SPCR

Hi guys

I have an Intel E2180 that can easily o/c to 3.2Ghz that has no mobo for a home. I am looking for an htpc mobo with the following requirements:
- cheap
- dvi/hdmi
- optical out on the rear panel (for connecting toslink to outside dac, unless i get a USB dac which will limit my possibilities)
- has good o/c potential for cpu (edit: because I need to be able to run 1080p mkv off it)

appreciate any recommendations.

cheers!

45+ views and zero replies?

Don't expect miracles here

It would help a lot if you described your budget. What exactly falls in the category of cheap, under 100$? Also, what O.C. features do you expect particularly to find in your future motherboard? Also, you only mentioned it's for an HTPC but didn't say which type of motherboard you require; is it mATX, mini-ITX or is standard ATX going to cut it?

Wow a reply! Budget is around 90 uk pounds max~ I don't mind stretching it but I aint looking for something fully blown out.

Basically I need a solution to reuse this cpu that I have lying here. I want something that will just run storage and be able to play 1080p mkv files without any issues. I guess mATX is the best size as most HTPC cases fit the bill. I don't care if there is an extra 1W here or there... I just want it to be of decent quality and cool temperature (I read that nvidia chipsets have hot integrated gpus).

Take your pick from any of the recently reviewed Intel mATX motherboards in the CPUs & Motherboards section of the main page.

The Asus P5N7A-VM (GeForce 9300 chipset / 95 pounds at scan.co.uk) and Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45 chipset / 95 pounds at scan.co.uk) are the most recent reviews there.

It's a little over your budget but you might be able to shop around and get a better deal.

Thanks, didn't see those reviews but they are kinda over my budget. For that kinda cash I will look for different upgrade paths.

What about the Intel G41 chipset? I've been looking at this board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128367

If you're looking for a cheap one, I'd say a geforce 7100/nf630i based one could be an option, for example Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H. It has optical and hdmi ports. Graphics processor is a bit outdated, but I guess you should be able to play 1080p mkv's with that CPU power alone.

maxxy wrote: What about the Intel G41 chipset? I've been looking at this board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128367

I was looking at that one too, same graphics chip as the G45 boards but cheaper. Can't find any reviews though. Gigabyte mATX boards usually have reasonable overclocking options, you should certainly be able to get some extra juice out of an E2180 with it.

I have read on newegg quite negative reviews on the integrated chipset motherboards. Ranging from terrible QC to overheating integrated GPUs that can't even run 1920x1080 resolution. Any truth to this?

maxxy wrote:I have read on newegg quite negative reviews on the integrated chipset motherboards. Ranging from terrible QC to overheating integrated GPUs that can't even run 1920x1080 resolution. Any truth to this?

All integrated graphics chipsets for Intel suck--even the overhyped Geforce 9x00. Both AMD and nVidia have good chipsets for AMD CPUs. The old Intel GMA 3100 in the G31/G33/etc. is fine for basic 2D output. I am currently using a cheap G31 motherboard with a Geforce 9600GSO for my main system. Yes, a $55 motherboard can run a Core 2 Duo E7200 at 4.2GHz. It makes little sense to get an Intel G4x or Geforce 9x00 chipset unless you really can't use a seperate video card.

I think a $55 Athlon X2 5800+ with a $70 780G/790GX motherboard makes a lot more sense for most people than going with anything Intel. Even then a cheap video card with a cheaper motherboard ($40 740G) still performs a lot better.

Do you consider a combination of Gigabyte G33 board, GA-G33M-S2H, and ATi 3450/4350? It would be a lot better than crappy Intel G45 driver and cheaper than nVIDIA 9400 boards. Just my two cents anyway.