It died on me :( looking for advice on new kit

Toby · 24-06-2012, 20:26

My HTPC went pop the other week (powered up but no post, suspect the mobo). Was similar vintage, with an E8400 and P35 mobo. I suspect the CPU is OK if anyone wants it btw, but would need to test it.

Anyway, I ended up buying an i3-2120 for about £90 and a Gigabyte H77M-D3H mATX mobo for about £70 and it works perfectly. Was using a discrete 9500GT graphics card but, with the new kit, I'm giving the on-chip Intel graphics on the i3 a go and they seem to be fine for HTPC use. Using on-board sound too so the only expansion cards needed are the tuners. Am also using the stock retail Intel cooler and have to say that it runs silently too.

24-06-2012, 20:26	#7
Toby Absinthe Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,023	My HTPC went pop the other week (powered up but no post, suspect the mobo). Was similar vintage, with an E8400 and P35 mobo. I suspect the CPU is OK if anyone wants it btw, but would need to test it. Anyway, I ended up buying an i3-2120 for about £90 and a Gigabyte H77M-D3H mATX mobo for about £70 and it works perfectly. Was using a discrete 9500GT graphics card but, with the new kit, I'm giving the on-chip Intel graphics on the i3 a go and they seem to be fine for HTPC use. Using on-board sound too so the only expansion cards needed are the tuners. Am also using the stock retail Intel cooler and have to say that it runs silently too. __________________