[Theydon Bois]

HTPC Hardware

A HTPC build is very similar to a PC build, normally with the exception of the style of the case and maybe the addition of a TV card or two and topped off with a smart frontend like VMC or MediaPortal.

Your base build should include the following and you should be looking at around a base cost of approx £500 (a AMD 780G Vista based HTPC with TV Tuner card, Blu-Ray drive, 1Tb HD and £100 case inc PSU).

This price will then be modified depending on your choice of categories: Silent, Budget or Gaming and the price modification is noted below in the relevant sections.

• Case
• CPU & Motherboard
• RAM
• Graphics card (optional if you are using a board with capable onboard GPU)
• TV Tuner card (Optional)
• PSU (If not included in the case)
• Optical Drive
• Hard Drive
• OS

So what parts should you get? This is a question that could vary wildly from one person to the next, but I hope that the following will help you decide your component choices and also the type of HTPC you wish to build.

///// Case \\\\\

Something as simple as a case can cause much variation from user to user, and is the item that is greatly influenced by budget. Most people view the definition of a HTPC by its case and the fact that it intergrates into the rest of your AV kit by looking like the expensive AMP you have sitting next to it, rather than looking like a beige box.

As a rough guide, a normal HTPC case such as the Antec NSK 2480 will set you back around £90 but the prices can range from cheap and cheerful: Extra Value Black Opera ATX Desktop Case 500W PSU (20+4 pin) - Ebuyer ....to being a brushed metal masterpiece: Zalman HD160XT-PLUS Home Theatre PC Case

Make sure you check to see if your case choice comes with a PSU and also take a look at Silverstone, Antec, ThermalTake, Zalman and Lian Li for more ideas, as well as looking at the choices made by forum users (all detailed below)

Lastly, and this is important, make sure your choice of case will fit the motherboard (mATX, of ATX) that you buy or are going to reuse!

///// CPU & Motherboard \\\\\

If you are building your HTPC with new components, quite a few builds are based around a AMD 780G board (or the newer 790GX version) with a AMD 4850e or 5050e based AMD processor, which costs around £130.

AMD 780G solution

The cheapest option is currently a board based on the 780G chipset with a low powered AMD processor. This will manage nearly all 1080p material but may struggle if hardware acceleration can’t be used (such as on poorly encoded mkv's) requiring something like the CoreAVC Codec.

The audio on this chipset is limited as it will only pass through DD/DTS via S/PDIF (i.e the same as connecting an amp via an optical or coax cable) or stereo - it will not handle any form of HD audio.

Intel 9300/9400

A more expensive option is to use a Motherboard based on the Geforce 9300/9400 chipset, which are more powerful than the 780G and take the more powerful (and sometimes more power consuming) Intel processors.

These chipsets will handle 7.1 LPCM over HDMI meaning that it will transmit 8 channels of uncompressed audio so you can decode HD audio signals on your HTPC and output them as uncompressed audio.

This option is currently the best you should be choosing if you are starting a new build, combined with a Core 2 Duo CPU.

///// Graphics card \\\\\

Most new HTPC based solutions are offering onboard GPUs that are capable of 1080p playback. If you do need a GPU, for instance if you are re-using parts that will not use a newer Motherboard, and are not using the GPU for gaming then look for a GPU with a heatsink (passively cooled) rather than a fan.

Dedicated GPU

Pro: A better choice of GPU; choice between ATI or NVidia regardless of chipset; Better for Gaming.
Con: Stock models can be noiser; Uses a PCI-E slot; More power consumption.

There are other implications with graphics cards however. The ATI 4xxx cards are capable of 7.1 LPCM and will handle 1080p but it has been reported that they can have issues correctly handling 24fps playback. The Nvidia cards on the other hand will not do audio but seem to cope better with 24fps playback, so research outside of this guide is required for more information on these two subjects.

Which manufacturer?

ATI has a fix for Black levels, while NVidia does not
Nvidia cards are reported to be better at 24fps playback
CoreAVC is handled by NVidia cards but not ATI
NVidia dedicated cards do not do audio

///// Audio \\\\\

Although I have briefly touched upon audio within the graphics and motherboard sections above, please check the post below by Jameson_UK, he details things in far greater detail than I ever could!

///// RAM \\\\\

Look for at least 2Gb of RAM, especially if you are using Vista. If fact, as RAM has decreased so much in recent months, people are picking up 4Gb, even if they have a 32 bit OS, simply because 3.2Gb is better than 2Gb.

That extra may help if you for instance if you are running multiple tasks such as watching a blu-Ray while recording TV.

