HTPC + Browsing PC Config...

amardamani

Sharing is Everything !!
Using an Athlon 64 3000+ PC for many a years now, it seems the parts are failing now. Have compiled a config & would like to get some inputs on it.

AMD 4.4 GHz AM3+ FX 6-Core Edition FX-6300 (FD6300WMHKBOX) Processor
ASUS M5A97 R2.0 Motherboard
G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) PC RAM (F3-17000CL11D-8GBXL)
Samsung 840 Series 120 GB SSD Internal Hard Drive (MZ-7TD120BW)
Seasonic SS400BT PSU
Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD Burner Internal Optical Drive

Have 1TB HDD + 3TB WD My Book + 8TB on NAS, Logitech Z-5500 speakers, Logitech Mouse + Keyboard, D-Link Wifi N 150 Card & a GeForce 6600 Card + Creative SoundBlaster 5.1 Card, 32" FullHD Samsung Series 5 TV

I am ready to change my specs, but I will need minimum
a mobo with USB 3.0 ports & header & SPDIF Optical / Coaxial out port
a cabinet with front USB 3.0 ports

I want to watch a lot of 1080p content (not possible on my current PC, was barely playing 720p with tweaks, listen to FLAC files, DVD-Audio tracks (no MP3s for me), browse net with multiple windows on my 4G LTE connection. Run Adobe Creative Suite 6 from time to time for some basic work. Not into gaming much but my current PC does not permit me go do that either, would love to do some light gaming if my system is responsive enough..

I am very confused about the graphics card, want to save some money & continue using my old GeForce 6600 card, but not sure if it will bottleneck the system. The same goes for SSD. Really want to go for a ASUS Xonar sound card but the ones with both Dolby & DTS are just out of my budget.Need good recommendation on motherboard, graphics card, cabinet & PSU.

I am from Kolkata, so please suggest brands which are available & serviceable in Kolkata.
 
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amardamani

Sharing is Everything !!
Thanks "Cilus"

Ideally I would have wanted to keep the upgrade under 30k, but it seems that it would be tough to fit everything in it.. I am flexible in terms of budget & can phase my purchases if needed.

What I have done in all my tech purchases is go for the best VFM product, which generally is the previous generation or a matured product..
 

Cilus

laborare est orare
It looks like you are going to use Adobe CS6. Then FX-6300 is a good choice for you actually.
Also what you have chosen is perfectly fine. My suggestion is just keep the SSD for now and get a good Graphics card. You can get it later.

FX-6300 @ 7.35K (smcinternational.in)
M5A97 LE R2.0 @ 5.6K
Corsair/G-Skill 1600 MHz 8GB X 1 1600 MHz DDR3 @ 4.4K (Add another 8GB later)
Antec VP450P 450W PSU @ 3K
Asus DVD R/W @ 1K
Sapphire HD 7790 1GB GDDR5 @ 11K

Total: 33.35K
 
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amardamani

Sharing is Everything !!
Thanks for replying,

FX-6300.. OK

M5A97 LE R2.0.. I need a board with SPDIF out as i have a Dolby & DTS decoder,

1600Mhz .. Your idea of 1 X 8GB is great, but not sure how much a difference 1866 vs 1600 will make & there seem to be know 1 X 8GB 1866 RAMs around, but again I have 4 RAM Slots, I dont have much idea on RAM, if you can throw some light on best practices & latency n all..

Antec VP450P 450W.. never used Antec before, hows this one Corsair CMPSU-430CXV2UK 430 Watts PSU, its 80PLUS Bronze rated too.. but I guess just have 1 12V rail but that should not be an issue in my config, is Antec avail in Kolkata, I am trying to stick to Chandni Market available stuff.. thats why I was planning to drop seasonic even,

Sapphire HD 7790 1GB GDDR5 @ 11K.. wow! that would be awesome, but do i need that powerful a graphics card? what about a 7750 or even cheaper 6670.. if I get the 7790 then I will have to let go the SSD for now but the prob is I am running a heavily used SATA 3GBps 1TB HDD, not sure how safe & fast it will be as an OS drive..

Any good cabinet with USB 3.0 ports??

Me & one of my friend both will be buying almost the same machine in the week ahead, some more feedback will be great..
 
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amardamani

Sharing is Everything !!
Thanks ankush28,

one small issue, i need a mini-tower cabinet only due to space constraint & i have to place my center channel speaker over there :-(View attachment 11774

I need a case within 400mm height.

Since the comp will be mainly used as a HTPC, any suggestion on fans & passive cooled graphics card & all to keep the sound to minimum? Any good fan-less PSU available here. I am also concern that will passive cooling only suffice in Kolkata heat (the room has air conditioning tough) & to top it all with a limited budget.

Low noise / fanless PSU?
Low Noise / Passive cooled Graphics card?
how many & what kind of fans to be installed in the case?
 
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