New Build, need some advice

[koroth]

1. I will be using this computer mainly as a HTPC to watch blu ray and browse the internet, may be some gaming, but nothing too intensive. If I ever have time to play the latest games, I will also have the money to build a dedicated gaming computer.

2. My ideal budget is about $700 pre tax and shipping.

3. Ideally I will buy everything in Canada.

4. I have always used Intel CPU's, although not for any specific reason but would prefer an intel. The last time I looked into building a system it seemed as though if you went Intel you also went nVidia for a GPU, but I don't have a preference between nVidia and ATI.

5. I will be reusing my current case, an nMedia 2000B, a RW blu-ray drive, and a PCI WiFi adapter. If it is capable of powering the end system I have a Corsair power supply, CX430 that I would also like to use.

6. I have been reading up on this for sometime, but need some specific help regarding the motherboard and video card as explained more below.

7. I have never done any over clocking; and would be wary of attempting to do so.

8. Initially this computer will be connected to an older TV with a resolution of 1366 X 768, but I would like to be capable of having a higher resolution.

9. I plan to build this system in late April, early May.

Currently my parts list that I need to purchase includes:

CPU: i5-2500
Motherboard: undecided as explained below
Video Card: undecided as explained below
RAM: 4GB (2 x 2GB); type to be decided
Hard drive: 1TB or an SSD dependent on cost of everything else

Now for a few questions regarding motherboards and video cards.

I want to be sure that the audio can be passed through the HDMI from a dedicated GPU. Is this a standard feature of most video cards? Also, if someone could recommend a card that would suit my needs it would be great, I am a little lost as to what to look for so if I can see the specs of one then I will know generally what to look for.

As for the motherboard, how do I go about taking advantage of the adapters like eSata, USB, and the multi card reader on the front of this case? I read somewhere that the card reader would plug into a USB connector on the motherboard. I can't imagine that this would be the same for the eSATA?

As a side note, I have a NAS box for video storage, therefore the hard drive is only going to be used for the OS and programs, although, I would like the capability on the motherboard to add new hard drives as there is plenty of room in the case.

Beyond this, any help or advice at all is greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much!

 

[mfenn]

You probably don't need an i5 2500 for a Blu-ray and light gaming box. I'd check out the i3 2100 instead.

Audio output via HDMI is a standard feature of all current and 1-previous generation GPUs. If your "nothing too intensive" gaming is mainly just casual and web based games, then the Sandy Bridge IGP is actually sufficient (it will also pass audio over HDMI). If not, something like a Radeon HD 5670 would probably be plenty. I can give you a more firm recommendation if you provide examples of the games that you will be playing.

As for the motherboard, it sounds like an H67 board is the way to go for you. Check out the MSI H67MA-E35 in particular. Regarding the front panel, the USB ports and card reader will plug into USB headers on the mobo (the H67MA-E35 has a bunch) and the eSATA port will pass through to a SATA port on the mobo (the H67MA-E35 has 6).

 

[koroth]

Thanks for the quick response mfenn.

I had originally been looking at the i3 with integrated graphics, until a recommendation from a service tech suggested the i5 should be a minimum for blu ray, although I wasn't entirely convinced. But I then read a review of the intel HD 3000 graphics which mentioned that, due to a difference in frame rates, judder can sometimes result during some scenes. It seemed like ~$150 on top of everything else would be worth while to ensure no problems during playback. Maybe less of an issue then the review made it seem...

As for games, the most recent example would be Starcraft II which I can play just fine on a 4 year old laptop. Of course my choice of games might open up to the likes of Crysis 2 if I got a computer capable of playing them all. Such is the curse of consistently spending just a little bit more to get a better system.

Thanks for the motherboard recommendation and answers, that all makes more sense now, and a little obvious too now that i read it over...

Thanks for your help.

 

[fffblackmage]

For ~$150 more, you could be getting a discrete graphics card instead, so you could get smooth blu-ray playback AND do a bit of gaming too.

 

[dma0991]

An AMD Llano processor would make a great compact HTPC but since it is not here yet so it is out of the question.

I agree with the others that you should get a discrete GC like the HD5670 instead as the Intel HD2000 is not exactly the best IGP especially if you intend to actually play games on it. To actually do some minor gaming it would be better to have a average CPU + average GPU than it is to have a great CPU + not so great GPU. All of the non K processors should be matched with a H67 boards to save cost over a P67 board with features that are not usable with a non K processor.

 

[koroth]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I think I am sold on an i5 with discrete graphics, the HD5670 looks good, it certainly has an attractive price point and good reviews. Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[mnewsham]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I think I am sold on an i5 with discrete graphics, the HD5670 looks good, it certainly has an attractive price point and good reviews. Thanks again for everyone's help!

