Motherboard and CPU Compatibility

**stecal** · #1 30th Aug 2009, 13:21

Hi, I'm new!

I have decided to build my first PC (I will be using it mainly for media purposes) and am looking for some advice, please help!

I have been looking at the following motherboard and CPU and wanted to check that they are compatible and recommended?

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167118

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145242

Am I right in that as long as the sockets match and can run at the same FSB they are compatible?

Thanks,

Steve

**Carbon** · #2 30th Aug 2009, 15:23

That's a wild match of old, underpowered processor and wildly too-expensive but still old motherboard.

What do you mean you'll be doing as far as "media"? HTPC? Video editing?

**stecal** · #3 30th Aug 2009, 15:42

Yes a htpc. What motherboard or cpu would you recommend then?

Thanks,

Steve

**4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie** · #4 30th Aug 2009, 15:57

Carbon will be able to assist you more than me, but he, me, or anyone else will need a bit more info...

Budget?

Format(s)?

Resolution(s)?

Rest of PC's spec?

**Carbon** · #5 30th Aug 2009, 16:18

Resolution shouldn't matter too much, it would be kind of nice to know the budget though. Also what you're going to be doing on the software side of things as far as playback.

**stecal** · #6 30th Aug 2009, 16:52

Hi, my budget is £500-£700 (I already have a HD monitor). Im not too sure what I need in terms of specs. Basically what I want is a machine capable of storing and playing HD movies (lets say 100 movies). I currently use VLC or windows media player but maybe there is something better? I will also use it for work i.e. microsoft office applications. Oh and I have a bluetooth surround sound system so would like to set it up with that. Not sure if any of this info is relevant!? Any help or suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

**Carbon** · #7 30th Aug 2009, 17:02

X2 240 and a 780G motherboard should be a good pick for a pure HTPC build, as long as you're not gaming. Throw in a 640GB WD HDD, 400CX, case, etc and you should be well under your budget.

**stecal** · #8 30th Aug 2009, 17:07

Yes ok. Thanks for your help.

**4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie** · #9 30th Aug 2009, 17:09

You're best bet for storage is ISO's.

Grab a decrypter and MagicDisc (freeware) to rip the images and mount them.

For storing them you'll probably want at least 1.5TB

Although if I know Carbon he'll say scrap that single drive and get a few Western Digital 640GB's. That's fair enough the layers are larger resulting in faster seek times.

Get an LG BH08-LS20 blu ray drive, fastest on the Market and does HDDVD, lightscribe etc. Too. The OEM version is about £30 off the retail if you're not bothered.

I'd also reccommend you pick up an Asus Xonar sound card for HD movies.

Edit:
Beat me to it - but I was right about the 640's!

I'll let him give you the rest his knowledge is greater!!

**Carbon** · #10 30th Aug 2009, 17:17

Eh, you're right, higher capacity's probably best in this case. A couple 1TB Blacks should be sufficient for this usage. I would suggest reencoding them rather than using disc images though as a bunch of 30GB pure Blu-Ray or whatever rips is going to add up fast.