So currently I have the following in my HTPC:
MSI E350-IA45 board+cpu (amd brazos)
4GB corsair xms ddr3
500GB seagate 7200rpm drive
Antec ISK 310 case with 150W antec flex atx psu
Samsung slim dvd burner
Win 7 Pro
This does the job really well for watching HD movies on my TV. Hardly consumes any power and is very very stable - have never encountered even one crash till date.
However the upgrade itch is acting up and am thinking of getting a mini itx h67 + core i3 2100(or 2100T if available?), another 4GB and a low profile NVIDIA GT440 and a slim bluray drive.
I'm wondering if it is really worth it.
Primarily, I'd want to watch movies - 3d compatibility would be great - I might get a proper 3D DLP projector sometime this year. I'd also want to use madVR + lav cuvid to get the best possible image quality.
Another use would be to back up my blurays onto my media server using a bluray drive. I have a PS3 but if I can play bluray backups using the PC, I'd rather do that.
Now here are the basic restrictions
Motherboard *has* to be mini itx since the case is mini itx. As a result thermals are super important - so automatically rules out all AMD options.
Also everything has to be accommodated within a 150W power envelope, ideally within 100W since the power supply is only capable of that.
Also the graphics card has to be low profile, since the case only supports low profile cards.
Suggestions welcome.
MSI E350-IA45 board+cpu (amd brazos)
4GB corsair xms ddr3
500GB seagate 7200rpm drive
Antec ISK 310 case with 150W antec flex atx psu
Samsung slim dvd burner
Win 7 Pro
This does the job really well for watching HD movies on my TV. Hardly consumes any power and is very very stable - have never encountered even one crash till date.
However the upgrade itch is acting up and am thinking of getting a mini itx h67 + core i3 2100(or 2100T if available?), another 4GB and a low profile NVIDIA GT440 and a slim bluray drive.
I'm wondering if it is really worth it.
Primarily, I'd want to watch movies - 3d compatibility would be great - I might get a proper 3D DLP projector sometime this year. I'd also want to use madVR + lav cuvid to get the best possible image quality.
Another use would be to back up my blurays onto my media server using a bluray drive. I have a PS3 but if I can play bluray backups using the PC, I'd rather do that.
Now here are the basic restrictions
Motherboard *has* to be mini itx since the case is mini itx. As a result thermals are super important - so automatically rules out all AMD options.
Also everything has to be accommodated within a 150W power envelope, ideally within 100W since the power supply is only capable of that.
Also the graphics card has to be low profile, since the case only supports low profile cards.
Suggestions welcome.