Interesting soundcard.

This is not manufactured from Creative actually. The company is called Auzentech.

here's the Link to this product.

Sounds very interesting to me too.

ganaz-x, nice set up with your htpc.

have you tried to connect audio digital out via the mobo digital output to your AV amp before? You seems to have separate audio card and video card on top of the rather capable mobo for htpc.

If you did, how does it sounds like?

Hi there, I also jump into the HTPC bandwagon. But as a new comer to this stuff, I may need some help from you guys from time to time. Here's my item list:

1. Casing : Cooler Master Elite 360
2. Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-US2H
3. Chip: Phenom II 2x 550 Black Edition
4. PSU: Icute 450W normal ATX unit with two small fans.
5. Ram: Kingston DDR3 value RAM 2G x2
6. Hardisk: WD SATA 760GB
7. LG Bluray Burner as reader and burner, from lowyat seller here. Compatibility remained unknown.

I am thinking of just installing Window XP with media centre as its OS. The function is to link the onboard Digital Toslink to my existing AV Amp. GC will be the usual 785 mobo Radean ATI 4200 version, nothing additional will be added.

Aim: to make the cpu as quiet as possible. So the idea of iCute PSU that comes with 2 small fans sounds contradictory. But anyway I have acquired the item, and will let you all know about the noise level.

Another way is to reduce the fan noise of the chip itself. One way is to actually underclock the chip ! Has anyone done that before?

This Black edition is actually famous for its inherent quad design, but only Duo chips are activated !! So some has the technique and method to unlock the duo chip to Quad ! For me, since it is flexible to start off with, I may actually underclock to gain lower temperature. Any one can comment on this?

Other query is about window XP. How good issit to use it to run HTPC? Is there anything in software that I should be worry about ?

Finally can win XP 32 bit make full use of 4GB Ram totally? I know the limit is 4GB, but is that so?

Thanks.

Thanks for the headups stan.

I think generally bigger fan eg. 12cm diameter spin slower, so quieter.

There are a few online that uses NO FAN in their set up, just by using quiet chip eg. the sempron, or clocked down phenom, with only heatsinks! Airy chassis, and more than enough RAM.

I remember someone mentioned that in fact, Athron rans hotter than Phenom, due to higher efficiency of the new chip. But I can't remember the source now.

In fact, it is possible to reduce fan noise to the minimal with NO Fan installed.

It was also mentioned that, water cooled is quieter than fan cooled. So perhaps some of you maybe interested to switch to that option.

Sorry a question for the user of MA785gmt-us2b, as it is just my first cpu build in my entire life, I just want to know that if this mother board require to plug in TWO power connector to the Mobo? The 2x12 and 2x4 ?

Sorry a noob question. Any answer will be greatly appreciated.

The board comes with 8 pins in 2x4 config, it also comes with 2x12 pin connectors. I always thought only 2x12 power connection is rquired. My PSU comes with that, but only got one 2x2 pin connector, not two. So it seems that I will have to get a 4pin to 2x2 pin convertor, to make up a combined 2x4 pin.

I read something online also about it. But just not sure why my psu does not come with one. Thats why I ask as if it is not necessary to have one by default.

Stan, thanks for your help. I went to the shop and asked if they have any 4 pin to 2x2 pin conversion cable. There is none. But I didn't ask about the 2x2 to 2x4 pin conversion cable.

I will go and try to plug in half of the 2x4 pin tonight with the existing 2x2 connector. If it boots, I think that should do for now.

___

kerjaluar,

I am using a Cooler Master Elite 360 for my HTPC set up. Strictly speaking, it can only hold one HDD, but it comes with 2 optical disc player. If you can find an adaptor that hold HDD into optical disc player slot, u can consider this chassis. I find it quite good, and for only about RM120 without PSU.

And don't forget to get a PSU that has connectors you need in ur mobo.

Just to update:

I manage to turn on the mobo by plugging in half of the 2x4 cpu power cable. Guess its ok for now, until one day i want to upgrade the GC.

Installed XP home, will install in more free stuff later.

Stan, I am also not an electrician. As I said I am a noob in this. But from what i learn and as you have said, using 4 pin to connect to an 8 pin socket does work for less power hungry system.

For now thats enough for me.

And I also hunt for a wireless keyboard and mouse too.

One of my short listed Htpc casing is the Antec 2480, well designed, sleak, low profile, with silvery aluminum facie. But the budget did not allow me Perhaps others might be interested.

One of the forumner sell this model as well. Go search for it.

Thanks for the feedback, stan. Will watch out for the bluetooth keyboard and mouse thingy. I almost wanted to buy that RM120 3 ft range stuff indeed !! Luckily I didn't.

Thanks for the link. Stan. After reading thru and config that myself last night, i manage to use the software effectively.

In summary, I have manage to set up the HTPC, along with the free XBMC running in win XP home edition 32bit.

As they have said, XBMC installed all their necessary codec in their own folder for their own use, so no need to install other codec eg. K-lite etc. I have not tried the mkv files etc.. donno where to download them (someone can give some hints? )

I also installed cyberlink PowerDVD to watch Bluray from the disc. Very useful. As for all other Noob like me, all those Media centre softwares, be it XBMC, microsoft media centre etc.. they CANNOT watch bluray disc by default, due mostly to paranoid film companies about potential piracy etc. So as far as I know, one will need to install PowerDVD or latest version of WinDVD to watch the bluray from the actual disc.