The i3 is the same as the i5 if you are getting a GPU, wasting money.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the quick response mfenn.

I had originally been looking at the i3 with integrated graphics, until a recommendation from a service tech suggested the i5 should be a minimum for blu ray, although I wasn't entirely convinced. But I then read a review of the intel HD 3000 graphics which mentioned that, due to a difference in frame rates, judder can sometimes result during some scenes. It seemed like ~$150 on top of everything else would be worth while to ensure no problems during playback. Maybe less of an issue then the review made it seem...

As for games, the most recent example would be Starcraft II which I can play just fine on a 4 year old laptop. Of course my choice of games might open up to the likes of Crysis 2 if I got a computer capable of playing them all. Such is the curse of consistently spending just a little bit more to get a better system.

Thanks for the motherboard recommendation and answers, that all makes more sense now, and a little obvious too now that i read it over...

Thanks for your help.

The service tech that suggested that you need an i5 to do Blu-ray playback was, to put it lightly, full of shit. Hell, even an Atom can almost play back Blu-rays without acceleration. The i3 2100 is roughly 10 times faster than an Atom. I've not heard of any weirdness with the Intel HD graphics doing hardware accelerated Blu-ray playback, but like I said, the i3 2100 can do it completely in software if necessary.

Regarding the discrete GPU, if a 4 year old laptop can play SC2 acceptably for you, the HD 2000 in the i3 will be just fine. Sure, a discrete GPU would be faster, but why try to shoehorn gaming into the HTPC right now? If your gaming tastes do expand, you can always add a GPU later.

 

[Levantes]

Thanks for the quick response mfenn.

I had originally been looking at the i3 with integrated graphics, until a recommendation from a service tech suggested the i5 should be a minimum for blu ray, although I wasn't entirely convinced. But I then read a review of the intel HD 3000 graphics which mentioned that, due to a difference in frame rates, judder can sometimes result during some scenes. It seemed like ~$150 on top of everything else would be worth while to ensure no problems during playback. Maybe less of an issue then the review made it seem...

As for games, the most recent example would be Starcraft II which I can play just fine on a 4 year old laptop. Of course my choice of games might open up to the likes of Crysis 2 if I got a computer capable of playing them all. Such is the curse of consistently spending just a little bit more to get a better system.

Thanks for the motherboard recommendation and answers, that all makes more sense now, and a little obvious too now that i read it over...

Thanks for your help.

Here's an article that describes the frame-rate judder koroth mentioned, from dear, old anandtech.com. Paragraph 3: "How about 23.976 fps playback? Sorry guys, even raking in $11 billion a quarter doesn’t make you perfect."

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/7

Anand defines it as a hardware issue, so it likely remains extant.

I know the OP has since decided on a discrete 5670, but it might helpful for other readers.

 

[LxMxFxD4]

You probably don't need an i5 2500 for a Blu-ray and light gaming box. I'd check out the i3 2100 instead.

Audio output via HDMI is a standard feature of all current and 1-previous generation GPUs. If your "nothing too intensive" gaming is mainly just casual and web based games, then the Sandy Bridge IGP is actually sufficient (it will also pass audio over HDMI). If not, something like a Radeon HD 5670 would probably be plenty. I can give you a more firm recommendation if you provide examples of the games that you will be playing.

As for the motherboard, it sounds like an H67 board is the way to go for you. Check out the MSI H67MA-E35 in particular. Regarding the front panel, the USB ports and card reader will plug into USB headers on the mobo (the H67MA-E35 has a bunch) and the eSATA port will pass through to a SATA port on the mobo (the H67MA-E35 has 6).

mfenn has it pretty right. Bluray will play on, I kid you not, a single core sempron. I used to play Action movies (big bandwidth scenes) on my x2 3800+ without cpus even noticing.

If you want a quiet HTPC and discrete graphics, look at reviews first. Integrated graphics will certainly play blu-ray, but for light gaming find the quietest 5750 which run under $100 now. The i3 or any 1st gen iCore cpu will crush blu-ray and will save you mega cash.

 

[mfenn]

Here's an article that describes the frame-rate judder koroth mentioned, from dear, old anandtech.com. Paragraph 3: "How about 23.976 fps playback? Sorry guys, even raking in $11 billion a quarter doesn’t make you perfect."

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/7

Anand defines it as a hardware issue, so it likely remains extant.

I know the OP has since decided on a discrete 5670, but it might helpful for other readers.

That's only if you have a high-end TV that can accept between 23.976 or 24FPS signals. The OP didn't mention such, and so I doubt it will affect him.