Robmoo
09-07-08, 09:29 PM
I pulled the trigger and order the parts to build my first HTPC/media server.
Here are the parts:
Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive x2
AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe MCE ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner Card w/MCE Remote & L-P Bracket 7 95522 96066 5 PCI-Express x1 Interface
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front panel, 0.8 mm SECC body SST-LC17-B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case (room for 6 HD's!)
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 Brisbane 2.3GHz Socket AM2 Dual-Core Processor Model ADH2400IAA5DO (Slick Deal $25 shipped)
LG Black LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20LK
I already have 4GB of Ballistics tracer pc6400 and an Antec Earthwatts 380watt psu.
Will a 939 socket cpu cooler fit the AM2 socket cpu? I have an old Thermaltake Silent cooler I'd like to use.
I've seen a recommendation to partition the HD and install the operating system on the one partition so I can wipe the operating system if needed without destroying my media. I have a 75 GB Raptor sitting around that I may use instead of partitioning the drive. I went with a 2.3 GHz cpu instead of the 2.5GHz Brisbane to save $50. I don't think I'll miss the .2 GHz. If it does make a difference perhaps I can OC my 2.3 to 2.5 GHz.
Is anyone working with a similar setup?
Does anyone have any software recommendations? I have a Windows Ultimate edition that I'll be installing. I plan on using this HTPC to PVR HD broadcasts, to play movies, to play music, and store all of my media and pictures. I may use it to back up my DVD's and any Blu-Ray disks I buy. With a 2.3 GHz CPU I imagine it will take a long time to back up a Blu-Ray disk. My old 939 socket 4800+ x2 does a DVD in about 20 minutes so this PC shouldn't take much longer. I'm not planning on trying to use this to replace my DirecTV TiVo if that is even possible at this point.
I've bought DVDFab platinum.
What is the best way to store DVD's on a HD? I've heard of programs that will play a DVD from an ISO file.
I've heard Beyond TV and Meedio are good. What is working well for you?
Thank you! I appreciate any help I can get!
Here are the parts:
Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive x2
AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe MCE ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner Card w/MCE Remote & L-P Bracket 7 95522 96066 5 PCI-Express x1 Interface
GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front panel, 0.8 mm SECC body SST-LC17-B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case (room for 6 HD's!)
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 Brisbane 2.3GHz Socket AM2 Dual-Core Processor Model ADH2400IAA5DO (Slick Deal $25 shipped)
LG Black LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20LK
I already have 4GB of Ballistics tracer pc6400 and an Antec Earthwatts 380watt psu.
Will a 939 socket cpu cooler fit the AM2 socket cpu? I have an old Thermaltake Silent cooler I'd like to use.
I've seen a recommendation to partition the HD and install the operating system on the one partition so I can wipe the operating system if needed without destroying my media. I have a 75 GB Raptor sitting around that I may use instead of partitioning the drive. I went with a 2.3 GHz cpu instead of the 2.5GHz Brisbane to save $50. I don't think I'll miss the .2 GHz. If it does make a difference perhaps I can OC my 2.3 to 2.5 GHz.
Is anyone working with a similar setup?
Does anyone have any software recommendations? I have a Windows Ultimate edition that I'll be installing. I plan on using this HTPC to PVR HD broadcasts, to play movies, to play music, and store all of my media and pictures. I may use it to back up my DVD's and any Blu-Ray disks I buy. With a 2.3 GHz CPU I imagine it will take a long time to back up a Blu-Ray disk. My old 939 socket 4800+ x2 does a DVD in about 20 minutes so this PC shouldn't take much longer. I'm not planning on trying to use this to replace my DirecTV TiVo if that is even possible at this point.
I've bought DVDFab platinum.
What is the best way to store DVD's on a HD? I've heard of programs that will play a DVD from an ISO file.
I've heard Beyond TV and Meedio are good. What is working well for you?
Thank you! I appreciate any help I can get!