///// TV Tuner Card \\\\\

This requires a more detailed explanation - please see the post below at the end of this thread.

///// PSU \\\\\

If your chosen case does not come with a PSU, then look for a decent branded PSU (Corsair, Coolermaster, Enermax, Be Quiet) at around 400 to 500W. If you are gaming, or intend to stack your case with 6 hard drives, then you need to look for a higher rated model.

Modular PSU's are also very recomended, as the lack of unwanted cables help to eliminate air traps, while allowing better airflow.

///// Optical Drive \\\\\

With the LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD combi drive at around £75 and a few HD-DVDs still available for £3 at HMV this is a cheap way into viewing some hidef films. Yes you are paying for dead technology, but you can pick up 5 HD-DVDs for the price of one blu-ray and its an excellent start into the world of hidef movies. The LG also comes with a limited version (to 2 channel unless you use SPDIF) of PowerDVD7.

A standard Blu-ray drive is around £50 now so unless you are on a tight budget and even if you dont have any Blu's yet, its a worthy purchase.

///// Hard Drive \\\\\

Currently there are only two choices for most people - The supurb Samsung Spinpoint or a Western Digital Green. The 1Tb drives are the current sweet spot of price/storage at around £70ea [June 09].

It is not recommend to add a small drive for the OS and another for storage as you limit future expansion and are adding another source of vibration and heat for any of you trying to keep things silent. Instead, partition a single drive for the OS, and that way if you need to start again you do not have to move or lose your media collection to a rebuild.

///// Operating System \\\\\

Vista is reported to have a better VMC over XP's version, while Windows 7 improves on this even more. Of course if you are using MediaPortal or Meedios it makes no difference which OS you use.

Windows 7 is getting a lot of love recently, and up until recently was available as a free download. This has now stopped, but keys are still available as of writting (August 09).

The RC will be available at least through July 2009 and we're not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time.

The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You’ll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.

Another question that arises is the choice between a 32 and 64 bit OS, and personally I have not seen a good arguement for 64bit in a normal HTPC. So unless you are using far more than 4Gb and are running 64 bit apps there seems to be no real benefit. None of the software would be utilising its full potential, and 4Gb = 3.2Gb in 32 bit which is more than enough in a HTPC. Additionally, people have had troubles with codecs and 64 bit systems.

///// Keyboard & Remote \\\\\

Most people use the Keysonic, which not only is cheap, but very useful. Looking like the bottom half of laptop it combines mouse and keyboard together in one unit.

Those of you with more cash to flash or wanting to keep the keyboard unit on display should take a look at the Logitech DeVino range.

Information required for Remotes, Harmony is a popular choice, as is the MCE remote.

///// HTPC Types \\\\\

Now you know roughly what you need to buy, whats next? This is where your build path deviates - will you go Silent, Budget or Gaming, or a mixture of more than one?

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Silent HTPC Build

This is the most obvious choice for starting a HTPC build and the one that I opted for. This is the choice for you if you want your HTPC to be as silent as a DVD player or simply less noisy than your current Sky+ or Freeview box.

So how do you reduce noise?

Firstly, look at how the component parts will fit within your case. Silence is a sum of all parts and the key is to get all parts contributing as minimum as possible to the overall total.

A more budget (or even very expensive slimline) case can have some impact on airflow and airflow is quite important as you do not want trapped pockets of hot air within your case. One of the reasons a 780G/9400 board solution is mentioned many times is because it includes a 1080p capable graphics card meaning that a seperate card does not generate its own heat or become an airtrap.

Heat generated by the CPU and GPU and other parts within your HTPC build can cause the fans of your case and CPU to increase their speed to increase airflow and reduce heat, and the byproduct of this is the increase of noise.

///// Heatsink \\\\\

You can offset this in a few ways, firstly by replacing the heatsink with a better one such as the Sythe Mini Ninja:

Scythe Mini Ninja Socket 478/775/754/939/940/AM2 Heatpipe Cooler - Ebuyer

These dedicated heatsinks provide more efficient cooling through well designed heatsinks and/or fans that operate at far lower speeds with better construction.

Fans mounted on heatsinks such as the Ninja push the air more directionally out towards the case fans as they are side mounted rather than draw the heat to the top of the case (as OEM heatsinks do) where there may be no ventilation.

Heat drawn to the top of the case could be a problem to some people, who due to space reasons stack other AV kit on top of the HTPC, meaning this heat is then directed towards the base of that kit instead.

///// Case Fans \\\\\

The humble fan can make a massive difference to the noise level of your HTPC. One of the important details of a case fan is CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) or simply the airflow generated by the fan over time.

