What uATX mobo for a HTPC build?

[peterson]

I'm planning to build a HTPC in a month or two.
Based on a Antec NSK2400 case and probably an AMD 3200+ 939 CPU.
I've been looking for a mobo w a onboard graphics and sound. There are quite a few to choose from, but i'd like to have one with a TV-out and a S/PDIF out.
Do you have any recommendations?

I won't get a HDTV in a few years time, so no need for a powerful PC yet.

Thanks

[jackylman]

I'm planning to build a HTPC in a month or two.
Based on a Antec NSK2400 case and probably an AMD 3200+ 939 CPU.

Get a S754 Sempron for an HTPC. The extra cache is only going to draw more power and give you minimal performance gains in non-gaming scenarios.

[peterson]

Thanks for the advice, but it really doesn't help me picking a mobo

[jackylman]

Thanks for the advice, but it really doesn't help me picking a mobo

But it has to have the right socket in it, right?

The more respected boards at SPCR (MSI 482, Biostar TForce 6100) don't have S/PDIF outs, so you may have to buy a soundcard (Chaintech AV710) for that.

[peterson]

Ok.
I was hoping that perhaps a Gigabyte GA-K8N51PVMT-9 or an ASUS A8N-VM/CSM would do the trick. Using onboard video and audio.
Is it?

[nick705]

Ok.
I was hoping that perhaps a Gigabyte GA-K8N51PVMT-9 or an ASUS A8N-VM/CSM would do the trick. Using onboard video and audio.
Is it?

I think those two would be a good choice, but you could also consider the AM2 Asus M2NPV-VM which has TV out and also, unusually, component out as well. You don't say what type of display the PC will be driving, but that could be rather useful.

I know you said you don't need a high-powered PC as you won't be using a HDTV, but you might still want to use ffdshow's postprocessing to improve picture quality, in which case you'll be glad of all the horsepower you can get...

[QuietOC]

Thanks for the advice, but it really doesn't help me picking a mobo

But it has to have the right socket in it, right?

The more respected boards at SPCR (MSI 482, Biostar TForce 6100) don't have S/PDIF outs, so you may have to buy a soundcard (Chaintech AV710) for that.

The TForce does have SPDIF. It even has a slot bracket with the connections.

[Pigpen]

I just picked up a MSI K8NGM2-FID for my build. Has virtually everything.

[mshan]

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6813130529

Theatertek.com software dvd player is on sale for $49.99 (normally $69.99) for the July 4th Holiday.

[bogus]

I just picked up a MSI K8NGM2-FID for my build. Has virtually everything.

agree. the MSI is probably the best 6150/430 mb for the HTPC.

• on board video with DVI-out and component/vga/svideo ouputs.
• on board 7.1 sound with SP/DIFF in/out.
• on board GigE

The 6150 provides hw-accelerated MPEG2 decoding so playing DVD would take close to 0% CPU. Some ppl claimed H.264 is also hw-accelerated with that chipset. It's important to have capable onboard video because adding a video card would make a big difference in cooling strategy. Air move very easy when you have no expansion card at all !:) Having SP/DIF out is an abosolute must for HTPC.

[garmpe]

My 2 cents is to get a DFI RS482. It's s939, with TV out (component), SPDIF, and user adjustable VCore. I'm thrilled with the board for my HTPC. Really quiet, low heat, totally tweakable (is that even a word?!?!).

Garmpe

[peterson]

Thanks for all the advice.

The only reason i planned on getting a 939 mobo, was that i could take the RAM from my gaming rig and buy some better RAM for that one.
This creates new question. How much RAM is needed for a HTPC?
Will it be enough with 2*256 or 1*512?

[Jasper]

512 ought to be enough for an HTPC, at least until you want to do HDTV. As long as you skip the HDTV, 512 will be more than enough, and you can always plug some more in then.

s754 uses the same ram as s939 -- you don't *have* to use a dual-channel set spread over two channels, you can just plug 'em in multiple sockets on a single channel as well.

My main reason for going s939 with a Venice 3200+ is Cool'n'Quiet capabilities, which the Semprons only start getting at the very most expensive models (much more expensive than an A64 3200+).

[nick705]

Thanks for all the advice.

