First HTPC

[the_cultie]

I'm looking to build a HTPC and I came up with the following spec:

ABIT Fatal1ty F-I90HD, ATI RX1250, HDMI

Corsair TWIN2X 6400C4 DDR2, 2048MB CL4, Kit

Creative Gigaworks Pro Gamer G500 THX (Sub, 5 monitors, amplifier)
Creative Gigaworks S750 , 7.1 THX (Sub,7 monitors,amplifier)
^ Couldn't decide which set to put on the list ^

Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro, 64MB, EAX ADVANCED HD

Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 2.13GHz

Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3200 Laser, mouse/keyboard, USB/PS2, UK

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Eng OEM DVD 64bit

Plextor DVD±RW burner, PX-800A, 18x, 8x Dual, Black OEM

Tagan 2force 480W, Dual Fan, 4xSATA, ATX/EPS, SLI, 20/24pin

Thermaltake Mozart SX w/medialab & VFD, slim, aluminium front

Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA2 16MB 7200RPM

I would really like some comments, suggestions or changes/improvements that could be made. I'll be getting it from this website Link (http://www.komplett.ie/k/k.aspx)

[LandShark]

again, what you trying to do or want from it?? (that makes a difference in component choose!)

looks like you are using it more like a bedroom/main rig + HTPC function?? no?? and what are you connecting to? a PC monitor? HDTV? those Gigawork is a fine "desktop" speaker setup (and that's why lead me to believe it's a main PC + HTPC function), but certainly not a "real" home theater setup.

[emceepecks]

Although all that power is always welcome, it's a little much for a HTPC. You could definitely save some money by going with different components

[the_cultie]

Thanks for the input, exactly what I wanted. The HTPC is for the living room for watching tv, movies etc so going to be hooked up to a HDTV. Also, I just noticed that I never looked about a TV tuner card :bang head. So what hardware, tv tuner card and speakers would you suggest for "a "real" home theater setup". I want it to be fairly good. Also, anyone any experience with the above case or could you suggest something better?

[the_cultie]

I've been having another look around and for a start I've decided to change the case, going for the Antec Fusion HTPC case and it includes a 430W PSU. It's cheaper than the Thermaltake case and I've more money saved with it having the PSU included. Also, changing the CPU for an E4300. As for a TV tuner card, would the Hauppauge! WinTV-HVR4000, Hybrid Card be a good one? It handles Analogue (which we are still using in Ireland :(), Satellite and Terrestrial Digital signals.

[wnnbgwrrr]

The Antec Fusion is a really nice case as long as you prepared for its limitations: only micro ATX boards, 2 hardrives (3 if you put one in the second 5.25 bay), and clearance issues with a lot of aftermarket CPU coolers. The Fusion's PSU should be more than adequate for what you're proposing here. Should is the operative word here, sometimes Antec bundles good PSUs and sometimes they bundle medicore PSUs and it would behoove you to know the difference. I personally own the Antec NSK2400 and use the bundled 380W PSU to power my system (see sig.) but also recently verified that it is "one of the good ones" so I'm not worried about it. As far as tuner cards go I use a Theater 550 Pro tuner card which I like a lot. It is only a single tuner card though and I believe that it is not as widely supported as some other cards (not that it should be an issue if your using the media center functionality included with Vista.) But there is not an overwhelming number of quality tuner cards on the market let us know what exactly you're looking (single/dual tuner - analog/digital) for in a tuner card and I'm sure someone here will make a good recommendation. I'm not sure I would recommend any set of computer speakers for an HTPC application and I certainly wouldn't recommend a Creative sound card. In my case neither a sound card or speakers were necessary I use the optical out on my integrated sound and run it to my receiver. Hope that helps.