CUSTOM BUILD HTPC
#1
hi I`m looking at getting a i3 (Sandy bridge) 2105 or 2125 CPU
I looking at motherboards, i see few i like

http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/In.../11575226/
and
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduc...=MB-523-AS
and
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H67M-ITXH...ifications

my main priority is to use the intel GPU for HTPC and bitstreaming HD-AUDIO....dts-ma etc etc.

I`d rather get the Asus, or Asrock board as theyre a little cheaper,...(but the asus has the VIA Audio chip, instead of Realtek )..can i stilll bitsteam dts-ma from the cpu on that board ??
some of the info is conflicting with some places saying certain boards will only bitstream certain Audio formats etc, am just trying to make sure i ge t the right board.

Also, neither board says they are hdmi 1.4.....?? (they should be...)

does the audio chip matter if its getting bitstreamed fropm the cpu side ??


have many ppl here done a custom build for htpc ?

cheers.

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#2
Most users in this forum built their own HTPC.......

This "ASRock H77M-ITX LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard" should work very well with Intel i3. It included HDMI 1.4a, front USB 3.0 header, etc......
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
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#3
OK cheers, when I was Googling around before hand I see ppl suggesting the
Asrock h67m m-itx+Ht ( will this 1 do the hd bitstreaming also ? )

http://pro-clockers.com/motherboards/185...board.html

Is there a Hyperthreading version / equivalent to the 1 you linked ?
Thanks.
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#4
(2012-08-10, 13:23)DJ-1 Wrote: OK cheers, when I was Googling around before hand I see ppl suggesting the
Asrock h67m m-itx+Ht ( will this 1 do the hd bitstreaming also ? )

http://pro-clockers.com/motherboards/185...board.html

Is there a Hyperthreading version / equivalent to the 1 you linked ?
Thanks.
You should be able to bitstream with H67M. If you want to fully utilize the front USB 3.0 port, I'm suggesting H77M-ITX. The H67M included USB 2.0 header only.....

If you want to see other socket 1155 mobos, you can check out this list- Motherboard Series

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#5
hmm ok, i looked at that list and the Asrock do seem to be best for information about the boards etc....
I`d like to stick with the mini-ITX form factor, the only other viable 1 i see there was this
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77E-ITX/...ifications

should be proper usb 3 ready, + HT, ivy bridge supported etc, + iGPU 4000HD. I cant see why it wouldn`t do bitstream HD Audio also ?

Cheers.

P.S:i read in the other thread that bitstreaming is very driver dpendant at the moment also, i havent been using XBMC on Windows, I`ve either used XBMC Live , or OpenElec (LOL, probably shouldnt say in here) although they tend to follow up whatever hapens in the XBMC Live scene soon-is after.
As long as the HARWARE is capable, i may just be a bit of time waiting on drivers, no big deal...

Cheers
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#6
(2012-08-10, 18:12)DJ-1 Wrote: hmm ok, i looked at that list and the Asrock do seem to be best for information about the boards etc....
I`d like to stick with the mini-ITX form factor, the only other viable 1 i see there was this
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77E-ITX/...ifications

should be proper usb 3 ready, + HT, ivy bridge supported etc, + iGPU 4000HD. I cant see why it wouldn`t do bitstream HD Audio also ?

Cheers.
All Intel iVy Bridge iGPU's supports bitstreaming HD audio.......



(2012-08-10, 18:12)DJ-1 Wrote: P.S:i read in the other thread that bitstreaming is very driver dpendant at the moment also, i havent been using XBMC on Windows, I`ve either used XBMC Live , or OpenElec (LOL, probably shouldnt say in here) although they tend to follow up whatever hapens in the XBMC Live scene soon-is after.
As long as the HARWARE is capable, i may just be a bit of time waiting on drivers, no big deal...

Cheers
I never use Linux, because I want to enjoy bitstreaming HD audio, streaming Netflix HD, Google, Live TV, etc. Windows 7 is my only choice.....for $67, I can buy this "Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit"......it work great on all type of GPU's (E350, GT430, HD2000, HD5570, etc)...

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#7
Yeah, ivy bridge meant to be better, but will get the i3 2105 for now, then have the option to change CPU in the future....also the ivy bridge are meant to be better ( and bios tweakable ) with regards the 'true 23.976' bug on the sandy's.....

I got win 7 home premium 64bit on my (old ) main pc, but its an OEM version and can only be installed on 1 machine....
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#8
(2012-08-10, 19:08)DJ-1 Wrote: also the ivy bridge are meant to be better ( and bios tweakable ) with regards the 'true 23.976' bug on the sandy's.....
All GPU's have 24p bugs....but some users don't notice it!

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#9
(2012-08-10, 19:17)bluray Wrote:
(2012-08-10, 19:08)DJ-1 Wrote: also the ivy bridge are meant to be better ( and bios tweakable ) with regards the 'true 23.976' bug on the sandy's.....
All GPU's have 24p bugs....but some users don't notice it!
yeah i know, what i meant was form what i`ve read, its better now on the Ivy`s, although there is still a bug there.

out of curiosity, what HTPC build do you have ?
I was looking at this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VFG5A6/re...gb?ie=UTF8
A liitle close possibly neading a low profile cpu fan.... but looks ok...?

tried find the ideal power supply needed, i think 220w is ok,
maybe this one..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-Mini-ITX-Cas...=8-4-spell

cheers.
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#10
I have Intel i5, AMD E350+GT430, Intel E7200+HD5570, Intel laptop and AMD all-in-one HTPC......as you can see, my less than powerful HTPC's can handles blu-ray 1080P/bitstreaming HD audio using XBMC+7MCE great......

My next build will be iVy Bridge......
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#11
(2012-08-10, 20:26)DJ-1 Wrote: tried find the ideal power supply needed, i think 220w is ok,
You don't need 220W for an i3-2105. This guy "Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Sandy Bridge Processor Review" used the standard size ATX mobo and a massive CPU cooler, and it consumed 66W only during Prime95......for mini-ITX blu-ray playback, it'll consume <40W......
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#12
ok, cheers...just trying to find a case thats not too big with a power supply that isn`t too much overkill....
i searched and cant find out for sure if the height of the board + stock CPU heatsink/fan will fit into a 70mm case, may need a low profile fan.....

some thing like this..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compucase-Mini-F...omputers_3
or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inwin-BQ656-Mini...85&sr=1-21
although the 80W 1 doesnt give its dimensions, it looks the same..
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#13
(2012-08-11, 00:42)DJ-1 Wrote: i searched and cant find out for sure if the height of the board + stock CPU heatsink/fan will fit into a 70mm case, may need a low profile fan.....
This "Gelid Slim Silence i-Plus Low Profile Intel CPU Cooler" with 28mm overall height should fit any case....

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#14
ok, so it looks like got the final spec

CRUCIAL SSD - (Already have that)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004W2JKWG/re...B004W2JKWG
RAM - (to order)
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspe...EBA5CA7304
Motherboard - (To order)
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z77E-ITX/...ifications
CPU - (To order)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051FFBX0/re...B0051FFBX0
Case - (To order)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inwin-BQ656-Mini...85&sr=1-21
Low profile heatsink/Fan - (To order)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gelid-Silence-i-...458&sr=1-1

just gotta get it ordered and wait.... Smile

Thanks for all your help.
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