[WaterFowl]

Hello all, I am going to make a htpc to use with my projector. Here is what I'll be using, please make suggests and/or comments.

Specs are:

Nforce4 SLI chipset
3.0 HT LGA775
Microsoft Windows Media Center 2005
1GB memory
250GB SATA Hard drive
Nvidia 7800GTX graphics
CDRW
DVDRW
Thermaltake Home Theater Case
Lumenlab projector (future)
Hauppauge PVR-150MCE
Dvico FusionHDTV5 Gold Plus
X-mystique
Westinghouse 27" Widescreen HD-Ready Flat-Panel LCD TV with DVI and PC Inputs


Edit: removed info since it has been updated so much I don't know where to change it.

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 03 September 2005 - 10:50 PM

[scubasteve2365]

May I make one small recomendation ....

the creative sound card may do this as well ... but the chaintech is still cheaper ...

Pick up a Chaintech 710A (is the model number, if I remember correcly)

Its optical out is a simple pass through, meaning the card does no processing, and the signal is pulled straight off the DVD onto your reciever ....

[WaterFowl]

Couldn't find anything on a 710A...but I'm pretty sure you mean this. Thanks A LOT for the suggestion, I'm going to use that instead of the Creative.

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 02 July 2005 - 05:26 AM

[SIMJEDI]

What's your motherboard? If it is "dual channel" capable you want two sticks of memory of equal size to utilize it. Speaking of memory take a look at some CORSAIR ValueSelect , it's way better than Crucial memory.


peace

This post has been edited by SIMJEDI: 03 July 2005 - 03:57 AM

[WaterFowl]

I will check that out, I was looking for two sticks of 512 MB.

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 03 July 2005 - 03:57 PM

[tecmec]

SIMJEDI, on Jul 2 2005, 09:53 PM, said:

What's your motherboard? If it is "dual channel" capable you want two sticks of memory of equal size to utilize it. Speaking of memory take a look at some CORSAIR ValueSelect , it's way better than Crucial memory.


peace

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Man, I know, all I ever buy is Corsair memory. I've never had a problem yet . And yeah, if you dont need all the fancy LEDs and what not, ValueSelect is great! I'm running some right now

[mantis]

I go t my pvr-150 for $62 shipped. I will try to find the name of the site.

[jmrguy]

Why are you putting a 56k modem on your htpc? If you absolutely need a modem, you can find them MUCH cheaper (probably free after rebate) from most computer stores.

[WaterFowl]

Well, I need one for internet....why? Is there a different one for cable internet? I mean I have that external modem that comes with the cable, but will I need a different modem to connect the external modem?

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 12 July 2005 - 04:22 PM

[Dweezilkid]

You'll need an ethernet card, but not a traditional "faxmodem" unless you need to dial up through the phone lines.

I like the look of that case. I've switched over to the Athlon 64 / Mushkin memory camp myself, but it looks like you've got the start of a great machine!

[WaterFowl]

Thanks for the input guys, I'll be going with the D-link ethernet card.

[WaterFowl]

I was looking at the memory, what does cas latency mean? The memories I was looking at were CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail and CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail The first has a cas latency of 3, the second 2.5. And about 8 dollars difference.

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 16 July 2005 - 05:55 AM

[pagercam]

WaterFowl, on Jul 15 2005, 10:45 PM, said:

