Critique Please

[Smoker]

Greetings Folks

I am attempting my first HTPC and would really appreciate your citique of my choosen components.

I already have a case (mid-tower but will replace later), drives and a pvr-150.

Reason for a graphics card is that I want my output to the tv to be good, better than on-board tv-out.

So please take a look at my list and let me know your thoughts please.

Smoker's Component list

Smoker

[pastro]

Not sure which OS you are going to use, but you might consider the Hauppauge 1600 (not for win2k though). Instead of the 150Mce. There have been some deals lately for about the same price you are paying.

Unless I was getting a deal on the video card, I would wait and check out the onboard video. I think the 6150 supports DX9.

Also can the floppy drive!

[Smoker]

Not sure which OS you are going to use, but you might consider the Hauppauge 1600 (not for win2k though). Instead of the 150Mce. There have been some deals lately for about the same price you are paying.

Reason I wasn't looking at the 1600 is that from what I've heard there are some glitches getting it to work with GBPVR.

Unless I was getting a deal on the video card, I would wait and check out the onboard video. I think the 6150 supports DX9.

You have a point.... why not see what the on-board looks like and then I could always get a graphics card later if I am not happy with it.

Also can the floppy drive!

Yea i was thinking along the lines of when I build systems.

Some good catches there pastro

[pastro]

Reason I wasn't looking at the 1600 is that from what I've heard there are some glitches getting it to work with GBPVR.

I thought the analog portion of the 1600 wasn't causing trouble, only the ATSC side was causing some problems. If originally you were looking for an analog only card, the digital side issues would work themselves out by the time you were going to need it.

Also I took a look at the picture of the MB you are buying and it doesn't have svideo or composite out. Either get a different MB or get the video card.

EDIT: A reviewer said there was svideo out. It's not on the picture. Check the manufacturer's manual.
EDIT AGAIN: There is an Svideo TV connector that is separate. Bummer that it's supposed to be HD ready, and it doesn't have component out.

Also on the DVD drive, I know +R is supposed to be the most compatible but I have a player that only plays -R. Not sure where you are located, but where I'm at there is usually +-RW for about the same price.

[Smoker]

hmmmmm I'll have to go looking in the forums to see about that 1600.

Yes I've bought one for my daughters computer and it does have s-video out I believe.

As for the dvd drive I am not sure what you mean.

[pastro]

As for the dvd drive I am not sure what you mean.

I could have sworn that first time I looked at the list the drive was listed as a +R drive. Now it says +-R which is fine. I clicked on it and it is actually a +-RW also. I don't the quality of the Asus drive but it's probably fine.
Sounds like the power supply and the cpu cooler are fairly quiet. With a decent case sounds like a good HTPC system.

[Smoker]

Do you have another dvd burner in mind ?

[jim08127]

Do you have another dvd burner in mind ?

I like Sony's burners.

[pastro]

I use an external LG multi drive. It has worked very well.

Anyway for budget drives I think Lite-on and LG are usually good choices.
Plextor is probably the cadillac of all, but they are too expensive

Some Sony's are Lite-on OEM drives.

[rowle1jt]

Any reason for two processors?

I'd also think about a 512 x 2 for Ram instead of 256 x 2.

I have always used Lite-On DVD-RW's, they are about $30 and rarely have issues.

Lite-on makes a large percentage of the optical drives on the market, a lot of drives sold under different brand names are built by Lite-on. I just can't remember which ones off the top of my head.