Audiophile HTPC

[Thad E Ginathom]

From 1993 not 83.

Sheesh, I'm not very good at this numbers business, eh?

My innumeracy is well known to my friends. One of them was quite surprised when I changed my career to computing. I replied that it was the computers that did the sums.

(totally offtopic.... when Europe went Euro, we had to change all our accounts. I wrote a quick program, ran the ledgers through it, and presented the accountants with a trial-run database to check out. They told me I'd divided instead of multiplied. That's me and numbers.)

 

[baijuxavior]

(totally offtopic.... when Europe went Euro, we had to change all our accounts. I wrote a quick program, ran the ledgers through it, and presented the accountants with a trial-run database to check out. They told me I'd divided instead of multiplied. That's me and numbers.)

You should immediately apply for a job with M$.

 

[shailenderb]

Sheesh, I'm not very good at this numbers business, eh?

My innumeracy is well known to my friends. One of them was quite surprised when I changed my career to computing. I replied that it was the computers that did the sums.

(totally offtopic.... when Europe went Euro, we had to change all our accounts. I wrote a quick program, ran the ledgers through it, and presented the accountants with a trial-run database to check out. They told me I'd divided instead of multiplied. That's me and numbers.)

Ha ha ha. Good one, Thad.

Regds / Shailender

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

At least... I fixed the code in five seconds!

Sorry guys... lets get back to our HTPCs!

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Here's my latest Want One

Nofan Set A40

A completely passively-cooled PC case.

Two problems: it is only good for processors up to 100w (maybe less in our ambient temperatures) and eeeeek --- the price!

 

[gobble]

Here's my latest Want One

Nofan Set A40

A completely passively-cooled PC case.

Two problems: it is only good for processors up to 100w (maybe less in our ambient temperatures) and eeeeek --- the price!

Very tempting. How much is it? Not available in India I suppose.
CAVEAT: That huge circular set of fins renders your PCI-E slot useless!! Check the graphics out closely!!

Why do you need a 135W cpu? Plenty of options in 65 to 90W. I've been using a 45W cpu since a few years now.

--G

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Yes, this would not be a case for an intensive graphics-card user, and two graphics cards would be impossible, as would high-heat-sink memory, although this cooler gives 40mm clearance over the mother board, which is 2mm more than mine.

I wonder why they didn't make it square?

 

[gobble]

Yes, this would not be a case for an intensive graphics-card user, and two graphics cards would be impossible, as would high-heat-sink memory, although this cooler gives 40mm clearance over the mother board, which is 2mm more than mine.

I wonder why they didn't make it square?

For a given circumference of the circle equal to the perimeter of the square, the area of the circle is always 1.27324 times as much as the area of the square. More area = more space for heat dissipation from the fins. Remember this is passively cooled.

HTH
--G

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Ahhh, yes...

I feel stupid now!

Never mind; I'm used to that hyeah:

 

[bhaskie]

Yes, I'll be getting my Emotiva UPA-2 and XDA-1 during first week of July.

Regds / Shailender

Are you by any chance getting it shipped to India? I need to order an XDA1 and I am not sure about the customs charges that I will have to incur.

Thanks,
Bhaskie

 

[shailenderb]

Are you by any chance getting it shipped to India? I need to order an XDA1 and I am not sure about the customs charges that I will have to incur.

Thanks,
Bhaskie

No, Bhaskie, I'm asking someone to bring them when they are coming here end of this month.

Regds / Shailender

 

[bhaskie]

No, Bhaskie, I'm asking someone to bring them when they are coming here end of this month.

Regds / Shailender

Do let me know if they end up paying customs duties. I guess that amounts to around 25-30%.

 

[gobble]

After searching for more than a month I gave up on finding a new 78XG socket AM2 mobo that got damaged by my screwdriver wielding hands. So I have retired my be-2350 cpu until I find a mobo. I only see chances of a 690G mobo online which is a downgrade from 785G. I could use that as an audio PC and save 8K on the AMD fusion cpu/mobo. If my silent cpu cooler does not fit on my new socket AM3 buy that is.

While not strictly a htpc build just thought I would update on the prices I got. I went without absolutely any research on prices or choice of cpu as I decided to "Just Do It" after not having a desktop for almost a year!! Been using my office laptop so long.

Gigabyte GA-MA880G-USB3 INR 5550/- (internet price from 5450/- to 6170/- without shipping) with usb3

Edit: Aargh! Just found a SATA 6GB ECS mobo for 3800/- (no usb3)!! All others I saw were 6000+ range and opted out!!

AMD Phenom X4 840 @3.2 Ghz (basically an Athlon X4 650). 4950/- (Internet Price 5470/-)

This is not a real Phenom but a fast sly one from AMD - it has no 6MB L3 cache only the usual 2MB L2 cache that Athlon X4s have. It is $16 cheaper than Athlon X4 645 on AMD pricing. But I think I did not get that benefit as the local Baniya took advantage of my ignorance and sold me 100mhz more cpu power than a 645 (@3.1Ghz) for the same price as 645 and convinced me I had a great deal.

It is supposedly the best VFM $100 cpu in the AMD stable today.

Transcend DDR3 1333 ram 2Gb x 2 @950/- each (Internet price 1430/- to absurd/outdated)

Total damage INR 13,020/- with 5% VAT

HTH

--G

 

[gevarghe]

What's the opinion of using Optical connection from the onboard soundcard compared to using a highend card say the Asus Xonar Essence?

 

[Kittu]

@G,

Try look for prices on ebay from hongkong or taiwan sellers. I have ordered many spares for my laptops and netbooks at much lesser prices than SP Road.


Fortunately shipping worked out always under 10$ and no customs or duty whatsoever .

 

[gobble]

What's the opinion of using Optical connection from the onboard soundcard compared to using a highend card say the Asus Xonar Essence?

Optical will degrade SQ. Try co-axial instead. Still there are high end cards like ESI @Juli that have a reputation for stable clock and low jitter when digital outs are used. The stock card is likely to be poorer in that aspect.

--G