how much total damage ?
not sure about K400, K800 user here. most of logitech product should not disappointed you. if you want portable control, how about those airmouse remote control with kybd in 1?

yes, may cut the DVD drive off if not required. I already long time never insert any disc media in my BD-RE drive. just used for install windows 8 recently. hahah...

yes, i3 are enough for the usage as you stated. higher end of processor is helping in heavily calculate computing software, 1 of example: maybe in future you want to convert or rib the video, then you need quad core i5/i7 to do the task in better way. ASRock is also famous brand bro, for those looking for budget mb. ASRock is owned by Pegatron, and Pegatron subsidiary of its then parent company which is ASUS.

intel build in not sure, but amd build in confirm smooth like butter.

refer back your question is asking:"is built in audio and vga. is it able to play the bluray movies without lag?" So my answer is AMD build in video/audio are perfect! I never try Intel Desktop build in video/audio (my previous i5 rig dun have build in video feature), but my notebook intel build in video playback are terrible!!

you have to understand, which part of processor you want to compare between Intel & AMD? CPU or GPU inside from processor? since this HTPC thread, I assume all of us not heavily CPU hungry but more concern on video playback or graphics performance. let me list down some processor your for reference:


i3-3220 [GPU: Intel® HD Graphics 2500]
i5-3470 [GPU: Intel® HD Graphics 2500]
i5-3570 [GPU: Intel® HD Graphics 2500]

vs

A6 5400K [GPU: HD7540D]
A8 5600K [GPU: HD7560D]
A10 5800K [GPU: HD7660D]


you can do some research or google, how good is Intel HD2500 vs. AMD HD7540D. you will know better.

This post has been edited by djlah: Jan 18 2013, 11:06 AM

My vote is AMD APU. perfect for HTPC.

since you confirm not using build in video but add in discrete HD7750 card, you can ignore AMD APU. not worth as your HD7750 do all the video job but APU build in video are forever disable.

i3-3220 RM344
while APU more expensive. not worth. unless other AMD CPU without video like FX4100, which is quite close in pricing of i3. your call.

yes, since your heart on i3. suggest you stick on your plan: i3 + HD7750 card

I just sharing my experience, previously I'm in i5 with 4850 then downgrade to 5670. not really have time on gaming nowadays. but torrent 24/7 & movie/video playback is main task but discrete card usually take more power, meant increase your electricity bill if 24/7 on (windows power options not really help). so I decide to move to AMD APU, less power when downloading or lower power consumption (if compare discrete) for basic task and even HD playback. for high performance task like gaming, then only turn on dual graphics (hybrid crossfire) with 6670 add on card when needed.

This post has been edited by djlah: Jan 18 2013, 12:28 PM

then need to know next is intel haswell, graphic is GT2 & GT3.

which logitech wireless kbyd you get? with mouse?
your TP-Link wireless adapter which model? USB external or internal PCIe?

I'm using TL-WDN4800 in Windows 8. no driver issue. working perfectly. although I'm using win8 but ignore metroUI. just install 3rd party app called StartMenu8. stick on traditional classics desktop like using win7. the best thing is, win8 booting and shutting down are faster.

where is your htpc photo ?

oic. maybe some of PCI older wireless card might not supported in win8 (may try contact TP-Link TechSupport for enquiry). mine is PICe newer model, win8 auto-detect n install. I don't need to do anything.

if most of your hardware not supported, then you might consider switch back win7. for me, all my peripheral or component supported. I will stay in Win8. another reason for me is my touch screen monitor. touch is improved in win 8 even in classic UI. waiting for lenovo wireless touch screen monitor in Q2.

I'm using KLite Mega Codec here too in Win 8, working perfectly. n I don't gaming nowadays, not sure.

as I understand, only can burn iso image and mount it. I can't find any way in win8 to create an iso like using nero.

if not mistaken, the slim drive not included. double check with dealer then..
FT03, nice!!! I like the mb vertical mount design. other model with same design like raven, but this is more space saving friendly (okay I know, there is mini FT03 version, but seem like too limit). size comparison between raven:



This post has been edited by djlah: Jan 21 2013, 12:43 PM

ok, summarize your requirement and narrow down the choice for you.


Objective: HTPC + gaming + torrent 24/7
Intel Solution: definitely you need to add discrete graphics card as i3 onboard sukc a big time when gaming. so higher power consumption when combine of i3+gfx than AMD APU alone for sure.
AMD Solution: AMD APU without adding discrete graphics card, still better in balance of Power vs. Performance. not suitable if you're hardcore gamer. light gaming are fine.

no comment if you want to use only i3 without gfx, then of course is less power, but you have to sacrificed gaming performance.

that's great. you already know what you want. next, how small htpc you want to build? mATX or miniITX ?

not commonly available but not too hardly found too, check this:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1022637
RM100

for 3D, hdmi 1.4 is only way. how you plan to connect htpc to your home theater? while no hdmi in?

I'm not asking hdmi port in general. please take note, hdmi input and output are different. there is no 2 way hdmi 1.3 communicate as u replied above <---hdmi--->

now I know your connectivity plan in details. TV usually don't support very good audio. meant when 7.1 good audio from htpc to tv, the source will downgrade to 2.0. I did not check your tv spec, but usually is only hdmi in. output mostly is rca or optical only.

you won't enjoy true 7.1/5.1 sound on your home theater, the best is upmix 2.0 input to 5.1 sound output. you lost the origin sound from mkv movie, or dobly truehd or dts-hdma.

the best connection is htpc -> hdmi -> home theater -> hdmi -> tv. but I had check your model PLP-HTS3582 don't have hdmi in, only hdmi output to tv. (that's common limitation of HTiB)

2 option for you:
1. change new AVR with hdmi input.
2. buy optical cable to connect from htpc to home theater (at least you can get 5.1 sound) htpc hdmi to tv for video.

hdmi 1.4 easily found on all recent graphic card, no worries.

This post has been edited by djlah: Jan 27 2013, 10:22 AM

if you haven't buy any home theater, tell us your budget. if limited budget, may start with Yamaha entry level avr or second hand, pair of bookself speaker and cable, add on other speakers if budget still available, can upgrade in future too. for me, always not recommended HTiB, with similar same cost, can consider example setup mentioned.

This post has been edited by djlah: Jan 27 2013, 07:47 PM

sorry for off topic, htpc thread but a little bit on ht.

5 channel onkyo speakers RM100
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1460010

onkyo TX-SR313 RM1.8K, or
yamaha 573 RM1.6K or add on get 673
the best is ask here, http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1168880

ur budget RM2000 only can fit these without sub-woofer. 1 last thing, if your room too big, also need to add more budget.

bluray can add into htpc, cheaper than regular player.

This post has been edited by djlah: Jan 27 2013, 09:15 PM

no, that's worse move. 2.0 or 2.1 is good for music. this is about HTPC thread and for movie, at least 5.1 and 7.1 will be great if got budget. Second, for movie, AVR > sound card. add BD drive into htpc is OK. as per previous replied, that's already a good starters speakers and avr. if you still insist for pc speakers, ask here: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2504789

I'm sure got ppl setup Gaming HTPC too.
HTPC doesn't meant must be a very small chassis. HTPC can be ITX, mATX or ATX form. ventilation is depend....
even SFF nowsaday can handled hard core game, very famous example: BitFenix Prodigy, it's water cooled friendly design. I'm using SFF with mATX mobo in 24/7 running previously, no issue.