I think only the latest PowerDVD version 9 can decode and output lossless HD sound from the source and transfer to HDMI depending on the hardware one use. But someone in the know pls correct my statement if it is not true.

Other file format can largely be viewed by XBMC or media centre.

I am still waiting for my Toslink cable and HDMI from monoprice to complete my project. So far I use vga cable and small speaker output cable to connect to AV Amp. Even then I was quite impressed with the video output already.

Prasys, using tV card to record tv show, how good is the picture quality ?

And I forgot to add, to play bluray disc, BOTH Graphic Card and the Monitor have to be HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ready.

So far even the mobo integrated graphic card such as the ATI 4200 is also HDCP ready to enable bluray disc play back.

From what I know, atom processor is seriously slow. In fact it was rated to be even slower than the sempron.

Nonetheless, for HD playback and htpc usage, it is enough.

So for that price of the mobo as mentioned by Sil3nthunt3r, its probably better to get something bigger such as the MiniATX mobo that comes with GC and all the digital output u can think of. Then just get a sempron processor with 2G Ram. It will do very well already.

Btw, if you opt to have audio analogue output from the mobo, u can think of getting the Asus 785 HTPC/RC model, which has RCA audio output built-in ! Other 785 Mobo has only small audio output connector, which I think may not give the best sound quality. Both mobo will come with digital output adaptor if u want to use ur existing AV Amp.

I got my Gigabyte GA-MA785gmt-us2h for RM320+.

Jags, saw ur new thread just now.

I also have the similar budget initially, but ended up spending about 1.7k !!

My take on ur budget is this:

1. go for new Mobo, which can be around RM350-400
2. Go for new hardisk, so 500G is about what? RM250? or less
3. go for used Ram, 2G DDR2 will do, can get it cheap, just hunting around here at lowyat.
4. Casing, i think al-cheapo will do. If not it will cost u at around RM120-300.
5. Linux is free. Good for u. Other than Ubuntu, have u heard of GeeXboX ? Click HERE .
6. Cable, no joke, this can be costly also. Budget about RM50 for digital co-axial, or RCA
7. keyboard, mouse, remote control etc... used items are around RM100.

So total can be RM1000.

Answer is yes !

wait.. forgot about Optical drive !! Another RM140 for DVD drive or RW drive I think.


My budget is 1.7K, becos of my new Ram 4G DDR3, New hardisk 640GB, new bluray writer to play bluray at RM400. And cable at around RM200 actually ! Not all cables are for htpc, but i bought all of them in one go from Monoprice. Shipping actually kills, not the actual cables. I use integrated Graphic card and integrated soundcard. Which is more than enough.

If you go for mobo that comes with good integrated graphic card, ie, the 785 series for AMD which comes with ATI 4200, the mobo has tweak to cater for HD graphic processing. It is more than enough already.

I am using gigabyte MA785gmt-us2h with 4G (but my xp only recognises 3G), bluray runs smoothly with no jerks whatsoever.

---

Added on January 26, 2010, 11:45 amOh, i forgot to add in the processor !!!

What a stupid omission, sorry for that. That will cost another RM250-RM350, depending on what speed you wanted.

Looks like 1K limit is breached easily.

This post has been edited by peter32: Jan 26 2010, 11:45 AM

Here's my HTPC built. Nothing specific or special. Just a simple installation. But since this is my first attempt to build a cpu, I guess I just share the experience.

Read some entry above for the spec list.

Overview :


IO view:


Interior circuit & wires :


CPU power connector, note only 4 pins are connected. Without additional GC or soundcard, it still runs well.


Here's the items I used.


This post has been edited by peter32: Jan 26 2010, 09:31 PM

Stan, from my experience, I think one should buy the chassis FIRST, look at the air vent holes of the chassis, and only then go and source for the PSU. Tht way only we will know if the air vent design fits into the design of the PSU, esp its fan direction.

My Icute psu has a small top air entry hole, but the chassis has a large airvent. The location of the PSU air entry hole is not exactly at the centre of the chassis airvent hole.

But this chassis was designed to have exit air vent to be situated right in front, where the plastic front panel comes with proper airvent outlet right in front.

-----------

I managed to connect up the HDMI cable, and digital Toslink cable to the AV Amp last night.

Need to go to the gigabyte audio manager to make sure that the digital link is highlighted. And also need to go into config of that digital audio output to select audio quality (only the max 96kHz sampling rate). When I select highest sampling rate at 192kHz, there is no audio output.

Lastly, I only manage to get the sound output by turning my Amp digital line in from On to Off status, and back to On again. I guess they have to be triggered as well. Which is odd.

Watched bluray movie last night, the Amp auto select the movie input to DTS-es with full range sound across 5 channels. Not bad (btw, my old amp has no Lossless feature).

Sharing experience:

Almost all the three bluray playing softwares, ie. WinDVD 10, PowerDVD 9 and Totalmedia Theater 3, do NOT allow digital SPDif output if they are just a commercial Trial version.

I even have some problem for winDVD and PowerDVD to even read the Bluray discs with the commercial trials version. All bluray disc I tested are original American imports.

Just to share.

(I registered a full version of winDVD 10, immediately I can read the bluray disc with its full digital output in its full glory with no problem. )

Obviously I did not register other softwares since this WinDVD will be my only software for bluray playing.