The next detail is the db (decibels) - the sound level of the fan in question. As a rough guide, sub 20db becomes background noise, while 10db becomes more or less inaudible from a foot away. If a fan shovels air at 30CFM but has a db of 35 then its going to be noisy.

The last factor to be taken into consideration is RPM (Revolutions Per Minute.) A smaller fan such as a 60mm one will have to make more revolutions to provide the same CFM as a larger fan and more likely to be noiser to keep up.

Most good fans can provide an excellent combination of all three attributes to give maximum airflow with minimum noise levels, regardless of the size of the fan.

Add to this that some fans even come with rubber grommets to minimise the vibration that could be caused between fan and case if they are screwed in, and you start to see why the humble fan is an important factor for anyone building a new HTPC.

A selection of 80mm fans, ranging from £5 to £15:

80mm Sharkoon 1000 "Golf Ball" Ultra Quiet 8.9 dB(A) Case Fan - 11.4 CFM - Scan.co.uk

NF-R8 80mm Quiet Case Fan

Red Wing 80mm Quiet Fan

An example of replacing stock parts - On the left I have used a Mini ninja and 3 x 80cm 9db Sharkoon Golf Ball fans. The Golf Balls came with rubber Grommets as shown on the right.

[IMGlink]http://castle-grounds.co.uk/htpc/images/fan_grommet.jpg[/IMGlink]

///// Other Components \\\\\

Modular PSU - A modular PSU in your HTPC will help to elivate potential heat trap issues. A good PSU (which imho should always be chosen over something cheap) will normally have lots of connections and a HTPC may not use more than a few of them.

A modular PSU will allow you to remove most of the extra cables allowing air to move more freely.

Hard drives & vibration - Some HTPC cases come with rubber grommet mounts for drives, while some people have gone for more customised solutions, using either solid state drives (very expensive!) or using rubber string mountings on laptop 2.5" drives.

Deksawyer used this method, check this post - just scroll past the cheese.. :D

GPU with heatsink - If you use a GPU (for example if you have not gone for an onboard solution) and you are not gaming, look for a GPU that has a heatsink as a cooling option rather than a fan for the reasons explained above. They do run hotter, but have no fan to cause additional noise and most GPU fans are not the quietest of devices.

If you do want something with a little more grunt, check the GPU section under the gaming section below.

How does Silence effect the cost?

The overall base cost of building a silent HTPC will probably increase by approx £150 for additional cooling (heatsink and case fans), a better/larger case and/or modular PSU.

There is nothing to say that you have do everything mentioned though - a new heatsink and case fans at £30 to £40 increase in the base cost could make a vast improvement.

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Building on a Budget

A budget build normally covers one or more of the following:

• Reduce the cost of the case
• Potentially sacrifice silent running by using stock parts
• Reuse old parts (or buy from the Classified's)
• Sacrifice gaming abilty

///// Case \\\\\

The case is normally the first thing to be sacrificed to keep the cost down. I paid nearly £200 (without a PSU) for my case, but if its going into a cupboard or feed to a tv from under the stairs do you really need to spend that much money?

For around £90 you can get an Antec HTPC case including the PSU which quite a few members here have used.

NSK 2480-UK - Antec NSK2480-UK V2 Desktop Media Centre Case for uATX with 380W Earthwatts 80%+ Eff PSU - Scan.co.uk

Of course to some who simply wants to try out a HTPC, £90 may make a huge dent in any budget, so something Extra Value Black Opera ATX Desktop Case 500W PSU (20+4 pin) - Ebuyer may be ideal.

///// Stock Cooling \\\\\

This is simply using the fans supplied within the case bought, or perhaps using the heatsink that comes with the CPU. Although sacrificing the silence is normally the 'be all and end all' to some people bulding a HTPC, to others they just simply need their build to be quieter than their very noisy Sky+ or Freeview box while saving a few quid to buy a better CPU or Mobo.

///// Re-use old Parts \\\\\

This is where the term budget blurs - You may have all the guts of a PC and need a few other parts to 'finish it all off.' Now a seemingly modest £300 budget only needs a case and perhaps a HDCP compliant GPU.

Also, dont forget to check the Classified ads here at AVForums - you never know if someone is selling off a piece of kit due to an upgrade that may be just what you need.

Computer Classified Adverts - AVForums.com

Back in early 2008 (and still relevant now) Mickwall did quite a lot of research on the subject playing multiple files on different specs to come up with the below information. Check the information in his thread to see if your 'old parts' are up to the task. Please dont fool yourself into thinking you will get away with less than is advised - you are better off saving your beer money for a month or two longer and get the parts you may lack.