I was looking at the memory, what does cas latency mean? The memories I was looking at were CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail and CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail The first has a cas latency of 3, the second 2.5. And about 8 dollars difference.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well its all a bit complicated but I'll try a quick explaination. DRAM (Dynamic RAM) is addressed as rows and columns in a big matrix of storage cells much line a spreedsheet so you need to provide a row and column address to access any memory location . To save wires, the processor first provides the row address and then the column address on the same lines, the chip has to setup the addresses so speed isn't an issue. So first the DRAM chip selects the row and powers it up, and then the column address is provided to select the one address that you are interested in. This is known as the Column Address Strobe (CAS). It now takes time for this memory value to get from the inside of the chip to the pins to get read by the processor. If it takes 3 cycles to get out of the chip its CAS 3, if it can do it faster in 2.5 cycles then its a CAS 2.5 chip. Running the chips with a faster clock means that at one speed the data can get there in 2.5 cycles but as the cycles are shorter it takes 3 cycles at a faster speed. So you need to look at the speed 333MHz or 400MHz that the memory is designed for and combine that with the CAS timing 2.5 will always work with a system expecting 3, but it doesn't work the other way arround but if your system is designed for 3 cycle 2.5 isn't any help so you might as well go for the cheaper memory. Many systems today can select the memory speed so it will probably work either way and the 2.5 will be faster, not by that much as its only a half cycle every burst but a bit faster.

[WaterFowl]

That's very helpful, pagercam. I'll go with the cheaper memory then. Thanks for your help.

[WaterFowl]

Does have any recommendations on video cards? I want VGA and DVI on it. I've been thinking about this one.

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 16 July 2005 - 07:16 PM

[GadgetSmith]

WaterFowl, on Jul 16 2005, 12:36 PM, said:

Does have any recommendations on video cards? I want VGA and DVI on it. I've been thinking about this one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you're a die-hard gamer, then this might be the ticket ($$). But, if your mostly into just DVD's and piping your xbox, ps2, etc... into your PJ, there are plenty of other cards out there that are MUCH less expensive that will do just fine.

[Dweezilkid]

I'm very happy with my Leadtek Geforce 6600GT. It's got VGA+DVI plus a breakout box for component video out. Does just about everything but make me a cup of cocoa.

Mmmm.... cocoa...

[WaterFowl]

GadgetSmith, on Jul 20 2005, 08:09 AM, said:

WaterFowl, on Jul 16 2005, 12:36 PM, said:

Does have any recommendations on video cards? I want VGA and DVI on it. I've been thinking about this one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you're a die-hard gamer, then this might be the ticket ($$). But, if your mostly into just DVD's and piping your xbox, ps2, etc... into your PJ, there are plenty of other cards out there that are MUCH less expensive that will do just fine.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm, I don't game much, I just want to watch dvds or maybe plug in a ps2. I want DVI, though, but I'm scared that the CMV CT-520D won't work with it. So in summary, I want a cheap card that has DVI that will work with my CMV CT-520D, which'll be used to watch DVDs and maybe play some PS2.

[GadgetSmith]

I've used the ATI Radeon 9000 Pro and the ATI Radeon 9550 with the CMV-520D successfully, but I would think just about any card with a DVI will run the CMV in it's native 1024x768, 60Hz resolution. With the 9550, i used an older version of the cataylst drivers (v5.1) so that it will work with the powerstrip program. The Radeon chips are used by a number of different manufacturers, but I usually stick with the ATI branded stuff, although i've used the PowerColor cards with the Radeon chips before and have had no problem.

Good luck.
gs

[WaterFowl]

Cool, so I'm guessing the 9550 is better? I found them both for around $50.

[WaterFowl]

Also, does anyone have any recommendation on what motherboard to use with my list and processor?

[GadgetSmith]

WaterFowl, on Jul 21 2005, 10:42 PM, said:

Cool, so I'm guessing the 9550 is better? I found them both for around $50.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not sure about "better", but it is the "newer" version. Both have worked fine for me and I couldn't say one was better than the other.

At $50, they are probably not an original ATI card, but perhaps another manufacturer using the Radeon chips ?

[WaterFowl]

http://www.ecost.com...ail.asp...email,EWBYAHOO1

[WaterFowl]

Yech, you're right. I found a dozen weird brands.

[WaterFowl]

Here's the one I'm planning to buy, if there are no other cards that work with the 520D.

This post has been edited by WaterFowl: 22 July 2005 - 03:30 AM