HTPC/Server: Aug Upgrades

Apologies for this ‘August Upgrades’ post coming a little late in mid September! August became a bit of a whirlwind and before I new it, we were into September and I’d started a new job! Busy, busy times!

D-Link Powerline Adapters
D-Link Powerline Adapters

Anyway, these are only minor upgrades due to budget this (and last) month, but every little improvement counts and so there’s another, albeit small post to add to the build log. In early Aug, pretty much straight after payday, I picked up a pair of D-Link Powerline Adapters to let us connect the server to the TV downstairs in the living-room where the idea was to have it become more of a HTPC. The other Aug purchase was a Sapphire HD5450 ATI Radeon 1GB DDR3 graphics card. The HD5450’s a basic 1GB card with an all-important HDMI port that offers audio as well as video. This was vital at the time to allow for easy use as a HTPC connected to our TV without having to worry about a separate speaker system for sound. The card copes fantastically with HD content so even BR quality video isn’t an issue. It also copes v nicely with basic gaming and emulators.

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Tech Pickups: Aug 2012

Technically the first item hauled this month is really from the very end of July, when Overclockers dropped the Bitfenix Prodigy back down to below £60. I snagged it for my upcoming Hackintosh build in artic white and can’t wait to use it in my build in the coming months! After payday on the 31st, … Read more

Finally A New Wireless Router!

Finally, the inevitable has happened. Last year, we were still on 20Mb cable broadband and enjoying full speed via our admittedly very standard Belkin G-range router. By October, we’d upgraded to 50Mb and this week we’ve bumped up to 60Mb. Full speeds via our modem, 20ish via the router – even wired! We’ve made do … Read more