$450 HDPC build

[alvine]

Hello guys.
I have come up with this list all I want is a small factor computer that I can put next to my hdtv and for it to be strong enough to play 1080p movies smoothly.
I do not need keyboard or mouse I just need the box.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: end of this month (budget: as low as possibe, $450 max)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (1080p movies, internet browsing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: the monitor obviously, keyboard, mouse, os (win7)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: dont have, just going for the cheapest thats why I picked amd

OVERCLOCKING: no

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

1. I would like it to be a quiet pc, since I will not oc this system the stock fan should be keeping the processor in good temps and run quiet?
2. Is the integrated nvidia 8100 strong enough to play 1080p movies without any tearing?
3. Can someone show me an ati motherboard since from waht I understand nvidia chipset does not send sound over hdmi cable and ati chipsets do
4. Do think 300w psu would be sufficient enough for this system (just making sure)
5. Is the 2.6ghz amd processor good enough for this?




Okay here is my listttt. Feel free to comment I'm looking forward to improving this

IN WIN BL631.300TBL Black Steel MicroATX Slim Case Computer Case 300W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108065

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD102UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152101

etWay JPN78VM2-HL AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8100 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153140

AllComponents 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159021

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000 Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211

SONY Black/Gray 2X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 24X CD-ROM SATA Internal 2X Blu-ray DVD ROM Model BDUX10S - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131054

Rosewill RNX-G300LX IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Card Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP, 802.1x, WPA, WPA2, AES, TKIP with 2 dBi Antenna - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166021

Total= ($408.93)



Thanks!

 

[Kill@dor]

So you will be using onboard graphics on this? I can't guarantee it will play 1080p, but i don't see why not since it has HDMI....thats high def in itself ^_^ It might also depend on what kind of cable you use...

 

[silversurfernhs]

go dedicated graphics, and a 80 to 120 buck card to your build and youll be happy
if you dont you will be pissed by the performance, and using hdmi does not automatically mean HD, you set the resolution to what you want just like any other display adapter connection

 

[Kill@dor]

Even if he used HDMI cable it won't make a difference huh? I though onboard was more reliable than that...i haven't tested it out as much as i should have i guess

 

[gimpy1]

You mobo will not do HD decoding (cite). Nvidia wise, you need an 8400 or better for on-board decoding. It is possible to decode HD with the CPU, but I don't think it will be HDCP compliant.

I would go with the 780G AMD chipset. It does HD decoding (aka H.264) and is HDCP complaint. They are also inexpensive. Here is one for $65 after rebate.

 

[Kill@dor]

It jumps from the 7950GX2 to the 8500GT...so is that assuming the 8100 won't?

The GeForce 6 series cards could decode HD...so i'm a little confused

 

[silversurfernhs]

more recent 6 series could not the initial ones, and its the 8200 where HD video acceleration starts; the 8100 does basic video acc (non h.264...)

 

[alvine]

thank you guys!
so I understand that motherboard will not cut it,
Does anyone know what integrated chipset for amd/ati motherboard will play hd?
The reason I wanted to use integrated is lower cost and one less fan running in the system haha

 

[alvine]

update I changed motherboard to

Foxconn A74MX-K AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186151

added 4350

SAPPHIRE 100264HDMI Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102817

do you think that will cut it? I see that card has passive cooling so the system should run quietly....also since the motherboard has ati 3100 do you think those two chips will run in some kind of cross fire thingy...? I mean this is not a gaming machine obviously I'm just wondering

 

[imrightbehindyou]

OK, I ran your numbers with Antec's calculator... It says that you need a 288W PS, which is being generous across the board. Granted, that is a quality PS at 300W, not just some cheap-o thing you run across.

Antec recommends their BP350, EA380, or NEO HE 380.

One more thing to consider is that you might be able to pick up a more powerful PS for the same money or less sometimes. You'd be better off doing that then. 500W Power Supplies are very common, and you could get a better deal, especially on Ebay. That way, it leaves more room for capacitor aging, and you could keep it around if you upgrade to something more power hungry later on.

 

[alvine]

okay thanks I will look into that

 

[gimpy1]

Instead of going with a cheaper mobo and a discrete graphics card, take a look at the AMD 780G chipset (which is an HD 3200 graphics card). It is extremely popular for HTPCs because it can decode hi-def with no problem...no need for a separate graphics card. It will also cost you a little less overall, so win-win.

PSU wise, I think 500 watts is probably overkill. But it doesn't mean that you should skimp out. The PSU is one part that when you cut corners, it can come back on you. I would highly recommend this Antec case with built in PSU. The case/psu is about $25 more than had originally selected, but it is of far better quality. The PSU is an earthwatts (380 watts), which is not only efficient, but nice and quiet. The one downside is it is a small tower as opposed to a HTPC style case.

With a 780g, the processor you selected, and the antec case/psu, you would have a pretty nice system.

 

[AKM880]

The older 8400GS that I have cannot decode H.264, but the 4350 definitely can.