Hi, I just recently setup a home theater system and bought a cheap G1 WDTV. I've decided to upgrade to a budget HTPC and have been doing a lot of reading but still need some advice. I'm on a tight budget and want to make a HTPC for as cheap as possible. All I will be using it for is watching HD content, mostly MKV's but I would like to have to capability to eventually use Blu Ray. For my CPU would this be sufficent? And is this at a good price? AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Processor ADO5200IAA5DO - 2.70GHz, Socket AM2, 1MB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MT/s) FSB, Brisbane, Dual-Core, OEM - 29.99$ CAD after rebate Motherboard: Foxconn M61PMV AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - 39.99$ http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186155 Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100291L Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - 45$ http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102877 Ram I was just going to go with 2GB of DDR2 or 3 which ever is cheapest. Would these parts be able to handle all HD content thrown at them? Also I've read for a minimum HTPC the processor should be 2.4ghz Dual Core or 3.5ghz single core minimum, is this correct? If not what processor speed should I be looking at? Also does it make a big difference if the processor is higher then 2.4ghz if the system is only for media playback purposes? Thanks.
You buy the kind of RAM your motherboard wants. It's not "whatever is cheapest". If you want DDR3 buy a different mobo/CPU combo.
thanks for the reply. i know the ram has to be for the right motherboard but i meant the brand etc.. and if the board supports both ddr2 and 3 then i'd go which ever is on sale. other than the ram how would the cpu graphics card and motherboard perform for a home theater pc? thanks for your input.
