Mine:

- CPU: AMD Athlon64 X2 3800+
- Mobo: Biostar T-Force TF-560 (NForce560 board)
- VGA: Biostar V8402GL26 (GeForce 8400GS, 256MB RAM)
- RAM: 2GB Kingston ValueRAM in 4x512MB configurations (running dual channel)
- Sound: Well-loved SBLive! 5.1 for MIDI, Onboard RealTek ALC881 for HD audio
- Tuner: LiveView FlyDVB-T Duo TV card
- Additional cards: Sonnet Allegro Express FW400 Firewire (just there because the case has a firewire port and I didn't want to waste it)
- HDD: Seagate 250GB SATA2 hard disk
- Optical drives: Samsung DVD-ROM drive, Imation DVD+/-RW drive
- Speakers: SonicGear Enzo 4000 speakers
- PSU: Antec TruePower 2.0 480w
- Case: CoolerMaster CM-282 HTPC case with Media kit (lousy kit, VFD giving all sorts of problems with the provided iMon software, at the end using LCD Smartie with it)
- Display: Dell 24" Entry level 1920x1200 (good enough for me, dun need the pricey HDMI functions, and the monitor can do HDCP through DVI).
- Keyboard: Logitech EX-111 wireless
- Mouse: Logitech EX-111 wireless


This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: May 5 2008, 12:48 PM

Very interesting card. Major question is, tho, if HDMI input support 50Hz modes (i.e. 1080i50, 1080p50, 720p50). Because Astro B.yond is 50Hz box. Unless Astro can add an option to force 60Hz output.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Dec 31 2009, 10:35 PM

You forget about video card. For video card, go for one with video acceleration (i.e. NVidia PureVideo HD). And optical drive, assuming he wants to watch Blu-Ray, can cost RM250++ for just playback.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jan 26 2010, 11:55 AM

Closest I can get to is this, and it's not even MiniATX:

Viewnet:
MSI 770-C45 AM3 RM254
Samsung 1TB SATA RM259
AMD AthlonII 240 AM3 RM194

Jayacom:
MSI R3650 HDMI RM190

Cycom:
Kingston DDR3 1GBx4 RM85(x4)
Sony BDU-X10s RM225

CZone:
Standard ATX casing RM90

Total: RM1552.

Note that my choice comes up to like that due to a few of my archaic beliefs (i.e. mobo must be same brand and same chipset manufacturer as graphics card, at least one pair of RAM slots must populate to take advantage of dual-channel, better to populate all to prevent dust from going in.)

Edit: Forgot the CPU

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jan 26 2010, 12:05 PM

Try the DG45FC instead if you can find in Malaysia. According to Intel the D510MO already discontinued. DG45FC has built in HDMI port.

As for blu-ray drive, k. Just a recommendation. If you go for DVD-R drive even cheaper (Imation drive only around RM80 last I checked).

Sri Komputer also have and at roughly same price. I got mine from there.

Although the drive compatibility, well, put this way: not recommended for use with Biostar TF560A2+ board. I use this board on my HTPC and the bios sometimes hang and cannot recognize the drive... Although after upgrade the BIOS of both the drive and the mobo to latest version, the problem seem to have lessened and have stopped after a while.

Edit: specs take 2:

Startec:
DG45FC: RM439

Viewnet:
Intel C2D E7400: RM369
Samsung 1TB SATA: RM259

Jayacom:
2x Kingston DDR800 1GB @RM53ea: RM106

Total: RM1173, before DVD-ROM drive and case

Alternatively:

Startec:
DG45FC: RM439 (HDMI video + HD audio built in)

Viewnet:
Pentium D E5200: RM209
WD 500GB SATA2: RM159

Jayacom:
2x Kingston DDR800 512MB @RM36ea: RM72

Total: RM879, before DVD-ROM drive and case

Feel free to mix and match the components as needed. Also, this price is based on listing on main Lowyat.net page, you may find better bargains if you visit Low Yat Plaza yourself.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jan 26 2010, 06:16 PM

Quite an interesting build. I took the full-ATX path when I built mine tho. Used a CoolerMaster CM-282 case with the media kit (VFD + remote set). Motherboard I used a Biostar TF560A2+, video I used a Biostar V8402GL26. CPU I used Athlon64X2 3800+ Socket AM2. RAM I used 4 bars Kingston ValueRAM DDR2-800 512MB. Then I throw in a Firewire card for the firewire port on the case, and a LifeView FlyDVB-T Duo tuner card which was originally to be added to the gaming rig but canceled and then forgotten for a while after I got tired of waiting for x64 drivers. Also threw in a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 that came from the dead PC the HTPC is supposed to replace. It has two DVD-ROM drives: A Samsung ROM and a Imation burner. Hard disk is a Seagate 250GB. This build was commissioned and completed in 2007.

Over the years it has acquired a Blu-Ray drive (said Sony BDU-X10s) and the BlackMagic Intensity Pro. Currently all three drive bays are populated. Also have a floppy drive installed for BIOS upgrade and emergency recovery purposes.

Display used is a Dell E248WFP HD screen, sound is output using a SonicGear Enzo 4000 5.1 kit (frankly, it's crap. The subwoofer is dying, and it's only two years old. Not surprised, my SonicGear X251 kit for the gaming rig also died within two years). SonicGear is hooked up to the onboard RealTek HD chipset. Another pair of speakers, a cheap Genius 2.0 Speaker kit, is hooked up to the SBLive along with a cheap microphone from the dying PC it was meant to replace.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jan 27 2010, 03:21 AM

I think first question already answered by ganaz-x.

For second question, it's up to your budget. Typically discrete graphics and sound cards only make noticeable difference in the realm of 3D applications and professional audio respectively. For media center usually discrete or onboard doesn't make much difference. The important thing to watch out for when going with onboard is to make sure the graphics chipset can offload HD video acceleration from the CPU and that the sound chipset can support HD Audio spec (24-bit/96KHz 7.1 audio). Also, the chipset should support HDCP, Microsoft Protected Video Path and UAA DRM. This is especially true if you're planning to use Vista or 7 as your MCE OS platform. Most chipset nowadays (since 1-2 years ago) should support all these function with no problems at all.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jan 27 2010, 05:07 PM

HD Audio is just a marketing specification implemented by Intel

For a chipset to be certified HD Audio ready means that it must be able to perform at certain specs flawlessly (apparently 7.1 channels of32bit/192KHz audio) and have certrain features.

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/hdaudio.htm



This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Jan 28 2010, 01:15 PM