HTPC + Gaming rig upgrade

[fistea]

Have an old desktop rig connected to my 32" as a gaming +HTPC @ 1080p resolution via vga and 3.5mm cable.
Its quite old now (original setup in Dec 07) and I want to upgrade it. I have the old monitor and wired keyboard/mouse which i use sparingly with my laptop. I have gone through the recent threads on upgrades/fresh builds, wanted some more inputs.

I have a call to take between selling/giving away the rig and building a fresh one or cannibalizing the existing dabba.
and keeping the monitor/keyboard/mouse

Primary use would be as a HTPC and as a gaming rig with the TV with the wireless keyboard/mouse.
Im in Mumbai. This will probably be the last upgrade to the system.

1. Q: What is your budget?

2. *20-30k, *

[*]Q: What is your existing hardware configuration (component name - component brand and model)

1. CPU - Intel C2D E4400 2.2Ghz

2. *Motherboard - Intel 945GCNL

1. *GPU - XFX nvidia 8800 GT 512 MB

1. *RAM - Transcend ram 2x1gb 666 Mhz

1. Monitor - Viewsonic 19"

2. *SMPS - Zebronics z600W / have an old generic smps which i replaced for more sata connecters

1. Keyboard - wired Iball set + logitech wireless mk250

2. X-Tech generic cabinet

3. HDD- have enough to cover my requirements

4. *DVD writer- lg

[*]Q: Which hardware will you be keeping (component name - component brand and model)

1. SMPS - Yes ( have the old one as a spare, just in case)

2. GPU - Depends on cost of suggested/new graphic card

3. Wireless keyboard/mouse

4. Old Monitor - Yes (Unless selling the entire desktop makes sense)

[*]Q: Which hardware component are you looking to buy (component name). If you have already decided on a configuration then please mention the (component brand and model) as well, this will help us in fine tuning your requirement.

1. CPU - Intel i5 3450

2. *Motherboard - Gigabyte D75m b3h - heard good things about this motherboard, but doesn’t have optical out as a port to feed my amp, also would prefer hdmi out

1. GPU - (Can hold on to existing GPU card, or buy a new one)

2. RAM - Corsair 1600 MHz 4gb X1/ X2

3. Cabinet (not looking to plunk too much cash here, any decent brand will do

4. DVD writer (last time i used one was in 2009, so dont really need it)

[*]Q: Is this going to be your final configuration or you would be adding/upgrading a component in near future. If yes then please mention when and which component

1. *Will definitely bring RAM to 8gb *

2. Graphic card, if I dont upgrade now.

[*]Q: Where will you buy this hardware? (Online/City/TE Dealer)

1. Mumbai

2. Open to online purchase

[*]Q: Would you consider buying a second hand hardware from the TE market

1. Would prefer new, but open to second hand.

[*]Q: What is your intended use for this PC/hardware

1. Gaming

2. Browsing

3. HTPC

4. Download rig, 24x7 operation

5. Watching HD movies

[*]Q: Do you have any brand preference or dislike? Please name them and the reason for your preference/dislike.

1. As long as brand/after sales service is good, im fine with anything.

[*]Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?

1. Mainly FPS, and action adventure, some racing

2. *Borderlands 2, Batman - AC are the current ones *

[*]Q: What is your preferred monitor resolution for gaming and normal usage

1. Gaming / Desktop - 1920x1080

[*]Q: Are you looking to overclock?

1. Yes/No - Havent done it before, but yes.

[*]Q: Which operating system do you intend to use with this configuration?

1. *Windows 7 64 bit *

2. Very ,Very remote possibility of booting linux/hackintosh

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

[ALPHA17]

@fistea if you can sacrifice over-clocking this will be the configuration I recommend –
Intel Core i3 3220 ~7500/-
GIGABYTE-B75M-D3H ~4500/- OR ASUS P8H77-M PRO ~9000/-
Corsair Vengeance 4GB x2 1600MHz ~3600/-
AMD HD7770GHz edition ~9500/- (OR hold onto your 8800GT till it is functional and till then save for a better graphics card)
HP (boxed) optical drive ~1000/- (how will you install OS and play DVD’s later friend)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 1TB ~4500/-
Corsair CX v2430W ~2700/- (change your Zebronics SMPS for this ASAP)
Cooler Master eLite 361 ~2500/-
APC BR650VA-IN ~2800/-
use your 32" TV as a monitor and HTPC set-up

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

[fistea]

Thanks @ALPHA17 !, you’re as prompt as always.

I’m not too keen on o/c, as long as the rig holds for 2-3 years, I’ll be fine.

not to sound brash, but any particular reason for strong recommendation on zebronics replacement? is it unreliable?
Also, I havent seen many people use UPS here. is it a precautionary measure or is it required to function?

Apart from o/c, any other tradeoff on the i3 3220 vs i5 3450 ?

[ALPHA17]

@fistea

not to sound brash, but any particular reason for strong recommendation on zebronics replacement? is it unreliable?
Also, I havent seen many people use UPS here. is it a precautionary measure or is it required to function?

Apart from o/c, any other tradeoff on the i3 3220 vs i5 3450 ?

The Zebronics SMPS are some of the most overrated pieces in the market, unreliable and unsafe for your components.

I have seen one of my friends loose a workstation class graphics card and a hard-drive to the vagaries of this very SMPS, Zebronics Platinum 600W. That is why I warn you to avoid it.

The UPS is a precaution not a necessity but if power-cuts are the norm where you stay then I suggest that you keep one handy and it works as another line of defence against electrical hubris.

Even the Core i5 3450 cannot be over-clocked, the main disadvantage with the Core i3 is that it is not a true-quad core but a dual-core with hyper-threading. But overall gaming performance and day to day tasks are performed with the same alacrity by both processors (give OR take ~5 -->15 seconds) so I see no reason to go with the Core i5 when the Core i3 will manage the coming years without issues and consume lesser energy to boot.

Hope this helps, Cheerio!

Update: What cheap SMPS can do to your system – Search for Death of a Gutless Wonder – Johnny Guru on Google.

Today’s review sample illustrates perfectly why you should not trust that lightweight gray box that came with your $20 case. Not only is it a poor performer, but a dangerous one that could kill anything plugged into it. It now bears the dubious distinction of being the worst unit I have ever tested that didn’t come bearing a name with “max” somewhere in it.

People, people, people… just take $50-75 and buy a decent power supply. It will pay for itself by not making you pay for a new… well, everything else.

[fistea]

Thanks @ALPHA17, will definitely get the psu now. a;ready have run thtough a total one.

Also, I wanted to ask, do you have a suggestion for a motherboard which fits the requirement for usb3,hdmi, and optical out (b75 d3h doesnt have optical out)
Im pretty sure ill be doing it this weekend, if not earlier

[ALPHA17]

@fistea

Thanks @ALPHA17, will definitely get the psu now. a;ready have run thtough a total one.

Also, I wanted to ask, do you have a suggestion for a motherboard which fits the requirement for usb3,hdmi, and optical out (b75 d3h doesnt have optical out)
Im pretty sure ill be doing it this weekend, if not earlier

For optical out your only option are these –

• Intel DH67-BL ~5500/- (you will have to forego front USB 3.0 ports though)

• Intel DH77-KV ~6500/-
  Hope this helps, Cheerio!

[fistea]

Thanks @ALPHA17, im going out to buy my parts from lamington today.

ill be taking the i5 3450 and b75m.