http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-K8N51PVMT-9.htm

This will be one hot motherboard! After seeing this release a few weeks ago, I cant wait for this mobo to arrive in stores. Its got everything a motherboard should have to be a good htpc. 8.1 sound, HDvideo support onboard component output, 3G sata, raid 5 support 64bit x2 processor support and its a Matx motherboard.

Here's my shopping list/pre purchase
GA-k8n51pcmt-9 motherboard
Thermaltake Tenor case
Amd x2 3800
1 gig of 4200 OCZ ram
4x250 gig sata drives raid 5 =750gig storage
16x dvr/w
AVerMedia 150 tuner
Antec Phantom 500 psu
media center 2005
Microsoft media center wireless keyboard


Anyone else considering this board as a base for a new htpc?

Looks good! Thanks for posting that link.

The GeForce 6150 GPU that is on this Gigabyte mobo has been recalled by nVidia due to data corruption issues. New boards with updated chips will be redeployed, but buyer beware.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27129

Hum, thats not good, Ill still give it a go once they are fixed and released.

I still trust Gigabyte motherboards, sounds like an issue with Nvidia nforce 4 boards and maxtor drives.

I dont think I've ever had a "premium" motherboard that has not had some issues, ususaly fixable with bios updates thou unlike this chipset issue. With the internet being a MUCH larger source of information now we just hear about these issues faster than in the past.
Its good that they caught this issue before it got out the door. Ive got a tote full of defective motherboards some with minor issues others with more serious ones that just werent worth trying to figure out the problems, it just the price we have to pay to keep up with things.

If you're going with a high-end CPU and 4x SATA drives I hope there's room in the case for more fans . ..

I agree with Jeff1960...if the HD processing and encoding is done on the GPU, why would you need a dual core processor?

It would be better to pair this GPU with a nice cool CPU with a quiet fan. That is if you are building a HTPC. I guess if you want to game on your HDTV it might be another story.

The dual core will be required to run dvd ts file transcoding and for raid 5 as its software driven with nvraid boards.

For hard drive cooling I have 2 80Mmm fan drive cages that will be custom fit to the case, I may still pick a case that will have 3 5 1/4 drive bays so I can use an I-cage with 12cm low noise cooler, for the processor I have is a Thermaltake big Typoon 12cm , the case that Im thinking im going to use has
front 80 x 80 x 25 mm silent fan, 2000rpm, 19dBA
Rear (exhaust): Dual 60 x 60 x 25 mm silent fan, 2500rpm
If need be Ill just rip out the antec phantom and put in one of my Enermax noisetaker dual fans psu. I dont think Cooling should not be an issue.

Noise was originally a concen with cooling but we are going to be finishing the equipement rack with 3/4 inch doors that will block most if not all fan noise.

Just an update on this motherboard. It if FINALLY available in Canada, Its only $115 too. Pretty sweet motherboard with HD video out(component video) HD audio, 3g sata raid 5 support.

I've ordered one and updated my original system design.
GA-K8N51PVMT-9
Silverstone LC17 with 2 extra vantec super quite 92mm intake fans
Amd 4000+
Thermaltake Big Typhoon cooler
1 gig of 3200 OCZ ram dual channel
400gig seagate hard drive(single for now)
16x dvr/w
AVerMedia 150 tuner
Twinhan 1020a dvb
coolmax 550W psu with 120mm fan
media center 2005
Microsoft media center wireless keyboard
Logitech Media mouse

Should have all the parts in and assembled in about a week, I will post a full review with how well the on board video and sound performs with various media center tasks.

Let us know how its perfoming. So which CPU are you using? I am planning on buying a similar system after reviewing your installation but I am waiting for the half-terrabyte SATA II Maxtor Diamond 11. Planning on having 2 in SATA Raid to have 1 TB storage. Anyways cool system man

Now if it only had a DVI connector instead of that VGA one ... I'd run out and buy it right now!

bbuchana, Yeah the only 6150 motherboard that has dvi is the foxcon but it does not have component or hd audio, I believe the msi one coming out might have dvi.

Looks good.

Just wondering, where did you pickup this gear in Canada, and how much damage are we looking at in CAN$?

NCIX has it instock as does FrontirePC, but i ordered mine thru a local computer shop ASCOTPC I use them for for all my custom systems and parts. I think most all distributers have SOME on hand now but they are limited.
The board was about $115 but my entire setup came in about $1600 but that is excluding my cpu cooler($80), keyboard($80) ,mouse$80($20 after rebates) and tuner cards I already had those in hand.
So all said and done this system cost me about $2000 can tax included(im in Alberta so any where else in Canada add another $150 for taxes
But keep in mind this a fast full hd capable system ,fairly large network server for movies and mp3's.

One could do a system cheaper in a few ways say a bit slower cpu, cheaper case, smaller hard drive, not buy media center 2005, and save about $500

Excellent.

Thanks very much for that info.

NCIX is also carrying the Asus A8N-VM CSM (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16845&vpn=A8N-VM/CSM&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1030) which has an onboard DVI port - future proof since you will need DVI/HDMI for copy protected content in the next version of MCE (Vista). I recently purchased it for upgrading my current MCE 2005 machine. It's on sale for $102.98!

:p

I just wanted to get this straight.. the GA-k8n51pcmt-9 has onboard componenet out?

Emu101 Yes the gigabyte GA-k8n51pVmt-9 (note i had a C in place of a V in the original post but for some reason I cant edit it. ) Has component output but from a dongle that is supplied the Asus board does not.

Sorry one more note to mention the Gigabyte supports spdif in/out but it DOES NOT come with the header. I have ordered one separately, or you can easily make a coax one

NCIX is also carrying the Asus A8N-VM CSM (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16845&vpn=A8N-VM/CSM&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1030) which has an onboard DVI port - future proof since you will need DVI/HDMI for copy protected content in the next version of MCE (Vista). I recently purchased it for upgrading my current MCE 2005 machine. It's on sale for $102.98!

:p

So, for connection to a DVI/HDMI display, you don't need a video card at all ?

Does this support wide screen High Def resolutions ?

Flipper, that is correct no need for an extra video card as the video is on board, and yes the asus will also support hd resolutions upto 1080p