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I want a new HTPC. Should I build it or buy it as is?

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Jan 19, 2009
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Location
New York, NY
System Name The Baconator
Processor Phenom II X4 965 @ 4.00GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790FX
Cooling Zalman 9900 CPU Cooler
Memory 16Gb DDR3 @ 1600MHz
Video Card(s) ATi Radeon HD 5870
Storage OS: WD 300Gb @ 10,000rpm. Storage: 2 x 1Tb @ 7,200rpm
Display(s) ASUS 27" LED 1080p Monitor
Case Cooler Master Sniper Medium Tower
Audio Device(s) MoBo Integrated
Power Supply Corsair PSU 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
I've never built an HTPC before, in fact, I've never even had one but I feel the need of getting one now.

So should I build it from scratch or buy it already as a set?

If build it, what are the main/important components of an HTPC? Sames as those in a desktop? Could I get a little overview on them and what brands to choose, etc?

Thanks in advance!
 

ShadowFold

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Location
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System Name The ShadowFold Draconis (Ordering soon)
Processor AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8ghz
Motherboard ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870
Cooling Stock
Memory Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3-1333
Video Card(s) XFX ATi Radeon HD 5850 1gb
Storage Western Digital 640gb
Display(s) Acer 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1920x1080P
Case Antec Nine-Hundred
Audio Device(s) Onboard + Creative "Fatal1ty" Headset
Power Supply Antec Earthwatts 650w
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A good triple/quad core and an HD 4000 series video card. ATi's are way better for HTPC's. I have a HD 4550 and a Phenom 9500 and it plays Bluray movies amazingly well.
 
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
331 (0.06/day)
Location
New York, NY
System Name The Baconator
Processor Phenom II X4 965 @ 4.00GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790FX
Cooling Zalman 9900 CPU Cooler
Memory 16Gb DDR3 @ 1600MHz
Video Card(s) ATi Radeon HD 5870
Storage OS: WD 300Gb @ 10,000rpm. Storage: 2 x 1Tb @ 7,200rpm
Display(s) ASUS 27" LED 1080p Monitor
Case Cooler Master Sniper Medium Tower
Audio Device(s) MoBo Integrated
Power Supply Corsair PSU 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
So build it myself, right? What about cases and online stores?
 

ShadowFold

New Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
16,918 (2.85/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name The ShadowFold Draconis (Ordering soon)
Processor AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8ghz
Motherboard ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870
Cooling Stock
Memory Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3-1333
Video Card(s) XFX ATi Radeon HD 5850 1gb
Storage Western Digital 640gb
Display(s) Acer 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1920x1080P
Case Antec Nine-Hundred
Audio Device(s) Onboard + Creative "Fatal1ty" Headset
Power Supply Antec Earthwatts 650w
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Benchmark Scores -❶-❸-❸-❼-
You are in the US I see, Newegg.com has the cheapest stuff. On the case.. I don't know, I use an Antec Sonata III. If you want, give me a budget and I will throw together a good one for you on newegg.

Here I just put this together. 605$ after shipping
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
331 (0.06/day)
Location
New York, NY
System Name The Baconator
Processor Phenom II X4 965 @ 4.00GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790FX
Cooling Zalman 9900 CPU Cooler
Memory 16Gb DDR3 @ 1600MHz
Video Card(s) ATi Radeon HD 5870
Storage OS: WD 300Gb @ 10,000rpm. Storage: 2 x 1Tb @ 7,200rpm
Display(s) ASUS 27" LED 1080p Monitor
Case Cooler Master Sniper Medium Tower
Audio Device(s) MoBo Integrated
Power Supply Corsair PSU 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
You are in the US I see, Newegg.com has the cheapest stuff. On the case.. I don't know, I use an Antec Sonata III. If you want, give me a budget and I will throw together a good one for you on newegg.

EDIT:

I see, I got an overview of everything I need, thanks.
So I don't need a high-end CPU, PSU or even GPU...

Will I need further upgrades? I assume this will be able to play ANYTHING on a HDTV with no problems as well as record stuff, right?

Also, what about tuner card?
 
Last edited:
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Storage Samsung 830 256GB - 750GB Toshiba drive
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (non-acer-bloatware)
I'd hardly say you need a 4870 for a HTPC...
 

ShadowFold

New Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
16,918 (2.85/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name The ShadowFold Draconis (Ordering soon)
Processor AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8ghz
Motherboard ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870
Cooling Stock
Memory Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3-1333
Video Card(s) XFX ATi Radeon HD 5850 1gb
Storage Western Digital 640gb
Display(s) Acer 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1920x1080P
Case Antec Nine-Hundred
Audio Device(s) Onboard + Creative "Fatal1ty" Headset
Power Supply Antec Earthwatts 650w
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Benchmark Scores -❶-❸-❸-❼-
EDIT:

I see, I got an overview of everything I need, thanks.
So I don't need a high-end CPU, PSU or even GPU...

Will I need further upgrades? I assume this will be able to play ANYTHING on a HDTV with no problems as well as record stuff, right?

Also, what about tuner card?

Don't know about tuners. I would look at ATi's tuner cards tho, I hear they are good. A little pricey tho.
 
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