**Critique My Quiet Cheap Gaming HTPC Build**

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harozi2
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:41 pm
Location: DC

**Critique My Quiet Cheap Gaming HTPC Build**

Post by harozi2 » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:45 pm

Hey, so this is my first time building an AMD machine and was looking for any input on making it better. I'm trying to make a somewhat cheap and quiet gaming htpc. I want to be able to upgrade later (CPU, another HD 4850 and maybe more memory) so that I will have a solid machine for the next 3-5 years-ish. So please recommend any lower cost alternatives that will fit the bill. Also, any recommendations for a digital HD TV tuner would be great.

**Case**
Thermaltake Black Aluminum / SECC Steel DH101 VF7001BNS ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=CA-VF7 ... 8a7e873f76
$203.99

**MOBO**
Foxconn A79A-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813186149
$164.99 - $60 MIR = $104.99

**CPU**
AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor Model AD775ZWCGHBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103300
$78.00

**Graphics Card**
SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102770
$144.99

**Wireless**
ENCORE ENLWI-N PCI 2.3 Wireless Adapter - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833180052
$19.99

**Memory**
OCZ 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2G10664GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820227362
$46.99

**PSU**
ENERMAX MODU82+ EMD625AWT 625W ATX12V Ver.2.3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817194027
$159.99 - $50 MIR = $109.99

**HDD**
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822152102
$94.99

**DVD Burner**
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model DVR-216DBK - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827129032
$26.99

**Monitor**
ASUS VK246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824236048
$279.99

**Keyboard**
Logitech 920-000021 Black USB Standard Access Keyboard 600 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823126028
$24.99

**Mouse**
RAZER DeathAdder RZ01-00150100-R3M1 Black 5 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Optical High Precision Gaming Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6826153007
$49.99

Total: $1,185.89

Thanks guys!

HARO

psiu
Posts: 1201
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:53 pm
Location: SE MI

Post by psiu » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:26 pm

Don't know what your timeframe is here, but maybe wait until summertime?

By then DDR3 for AMD will be established and should have a decent variety of boards to pick from. Would imagine (hope) that AM3 will be around and viable longer than existing AM2 tech. So you could at least squeeze one more CPU upgrade into the machine.

Most of the hardware looks pretty good, and I would imagine Hauppage would be the way to go, though a HDHomerun would be pretty sweet.

harozi2
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:41 pm
Location: DC

Don't like waiting... lol

Post by harozi2 » Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:40 pm

I see what you're saying but even by the summer, the AM3 tech (mobo, ram, and cpu) are still going to be in the premium price range... i can't see its value (price per performance) really being worth it. Is DDR3 even going to be that great an improvement over DDR2-1066? That being said, let's assume I stick with the AM2+ tech.

Anyone care to comment on the Monitor choice? I want to be able to use it for my PS3 and HTPC, hence the choice of native 1920x1080. Anything out there better for less? I'd want 22in+ while sticking under 30in.

harozi2
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:41 pm
Location: DC

Processor?

Post by harozi2 » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:08 am

I'm thinking that my choice of processor might be a poor one. I could get a Phenom for not too much more. The only thing is that I've heard they run very hot... Any ideas on the processor?

psiu
Posts: 1201
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:53 pm
Location: SE MI

Post by psiu » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:12 am

Maybe a low end tri-core? Or a quad and utilize CNQ. Do they have any dual core Phenoms?

harozi2
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:41 pm
Location: DC

Nope

Post by harozi2 » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:56 am

Looks like only triple or quad core Phenoms.

speedkar9
Posts: 307
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:39 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Post by speedkar9 » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:08 am

See below.
Last edited by speedkar9 on Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

speedkar9
Posts: 307
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:39 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: **Critique My Quiet Cheap Gaming HTPC Build**

Post by speedkar9 » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:11 am

harozi2 wrote: I'm trying to make a somewhat cheap and quiet gaming htpc. I want to be able to upgrade later (CPU, another HD 4850 and maybe more memory) so that I will have a solid machine for the next 3-5 years-ish. So please recommend any lower cost alternatives that will fit the bill.
$1100 an AMD system? :shock: What exactly do you call "cheap"?

I think for that price you could probably put together a decent Intel Quad Core system.

For a "cheap" AMD system, I would think you could go:
AMD 7750 CPU (if you go Phenom, you might as well go for Phenom II, but again, thats quite expensive). The tri-cores won't help much as they are clocked slower and won't perform as well as two faster cores, especially if games are not optimized for more than two cores anyways.
AMD 780G board (find an ATX variant, unless your OCing then go to the 790)
Consider the Antec Fusion Remote Max HTPC case, which is essentially an Antec 300 on its side. :? You can also consider the SOLO, or even a P183 if you have space. I'd imagine you'd want to go mATX for an HTPC though.
4GB RAM is fine, though you don't need 1066 unless your OCing. Be sure your TV tuner is listed as Vista x64 compatible.
Corsair VX450/HX520
Some replacement fans
Xigmatek or Ninja CPU cooler
ATI 4850 or 4830 with an Accelero S1, depending on your monitor size.

I like Samsung's 22" LCDs, and of recently, the price/ specifications is amazing.

hybrid2d4x4
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:45 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Post by hybrid2d4x4 » Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:01 pm

At the risk of sounding too negative, you've got some awfully hot components (65nm phenom-derivative, 790FX, 4850) crammed into a case that doesn't look like it's capable of dealing with all the heat, let alone doing it quietly. As a regretful customer of Thermaltake, I wouldn't trust their cases, as they don't seem to take thermals into account when they design them. Their fans aren't quiet, either. Nice looking case, tho... I'm just a bit skeptical that it's up to the task.

loimlo
Posts: 762
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 3:58 am
Location: Formosa

Post by loimlo » Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:36 am

I am sorry to say that SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 isn't quiet at all. Instead, they were rather loud even at idle. That's my experience and techpowerup's approval.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapp ... 50/25.html

If you don't want to modify your 4850 with Arctic Cooling S1, then Powercolor 4850 PCS would be a better solution.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814131118

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