The only reason i planned on getting a 939 mobo, was that i could take the RAM from my gaming rig and buy some better RAM for that one.
This creates new question. How much RAM is needed for a HTPC?
Will it be enough with 2*256 or 1*512?

Just a heads-up - if you're planning on an AMD system, it might pay you to wait until 24th July or later (the day after Conroe's release), as AMD are allegedly planning some major price cuts to try and rain on Intel's parade.

Apparently the memo only refers specifically to AM2, but it seems probable that socket 939 CPU prices will be slashed as well...

[jaganath]

My main reason for going s939 with a Venice 3200+ is Cool'n'Quiet capabilities, which the Semprons only start getting at the very most expensive models (much more expensive than an A64 3200+).

The Sempron 3000+ (which is the cheapest CnQ sempy) is much cheaper than the A64 3200, at least in the UK and probably Sweden as well.

[autoboy]

Get the MSI FID board. It has everything included on extra brackets. I love mine. The only drawback is that it does not have adjustable Vcore but that can be done in software if the chip has CnQ. Yes, the 6150 has SM3.0 so it can do H.264 in hardware while the X300 in the DFI board does not. That may be more important to you if you if you get a chip with CnQ.

[jackylman]

Thanks for the advice, but it really doesn't help me picking a mobo

But it has to have the right socket in it, right?

The more respected boards at SPCR (MSI 482, Biostar TForce 6100) don't have S/PDIF outs, so you may have to buy a soundcard (Chaintech AV710) for that.

The TForce does have SPDIF. It even has a slot bracket with the connections.

I stand corrected. Sorry for the misinformation.

[simeli]

get a MSI 915GM Speedster with a Pentium M and if you need DVI some Nvidia 6200 TurboCache Card. Alternatively the CoreDuo successor 945GM Speedster that already comes with DVI. Low power usage, fast, very stable and enough SATA connectors. Also dual Gb LAN and so on. The 945 also has a IR connector.

If the are too pricy, get an asus MicroATX board based on the Nvidia 6150 chipset.

[peterson]

First, thanks for all your advice.

These have made look on the selection of socket AM2 boards. Conroe is still too new ATM.
So i've settled for the DFI Infinity C51PV-M2/G
It has all i need. (i hope)

I just have wait for it to hit the stores and it'll be mine. I'll get back once i've built my HTPC.
Thanks again all.

[Dgard]

Yes, that's the one I'm wating for, too. I had planned on getting an Athlon 64 3200+ along with it, and getting a better heatsink, but with A 64 prices being so mush lower (as of this morning), I'm now considering getting a 3800+ and using the better heatsink that comes along with it.

[Bill Dunsmore]

Recommend the MSI board. There is an excellent tutorial at Anandtech Forums.

[Bill Dunsmore]

Recommend the MSI board. There is an excellent tutorial at Anandtech Forums.

[Mats]

The new prices for AMD have showed up in Sweden now, although only at komplett.se for now. 1650:- for a X2 3800+ is pretty good. But1750:- for an E6300 is even better.... it's hard to find a µATX mobo for it with all those features though.

[mb2]

Dgard, most people here who've actually tried the stock heatsink (low end one even) have found that its pretty good noise (and performance) wise when undervolted. its not going to challenge a ninja but then, if ur getting a low-end CPU then a ninja could add 50% to the cost..
not that you shouldn't get the 3800

[Dgard]

Thanks, mb. That's good to know. I'm kind of leery about having one of those huge, tall, heavy heatsinks hanging off the side of my motherboard, even though I suppose they're safe.

The comments about high-definition video playback prompted me to google "geforce 6150 H.264", and this came up: http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/articles/show/718/9. It's a comparison of a few GeForce 6150 motherboards, with an ATI chipset board (MSI RS480M2-IL) thrown into the mix. The question I have is, just what kind of processor would you need to play HD videos smoothly? They use an Athlon 64 4000+ in the tests, but would a 3200+ be good enough?

[QuietOC]

The question I have is, just what kind of processor would you need to play HD videos smoothly? They use an Athlon 64 4000+ in the tests, but would a 3200+ be good enough?

The amount of computation is not constant for HD files, so even if they are encoded with the same settings the actual work involved will vary. The minimum machine specs for 1080p H.264 playback are beyond any beyond any single-core CPU. Here are Apple's suggestions. A dual-core cpu is a good idea.