Kodiak's HTPC *Updated 9/15/08*

xKodiakx

xKodiakx

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Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
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Made the first steps this morning on a task I've wanted to start for a while but just never really got around to it.

When AMD released their latest chipsets I figured that was a sign, "if you build it, they will come...", with a built in HD 3300 and HDMI it's perfect for what I want.


Have/Ordered:

AMD 4850e 2.5Ghz - 45w TDP (runs VERY cool) + AC Freezer 64 Pro
Foxconn A7DA-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX
4GB (2x2GB) Wintec AmpX DDR2 800Mhz
80GB Seagate 7200.10 (Windows + Software)
LIAN LI PC-C32B Case
Vista Ultimate x64
DVD-Rom
Wireless G NIC

Still Need:

Tv-Tuner
Hardware RAID Card
3x *GB HDDs for RAID5 (Storage)
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse


Any recommendations on the "Needed" parts would be nice, or any opinions or questions are welcome too... Trying to keep the whole system as cool/lower power as possible keep that in mind.

When I get the stuff in I'll update the post with pics and whatnot.
 
For a tv card I would suggest the Hauppage line of tv tuners,I hear really good things about them. As for hardware raid card, those things can get really expensive (~$300) for a true hardware raid. Software raid5 is just as good. 500gb Seagate drives are dirt cheap right now and with 3x 500gb in a raid5 setup you'll have 1tb of hard drive space.
 
my one suggestion would be watch how many drives you install since it's going to be in your living room. more hard drives = more heat and less space for air to move around. i would just install one (or two at the most) larger drives instead of 3 smaller drives in a RAID configuration. HD speed is not going to be extremely important in an HTPC. since it sounds like you'll be saving your movies, etc. on this machine instead of on a central server, size is the most important thing. So, go with a single terabyte drive...and maybe a smaller drive for your OS if you're worried about having everything on one drive. otherwise you'll have heating problems...or a ridiculous amount of sound from the fans running on high all the time.
 
fox:

I've heard a lot of good things about that brand too, I was looking at some of those this morning. A couple reasons why I was going to try a Hardware Raid card was; ability to move the raid array to another computer if needed, and also HW raids offer online capacity expansion... meaning I can add more harddrives later... software won't allow that.

try:

Heat is definitely true, I tried to find the best case as far as airflow goes for the job, main reason for the raid is for safety reasons, I want to get a HD Video Camera and save my videos on there for later viewing or whatnot. I've had too many friends/family loose non-replaceable video and pics because the relied on a HDD. Yes backing up your stuff in the #1 way to prevent that but when I hit the higher GBs of stuff that will become more and more difficult.



Side Note:

as far as heat and things like that, the over all heat of the case will be lowered because of the low TDP CPU + no video card.... so the 2 main sources of heat are gone/lower...
 
In addition to the keyboard, have you thought about an IR remote?
 
If I can suggest the Dell PERC 5/i for a RAID card...yea. It's an awesome card and it runs for about $130 on eBay.

Hauppague 1600 for the TV Tuner, comes with a IR remote as well.

For HDDs, I'd recommend some of those WD640GB drives. Very fast, quiet, and cool. I've got 7 of them (in various rigs/uses).

Does that board use the new southbridge that just came out? If so, awesome!

~Gooda~
 
Cryptex:

See gooda's post for that:-P


Gooda:

I've heard millions of good things about the perc 5/i I just really hate ebay... lol
same with those 640's...

yes SB750
 
I plan on eventually getting a Blue-ray but for right now there really isn't any need for it... my TV can't do 1080P so it wouldn't matter either way.
 
Update

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Organizing the games...
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nice looken case i would get that if i was maken a media center i like full tower for gamen but each to thier own
 
Gooda: Lian-Li's 4U Rackmount case actually hehe... got it off newegg... think 150 ish.. forget actual price.

Jester: Totally agree about the full tower, my gaming machine is in a Lian Li full tower, for everything else I try to keep most of it on the rack if I can saves on space.


Well finally got my wireless working on it, I found out that Linksys doesn't have Vista x64 drivers for their Wireless G cards... so it took a while to fine one that worked.



Still need my TV-Tuner and RAID + HDDs, but that'll come when money does.
 
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