HTPC updates

M

Muadebe

Active member
Hi,

When will the new ivy bridge cpu's (hoping they will) be added to the options?
Will any of the new 7000 series gpu's (specifically the 7850) be added to the available options?

I have a bit of time to wait yet and I've been going mad with all the different configurations available but in the next month or two I'll be in a position to place an order.

Thanks.
 
mantadog

mantadog

Superhero Level Poster
Are you dead set on a HTPC, or are you in a position to consider one of the other mini PC options?

At some point you will get the ivy bridge chips for these system, but i guess PCS will be working though their older stock first but if you plan to buy in a couple of months then it shouldn't be a problem by then. With regards to the GPU, i can't think why not as the case appears to support most of the older gen GPU's. Best to give them a call direct if you don't hear back on this thread in a couple of days just to double check and if possible they could add in a 7850 for you over the phone. I think it's probably because HTPC and mini PC's are a fairly small part of their business (as you might be able to tell from the Mini PC forum vs the other sections) so they are a bit slower at updating it vs the rest of the site.

If your not dead set on a HTPC and would consider a top spec mini PC, you can add a 7850 to that configurator so maybe have a look at that. If you post up a spec that you fancy along with your intended uses i can give you some feedback if you like.
 
M

Muadebe

Active member
Hi,

I need an HTPC as it needs to go under the TV.
I will use it for games (WoW, Diablo3, Guild wars 2), watching films, general use.

In a previous thread I was looking at either an i3 2120 or A8-3870k but ivy bridge would last longer.

Case - Zalman 501
Ram - 8gb
HDD - 500gb
Media - DVD

I was looking at the 6870, 6850 and gtx 550ti GPU's but that all depends on CPU tbh.
I am in two minds lower CPU with good GPU or good CPU with lower GPU.

Budget is as near to £650 max as possible.

Thanks.
 
mantadog

mantadog

Superhero Level Poster
Are you limited by space? Like you need to fit it on a shelf or something? If so then i understand, but it would be worth seeing if you can fit one of the top spec mini PC cases in the same space.

Anyway here is what i come up with for your needs.

Case
Zalman HD501 HTPC Case + 450W PSU
Processor (CPU)
AMD A8-3870K APU (3.0GHz, 4 Cores) & AMD Radeon™ HD 6550D Graphics This CPU will be enough to game on and will serve you well for general use too.
Motherboard
ASUS® F1A75-M: FM1 A-SERIES, SATA 6.0GB/s, USB 3.0
Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (2 X 4GB)
Graphics Card
1GB AMD RADEON™ HD6870 - 2 DVI,HDMI,2 mDP - DX® 11, Eyefinity 4 Capable This is a nice card, will play all the games you mention, not at absolute highest settings but it the best choice really.
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
750GB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD7502AAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm) If your looking for fast startups + quick loading of files and games then this is an ideal drive. If your not bothered about speed and would rather have a quiet drive then swap it for a caviar green. The green is a slower but quieter drive.
Sound Card
ONBOARD 10 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £650.00 including VAT and delivery.

Configure Here: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/computers/amd-htpc/
 
M

Muadebe

Active member
Hi,

Space is an issue -case needs to be 180mm or less.

Thanks for the suggestion, configured it and it came to £664 with the 6870 or £651 with the 6850.

So would you choose the A8-3870k over the i3 2120?

Thanks
 
M

Muadebe

Active member
Hi,

Quick configuration with :

Same as above but with an i5 2400, gtx 550t and standard 500gb drive came to £655.
 
mantadog

mantadog

Superhero Level Poster
For your budget an intel processor is probably out of reach, the AMD option is probably better anyway in my opinion as it has 4 cores where the i3 only has 2 physical cores. For gaming you will get better results with an AMD CPU and radeon GPU at you budget because although intel/Nvidia are faster at the top end of the market you can't beat AMD for value, which with your budget is all important.

Don't think your getting a 2nd rate system because you go for AMD over intel or can't fit in a Nvidia GPU, that's not the case. You are getting the best for your money with an AMD system that will perform better than an intel system for the same money.

I would stick with a 6870 if you can afford it, if not then a 6850 is also fine. No point in getting an i5 2400 and a GTX 550ti because it will be a worse system for gaming.
 
mantadog

mantadog

Superhero Level Poster
Overall when you are looking for an all rounder the 3870k will dominate the intel g860 because it has more cores. What that article appears to be looking at is gaming, i havn't got time to look right through it but i get that impression from it. Dual core is getting very old very quickly in gaming terms. The reason intel wins that battle is because clock for clock it is more efficient than the AMD offerings. If what your looking for is a pure gaming machine, then the intel option isn't a bad one and i will leave you to make up your mind, i would get the quadcore but the benchmarks show it depends on what game your playing as to which of the processors comes out ontop.
 
M

Muadebe

Active member
Hi,

I think I'll prob go with :



Case
Zalman HD501 HTPC Case + 450W PSU

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core G860 (3.00GHz, 3MB Cache) + HD Graphics

Motherboard
ASUS® P8H61-M LE/USB3 (NEW REV 3.0): M-ATX, USB 3.0, SATA 3.0Gb/s

Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (2 X 4GB)

Graphics Card
1GB AMD RADEON™ HD6870 - 2 DVI,HDMI,2 mDP - DX® 11, Eyefinity 4 Capable

Memory - 1st Hard Disk
750GB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD7502AAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM

Sound Card
ONBOARD 10 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs

USB Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE

Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
M

Muadebe

Active member
Hi,

Thought I'd share my finished specs that I will order hopefully next month :



Case
Zalman HD501 HTPC Case + 450W PSU

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-3450S (2.8GHz) 6MB Cache

Motherboard
ASUS® P8H61-M LE/USB3 (NEW REV 3.0): M-ATX, USB 3.0, SATA 3.0Gb/s

Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (2 X 4GB)

Graphics Card
1GB AMD RADEON™ HD7770 - DVI,HDMI,2 mDP - DX® 11, Eyefinity 4 Capable

Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB 3.5" SATA-III 6GB/s HDD 7200RPM 16MB CACHE

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM

Sound Card
ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs

USB Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 4 x USB 2.0 PORTS AS STANDARD

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence

Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE

Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days

I went with the better CPU instead of GPU as this (from research done) should provide better gaming when in 25 man Raids in WoW, multiplayer in Diablo 3 and World v World in Guild wars 2 - later down the line I will add a 7870 to this so it will fly.

Thanks

Edit : price £691.00
 
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