[redsoxboi21]

Ok, so I need to build a HTPC for my dad. We have this 60" TV: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LWT...00_details
And this soundbar: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OFH...ct_title_2 which has optical audio out. Were those good choices? Please give me your opinion.

So here is what I want it to be able to due:
*Play 1080p content from XBMC
*Stream HD content from web
*Burn Blu-Ray Discs
*Bittorent
*Web Browsing
*Some Gaming
*Run any XBMC skin with ease and run various addons
*Multitask (eg. Bittorent and play 1080p content at the same time)
***FAST

HTPC

APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply
Model #:MI-008
Item #:N82E16811154091
*$55.99


SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum skin reinforced plastic front panel, 0.8mm SECC body MILO Series ML03B Micro ATX Media Center ...
Model #:ML03B
Item #:N82E16811163174
$59.99


ASRock A75M FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Model #:A75M
Item #:
$74.99


Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ...
Model #:EA-380D Green
Item #:N82E16817371033
$44.99


AMD A8-3850 Llano 2.9GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6550D AD3850WNZ43GX - OEM
Model #:AD3850WNZ43GX
Item #:N82E16819103994
$134.99


G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL
Model #:F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL
Item #:N82E16820231313
$22.99



HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D HDS721075DLE630 (0F13179) 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:0F13179
Item #:N82E16822145532
$99.99


LG Black Internal 12X Super Multi Blue with 3D Playback Blu-ray Disc Rewriter SATA WH12LS38 LightScribe Support - OEM
Model #:WH12LS38
Item #:N82E16827136239
$79.99


This is what I have so far: https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/WishL...omUrl=MSWL
Is this any good? I really have no idea what kind of case I want! (Thats why I have 2 on there)

I want to keep this as cheap as possible and don't want to spend over $500 is possible.

[Beer40oz]

Give us the PUBLIC wishlist please. It might take a day to show up.

[redsoxboi21]

Give us the PUBLIC wishlist please. It might take a day to show up.

Thanks for the heads up. I just copied the list for now.

[Balinus]

People here seems to think the Apex is not really good quality, while the ML03 is good. Just for the look, I'd take the ML03 over the Apex.

LG Plasma are nice. When I purchased my Panasonic in 2010, the glare I was seeing in the store put me off though. Don't know how they are in 2011.

[redsoxboi21]

People here seems to think the Apex is not really good quality, while the ML03 is good. Just for the look, I'd take the ML03 over the Apex.

LG Plasma are nice. When I purchased my Panasonic in 2010, the glare I was seeing in the store put me off though. Don't know how they are in 2011.

Thanks...any more suggestions/replacements you would make

[bluray]

If you dad like the smaller form factor case, this combination might fit the bill- SilverStone SG06B and Panasonic Blu-ray Burner. The SG06B is very well built and equipped with high quality PSU and fan. You can eliminate the extra PSU and case fan from your list.

[redsoxboi21]

If you dad like the smaller form factor case, this combination might fit the bill- SilverStone SG06B and Panasonic Blu-ray Burner. The SG06B is very well built and equipped with high quality PSU and fan. You can eliminate the extra PSU and case fan from your list.

Thanks! That case looks great! But the bluray burner looks a bit expensive...also I have a question...how much ram will suffice? And what is the difference in the ram speeds of 1333 1600 and 1866? Does it really make a big difference?

[baldmosher]

how much ram will suffice? And what is the difference in the ram speeds of 1333 1600 and 1866? Does it really make a big difference?

min 2GB, ideal 4GB, overkill 8GB

1600 vs 1333 might make a noticeable difference (depending on which AMD CPU you choose) but 1866 is only achievable through overclocking (A8-3850 being the most affected, whether you want to o/c or not!)

If you had an A4 you probably wouldn't appreciate any of the benefits

and the benefits are mainly found in gaming anyway as I understand it.... in XBMC you shouldn't notice any difference

[bluray]

Thanks! That case looks great! But the bluray burner looks a bit expensive...also I have a question...how much ram will suffice? And what is the difference in the ram speeds of 1333 1600 and 1866? Does it really make a big difference?

The case I suggested required a slim BD-RE, and the slim Panasonic is among the best. In fact Silverstone has identical slim BD-RE in their website for 3 times the price. 4GB (2x2) is the magic number for w7 64-bit. The RAM in your 1st post is perfect choice for HTPC purpose!

[eskro]

.how much ram will suffice? And what is the difference in the ram speeds of 1333 1600 and 1866? Does it really make a big difference?

for windows, 2GB is ok, but i suggest 4GB...

ram speed, for XBMC, u wont notice a big difference...

i have 1333 and my HTPC is fast!