$300 budget.. Is this possible?
#1
My only requirements:

1. Must be able to run the Aeon MQ2 skin. I am very partial to this skin.
2. Windows 7
3. Should be able to play blu-ray 1080p mkv backups without stuttering
4. I would like it to be able to run icefilms add-on for viewing 720p Xvid content without stuttering like it currently does on my Apple Tv 2.
5. Able to decode DD 5.1 and DTS is a must, but DTS-HD and TruHD are merely a plus

Other than that, I am not concerned with 3D or WAF. I would like it to be quiet though. Nothing as loud as PS3 or Xbox!

I'll be running XBMC on Windows 7, and I would like fluid movement on the MQ2 skin. Can this be done for sub $300. I can go higher than that, but I would really like <$300 if possible
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#2
Well, Windows 7 is like $100 right there so you're down to $200.

Signs point to no.
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#3
Well I have windows 7 already. OS is not a part of the budget. Is it possible sub $400?
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#4
yes possible!!

read here http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199
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#5
eskro Wrote:well, $300 including win7, i say no...

No. I have several copies of Win 7, so it's not part of the budget. I'm only concerned with hardware.
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#6
eskro Wrote:yes possible!!

read here http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199

Awesome. Thanks. I'll give it a read
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#7
eskro Wrote:yes possible!!

read here http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199

Smile
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#8
eskro Wrote:AMD
Image
[cpu] Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz AM3 95W ($105 + $0)
[mobo] GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 Micro-ATX ($60 + $0)
[gpu] ASUS GeForce GT520 1GB DDR3 64-bit Fanless Low Profile ($60 + $0)
[case] SILVERSTONE ML03B Micro-ATX ($60 + $0)
[psu] Antec EarthWatts 380W ATX12V ($40 + $0)
TOTAL: ($325)

I like the look of this one! I believe it will do everything that I desire, right? Also, I could add a blu-ray drive to it in the future, right? I already have a HDD sitting around. All of my content will be streamed from my desktop server tho, so HD space is not important.
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#9
that will play and do everything!!
it'll be a real mean HTPC Smile

u could lower down de CPU and GPU
depending on if u need 3D playback or not...

like this one here http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=93846
it'll still do all u want!!
just replace the gpu with this one here http://ow.ly/1sXoM0
that will give DTS-HD and TruHD bitstreaming capabilities!!

and perfectly!
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#10
This is great. These are the components that I chose! It's amazing that it can do everything that I want for under $300 after the two mail-in rebates! Big Grin

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/6743/htpc.jpg
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#11
but why the GT520?? u have a 3D-HDTV??
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#12
eskro Wrote:but why the GT520?? u have a 3D-HDTV??

I don't, but I would like the ability to play back HD Audio formats in the future. My Onkyo 705 is capable of DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD, so I figured I would future proof it for just a few more dollars
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#13
then just replace the gpu with this one here http://ow.ly/1sXoM0
still fanless and will give DTS-HD and TruHD bitstreaming capabilities like u wish!!

this ram kit i use and rocks!!! --- http://ow.ly/1s64fr

and what about your OS drive??
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#14
eskro Wrote:just replace the gpu with this one here http://ow.ly/1sXoM0
that will give DTS-HD and TruHD bitstreaming capabilities!!

Oh ok. Sounds good to me! Smile . So long as my Aeon skin is pretty responsive, I will be happy.

I'll be using the HTPC on a 61" 1080p LED DLP tv.
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#15
this ram kit i use and rocks!!! --- http://ow.ly/1s64fr

and what about your OS drive??
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$300 budget.. Is this possible?0