HTPC on a budget - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

danmed · 01-07-08, 04:54 PM

I;ve recently put together an HTPC (kind of) from spare parts i had lying around.

What i've ended up with is :

TT C-1501
Intel Celeron 2.4
Nvidia 5200 128mb GFX
512 ram

Now this works OK however...

It's really being pushed.. The CPU is maxed out constantly (i'm using DVBViewer Pro btw).

I thought about whacking some more ram in it but it only seems to be usnig about 105mb anyway.. Will upping the gfx card do the CPU usage any good?

I don't want to start upgrading this if it's easier and cheaper in the long run to just get a novatech barebones and put a gfx card in it.. if that's the case.. has anyone got any suggestions?

danmed · 01-07-08, 07:09 PM

What do you think of this spec?

3dfella · 03-07-08, 03:21 PM

http://www.projecthtpc.co.uk

Have a look at that site. It might give some ideas on the areas that you can influence. If not, its still a great site and worth a visit!

blackip · 03-07-08, 08:12 PM

Looks good

blackip · 03-07-08, 08:14 PM

Looks ok for the money. Will sure beat the Celeron!!

radoman · 03-07-08, 10:26 PM

I would say go for 800mhz ram instead of 533. Might cost you a fiver extra but there is a signifcant performance increace, especially with onboard vga.

3dfella · 04-07-08, 03:05 AM

I know Im new here but It wasnt a spam link I posted. ProjectHTPC is an enthusiasts site dedicated to building Home Theatre PCS. Im not affiliated with it in anyway. I thought it might help the OP. Ive learnt loads from it.

k.jacko · 04-07-08, 09:59 AM

I'd totally recommend the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H matx board and AMD X2 4450e (2.3GHz) (new low energy cpu) combo. They will eat up 1080p processing with the onboard audio and video. There's no other board for htpc that comes close to this for performance. Intel can't get anywhere near it either. Look for reviews, you'll see.

They will cost £105.27 instead of your proposed £94.17. The extra tenner is well worth it mate, beleive me.

TwinTown · 04-07-08, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k.jacko

I'd totally recommend the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H matx board and AMD X2 4450e (2.3GHz) (new low energy cpu) combo. They will eat up 1080p processing with the onboard audio and video. There's no other board for htpc that comes close to this for performance. Intel can't get anywhere near it either. Look for reviews, you'll see.

They will cost £105.27 instead of your proposed £94.17. The extra tenner is well worth it mate, beleive me.

yeh i second that using the same mb but with an fx-62 processor......managed to get the cpu cheap, not sure of the price now

danmed · 04-07-08, 06:07 PM

Brilliant guys thanks.. That mobo and CPU combo looks good.. now to find the cash for it all

01-07-08, 04:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
danmed Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 101 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	HTPC on a budget I;ve recently put together an HTPC (kind of) from spare parts i had lying around. What i've ended up with is : TT C-1501 Intel Celeron 2.4 Nvidia 5200 128mb GFX 512 ram Now this works OK however... It's really being pushed.. The CPU is maxed out constantly (i'm using DVBViewer Pro btw). I thought about whacking some more ram in it but it only seems to be usnig about 105mb anyway.. Will upping the gfx card do the CPU usage any good? I don't want to start upgrading this if it's easier and cheaper in the long run to just get a novatech barebones and put a gfx card in it.. if that's the case.. has anyone got any suggestions? Last edited by danmed; 01-07-08 at 05:07 PM.

01-07-08, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
danmed Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 101 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget What do you think of this spec?

03-07-08, 03:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
3dfella Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget http://www.projecthtpc.co.uk Have a look at that site. It might give some ideas on the areas that you can influence. If not, its still a great site and worth a visit!

03-07-08, 08:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
blackip Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 13 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget Looks good Last edited by blackip; 03-07-08 at 08:15 PM. Reason: Didnt read the second post

03-07-08, 08:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
blackip Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 13 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget Looks ok for the money. Will sure beat the Celeron!!

03-07-08, 10:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
radoman Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 49 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget I would say go for 800mhz ram instead of 533. Might cost you a fiver extra but there is a signifcant performance increace, especially with onboard vga.

04-07-08, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
3dfella Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget I know Im new here but It wasnt a spam link I posted. ProjectHTPC is an enthusiasts site dedicated to building Home Theatre PCS. Im not affiliated with it in anyway. I thought it might help the OP. Ive learnt loads from it. Last edited by 3dfella; 04-07-08 at 03:07 AM.

04-07-08, 09:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
k.jacko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 378 Thanks: 14 Thanked 29 Times in 25 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget I'd totally recommend the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H matx board and AMD X2 4450e (2.3GHz) (new low energy cpu) combo. They will eat up 1080p processing with the onboard audio and video. There's no other board for htpc that comes close to this for performance. Intel can't get anywhere near it either. Look for reviews, you'll see. They will cost £105.27 instead of your proposed £94.17. The extra tenner is well worth it mate, beleive me.

04-07-08, 06:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
danmed Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 101 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: HTPC on a budget Brilliant guys thanks.. That mobo and CPU combo looks good.. now to find the cash for it all

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