guide in your sig). I see your various mini itx and micro atx builds, but didn't see where you recommended a discrete Nvidia GPU? The board I linked to has an onboard ATI Radeon HD 4250, which I believe should be plenty to handle HD video. I'm not sure a discrete GPU would be worth the increased cost, not to mention increased power usage and the heat/utility bills that entails. Or is there a specific problem with onboard ATI video and Linux?

Again I have zero experience with Linux, but generally can sort things out given enough time and searching/learning online.

thanks again!

[eskro]

[quote=cashmcl;947436 is there a specific problem with onboard ati video and linux?[/quote]

yes!! Drivers!!!

[CashMcL]

Hmm ok.

I just went to the AMD support site and by navigating to the HD 4200series linux 64bit drivers it took me to:

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/li...ng=English



Is that not going to work?

[eskro]

i dont want to speak for something that i dont suggest

wanna go linux? get Nvidia graphix

[CashMcL]

Haha yea, I hear ya. Just trying to avoid buying a discrete graphics card since most onboard seem to be AMD HD graphics

[eskro]

i understand, but life is hard

[soundbyte]

That onboard graphics is plenty for 1080p video...its exactly what I have in my HTPC (only I have a gigbyte mobo).

As far as linux, I can't comment. The built in 4250 GPU works 100% in windows 7 x64. And I can also vouch for that remote...it gets the job done without fail.

UPDATE: Oops, I lied. I actually used this remote: http://www.amazon.com/Noah-Company-Media...000W5GK5C/

It looks similar so I was mistaken. Either way, the remote I linked too works perfectly in case you want a different layout than the one you currently selected.

[ElanX]

CASE/PSU: hec Micro ATX media center w/ 300w PSU - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811121100

Hey, I like that case. Might get that instead of the MI-008 I ordered.

[CashMcL]

I'm a bit concerned about the PSU being reliable, but will have to wait and see. For $55 shipped w/ PSU seemed like a decent case, and not bad looking.

[aptalca]

Hmm ok.

I just went to the AMD support site and by navigating to the HD 4200series linux 64bit drivers it took me to:

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/li...ng=English



Is that not going to work?

It is technically going to work, you'll see a picture and all. But you will not have hardware acceleration for HD videos in linux with AMD cards. Your processor will have to do all the work. It will get hot, loud and will use a lot more electricity. Some really high bitrate 1080p stuff might or might not play smoothly depending on the processor (AMD has hardware acceleration through DXVA in windows)

Nvidia cards have reliable linux drivers that allow for hardware acceleration in linux, much of video processing is offloaded to the gpu and your cpu utilization remains really low even with the highest bitrate 1080p stuff

[eskro]

yepp, we cant say it enough huh!

Linux = Nvidia!!