HTPC upgrade for game playing?

[paps]

I built an HTPC and would like to start using it to also play games
like Call of Duty. Can you help me on the video card and others things
needed. I see that some cards use no fan to keep it cool and that
would keep the noise level down while watching movies so i'm thinking that
would be best to use.

Here is my build...

WinXP,

HEC ATX HTPC Case w/300watts,
Newegg.com - hec Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC Steel 7K09BBA30FNRX Micro ATX Media Center 300W Power Supply / HTPC Case

Gigabyte GA-785 Motherboard,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=
N82E16813128432&Tpk=%23GA-785GMT-USB3

AMD Athlon 2 x3 435 2.9ghz, (overclock x4 3.4ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=
N82E16819103724&cm_re=%23ADX435WFGIBOX-_-19-103-724-_-Product

A-Data Gaming Series 4gb DDR3 1600 PC3 12800,(with XP only shows 2.8gb)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=
N82E16820211409&Tpk=%23AX3U1600GB2G9-2G

Western Digital Blue 1 Tb 7200, (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=
N82E16822136534&cm_re=%23WD10EALS-_-22-136-534-_-Product

Lite-on 24x DVD,#2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Writer LightScribe Support,
Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Writer LightScribe Support

ARCTIC COOLING ACALP64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING ACALP64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

I'm thinking I just need a better video card or is the one built in ok?
Also a wireless controller to use? and the case is really small so not sure
if psu can be upgraded if needed? Please tell me to best way to go. Like
to keep the price under $200 if posible.

Thanks for any help!!

[David M]

Any graphics card that is fanless is not powerful enough to play the more graphics intensive games.

For $200 I would pick a Radeon 5830 or an Nvidia GTX460..both have fans.

If its an ATX case (which it is) an ATX power supply will fit. Only with the really powerful PSU's is there a question of fit relating to the depth of the PSU.

You do not need a CPU cooler unless you plan on overclocking. For an HTPC case you probably want the aftermarket fan because they are quieter than the stock fans. Keep in mind some aftermarket fans will be too tall to fit inside an HTPC case. So get a CPU heatsink fan with a 120mm fan that is also low profile.

For an HTPC a Blue drive is not going to be the quietest that WD makes. They also make a green drive which runs slower, generates less heat and costs less. Games won't run any slower during the game with a slower drive. They will have slightly longer pauses when loading game information to the RAM.

I hacked my DirecTV satellite DVR and installed this drive internally. http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82e16822136344. The really nice thing about a 2 TB drive is it can store hundreds of hours of HD content.

Do not use the cheapo PSU's that come with the cases unless they are Antec PSU's. A 300 watt cheapo PSU will not power a 5830 or GTX 460.

Add a 550 watt Antec, Corsair or Seasonic PSU to your shopping list in order to sufficiently power your $200 graphics card.


Whats happening here is that you are trying to get an HTPC to do things which they normally do not do. They do not have big power draws to power the more powerful graphics cards out there that many video games require. You are going to have to compromise a little here in order to also play games with it. You will need a minimum 550 watt power supply and a graphics card which will quite possibly have a noisy fan when it is running fast...at least noisy for a HTPC.

A super quiet PSU is the Corsair 750 with its 140mm fan. 750 watts is overkill for either of those cards but it makes sense if quiet is a big concern. It will take quite a few watts before that fan starts making a bunch of noise...and only then, it will only be during a game when the graphics cards starts putting a large load on it.

A graphics card fan can be controlled to slow it down during a movie so it does not make too much noise. There is software for creating a heat vs fan RPM profile. The graphics card manufacturers provide free software for changing the fan speed and for other things like overclocking the cards.

There is also software built into most BIOS's now to control the CPU heatsink fan. You can also manually control it if you get a CPU heatsink that does this. There are also CPU heatsinks which can throttle up the fan when the CPU starts getting hotter.

[glc]

Get the black instead of the blue WD drive

Looks to me like it's already built with 2 Blues.

What do you mean, wireless controller?

[David M]

Paps, have you already purchased all this?

Actually, I changed my mind on that along with some more edits and additions. For a regular gaming PC, the Black is the best choice. I think the Green would be more suitable for a HTPC. I explain why above.

[paps]

Yes my HTPC was built a few weks ago and is working fine as a HTPC and thanks for your help so far.

I would like to keep the price under $200 for everything. So if I have to
upgrade the psu for $50 then $150 max on a video card.

My motherboard has integrated ATI Radeon HD 4200, so do I really need Radeon 5830 or an Nvidia GTX460? What is the cheapest card I can install here?

Be nice to have one unit to do everything but if I have to spend over $200 to play a few games now and then then maybe a seperate unit like an xbox would be a better choice. But was really hoping to use my HTPC.

AS for a wireless controller I was thinking something like the Xbox would use.

Thanks

[David M]

Its hard to say how cheap to go with the graphics card because the less powerful it is the lower the frame rates and the lower you have to make the game settings to make the game playable. In my opinion I would not go lower than the 5830 or the GTX 460, but then, I am a gamer who likes all the nice graphics. I think that $200 spent on a graphics card won't leave you disappointed for the vast majority of the games out there. By the way, PC graphics are much better than the game console graphics. Their resolution and other qualities are pretty limited. My son has a PS3, I kinda cringe when I look at the graphics.

[glc]

You can get away with a 5770 and an Antec Basiq 500.