From Mickwalls thread - "People always ask what the minimum spec is for a HTPC, here's what I believe.

For Seperate motherboard/graphic card solutions: 2.0ghz dual core processor; 1gb ram (2gb preferable for Vista); A graphics card capable of decoding HD 3470+ series, plus Nvidia 8x00 series to name but a few). It also has to be HDCP compliant for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD playback.

For integrated all in one solutions then its got to be: 780G Mobo; 2GB RAM; AMD Athlon 64 X2 4x50e "

///// Sacrifice Gaming Ability \\\\\

Probably not a problem to most people - I use my HTPC for a spot of light Emulator gaming, there is nothing like blasting the cobwebs away with a spot of Robotron on a 40" screen and I am using a card (Ati 3470) that is comparable to the onboard solution of a 780G board.

If you are re-using a motherboard, then you will be looking for a HDCP compliant GPU, which can be found easily for £30 or so.

How does Budget effect the cost?

You are reading this because you have a budget to stick to, but please do not skimp on the CPU or Mobo combo. Choose the AMD 780G board and AMD xx50e based AMD processor, even if this causes you to sacrifice the standard of case you wanted. You wont regret it!

Stick with only 2Gb of RAM and drop the HD size to 320Gb or 500Gb rather than a 1Tb - you can add more drives later as cash becomes available. Use a standard DVD drive rather than Blu-Ray, drop the TV tuner card and with the points mentioned above you can reduce the base cost of a build by £150.

Examples of Budget Builds

Dave_Parki_UK - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...tpc-build.html

AndrewTaylorUK - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...-feasible.html

willj12 - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...irst-htpc.html

chrisburns75 - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...g-variant.html

Sheepish [£280: Hiper Media Chassis; 780G & 4850e] - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...line-htpc.html

Hallsy [£295: Silverstone LC13 case] - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...ld-thread.html

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HTPC gaming Build

A Gaming based HTPC will normally change a build to incorparate the following, and is normally taken by those of you that want to game on your 40"+ TV's rather than having a seperate HTPC and Gaming PC or console.

• Normally Intel based build
• Gaming adds cost
• Usually noiser (unless watercooling or 3rd party GPU fans)

///// Intel based Build \\\\\

The normal solutions will probably be ignored as you have no use for an onboard GPU, and so can choose the best board and CPU combination that falls within your budget, and will be more likely looking at a Quad or high end Dual Core (E8xxx) CPU or even get an i7 board and CPU.

///// Cost Increase & Noise \\\\\

The screen size of a 40" LCD will normally be 1920 x 1080 so dont kid yourself into thinking a £75 GPU will suffice. A PS3 does its 'high-res' gaming at 720p so you will want a card that can game better than a console, probably something like a 4870 or GTX260.

Ignoring the cost of the card, the knock on effect of the card and its accompanying heat are likely to have implications regarding extra cooling (See the Silent HTPC section above with respect to Case fans and Heatsinks). GPUs get very hot and so have a fan thats pretty much on all the time which in turn generates heat inside the case. The case fans and heatsink have to work harder to shift that heat, which then generates the noise.

So now that you understand the implications, take a look at 3rd party VGA cooling:

Quiet PC UK - Quiet Graphics Card Coolers

There is also the watercooling route - but I am not qualified enough to talk at any length about it. Razors HTPC build is a watercooled gaming rig monster (now an i7 build), and his recent thread on his new addition to his HTPC explains how to strip down a GPU and add a water cooling heatsink.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...ming-htpc.html

///// How does a Gaming build effect the cost? \\\\\

Gaming is likely to add £500 to the overall base cost, bring the total cost to around £1000. The increased cost of an Intel build over the AMD build, a decent £200+ GPU, an upgraded case and PSU and all the additional cooling options you can get (dont forget the the GPU coolers) to help keep the noise and heat levels down.

For watercooling, you are likely to need up to £900 more to the budget, £500 or so as indicated above, plus £400 for something like the Zalman unit and GPU block, bring the build total to approximately £1400.

Other Gaming Builds

kalababa - http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-...e-updates.html - A Silverstone LC20 case with i7 940 and a ATi 4890.

///// Further Reading \\\\\

I have really only touched upon the surface for the details on a gaming HTPC here. For more detailed info on gaming with your HTPC, check Razors The Gaming HTPC Thread, where he gives advice on setting up a joypad for a more console like approach to gaming, more detail on recomended component parts and software to help optimise your build.

He also gives far more detail on costings, and specs a few machines from low to ultra high budgets.