[NavySealsGuy]

Okay so I have been researching all this HTPC stuff, I am still really new to it! For now I am simply using my laptop w/ HDMI, but when I get the money together I want to be able to buy a separate HTPC. So looking into the great stickies this is what I came up with:

[CPU] Intel Core I3-2100 Dual-Core 3.1GHz LGA-1155 65W ($123.00)
[MOBO] ASUS P8H61-M LX (REV 3.0) LGA-1155 UEFI μATX ($65.00)
[GPU] ZOTAC GT210 512MB DDR3 64-bit Fanless Low Profile ($35.00)
[PSU] SeaSonic SS-400ET 80+ Bronze 400W ATX12V ($46.00)
[CASE] Thermaltake VF6000BWS*$98.00
[OS] Windows Home Premium 64bit $70.00
[BLUERAY] LG UH12LS28K $60.00
[FAN] Scythe SY1225SL12L 800RPM 40.17CFM 10.70dBA $14.00
[SSD] Corsair Nova 2.5" SATAII Trim 60GB Read:270MB/s Write:240MB/s* $85.00
[WIFI] Linksys WMP600N 300Mbps WPA2 Band:2.4GHz/5GHz* $54.00
[RAM][RAM: 2x2GB DDR3 1333 CL7]*Kingston HyperX $30.00
[XBMC] XBMC Free
HTPC GRAND TOTAL: $682.00
Extra Keyboard $40.00

Would this work out good? I am not sure about the case, I choose it mainly because it had(I think) everything I needed, it was in eskro's thread, and it was flashy I would be open to alternatives In the same price range or lower... Not good at finding these, and the ones I find are gaming ones! But IDK the sizes of all these parts and how much room I need.

Also I only chose microATX because they take wireless internet cards, eskro said to get USB wifi for the miniITX, which is better internet connection wise? I don't mind restarting the whole build with a miniITX if that is better

Next I will be needing a some 2TB(or 3TB) harddrives for sure, but I've been waiting for prices to drop, surviving off my only 500gb Harddrive and 500gb WD external drive...
The main thing I am worried about is actually putting the thing together, I have never built a PC only watched others do it.

EDIT: Alternative Cases? Thermaltake Armor A30 Micro-ATX OR I may drop the HTPC case and go with a tower so I have room for tons of drives in the future. So many possibilities :O Still open to alternatives!

[Yojimbo413]

Why not use Windows 7 Basic?

[NavySealsGuy]

Why not use Windows 7 Basic?

Basically that is just what I am use too.

[eskro]

uhm, Windows Home Premium 64bit --> $189.00 ??

why not --> Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) ($99 + FREE Shipping)

[NavySealsGuy]

uhm, Windows Home Premium 64bit --> $189.00 ??

why not --> Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit (Full) ($99 + FREE Shipping)

Because I am dumb I have never actually had to install Windows, always came prebuilt so I didn't know which to choose thanks!

[eskro]

http://www.softwaresupplygroup.com/micro...anded.html

[NavySealsGuy]

Thanks! So do the parts check out okay?
EDIT: Is there anyway I can get a 3.0 USB on this thing? Need one for when it gets more mainstream I think. Also a fitting variation for the motherboard and powersupply that I could get from amazon would be great but not necessary.(everything else i can get off amazon)

[Orclas]

Aren't you the guy who was "just about broke" just a few days ago?

Anyhow, I'll take up the role as voice of reason and devil's advocate and point out that you could get a fully working (although perhaps not as nice) setup for some $200-300 less.

I'll provide my own setup as example, there are others:

XS35GTv2 $230 (I know one review says it don't play streamed media, but that's not my experience, even on a v1 with Atom D510)
2.5" HDD $80
RAM $15
Windows $99
USB IR receiver (Ebay) ca $20
Total $435

Run XBMC live from a USB stick instead and you're down to $265 but loose 250Gb worth of storage and will have to do some basic Linux tinkering to make it work. It's not as shiny as the TT case though... :p

As for building it, I'm sure you'll do fine unless you're all thumbs. I'm sure there are some good guides out there too, the main things to think about is to watch out for static electricity, read up on how to properly apply cooling paste and just take your time. For small cases it's sometimes also good to mount most of the MB components (including cooler) before mounting the MB to the case.

[NavySealsGuy]

Oh I am :p this is mainly just me having a goal! I normally go quickly from broke to I have extra money. Anyway I am really looking to have a machine where I can add internal memory too in the future, which is why I want a nice case. I was tempted to go tower, but they are a bit too big. Also, no experience with Linux, and I trust my Windows 7 I guess I am just picky Thanks for the input!

[eskro]

why dont you go for an A8-3850 APU NavySealsGuy?

[CPU+iGPU] AMD A8-3850 4x2.4GHz HD6550D FM1 100W ($135 + $0)
[MOBO] ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX ($75 + $0)

no need for a separate video card and u get usb3.
PSU is perfect.

i'd go for this SSD
[SSD] Patriot Torqx-2 2.5" SATAII 32GB Trim Read:270MB/s Write:230MB/s ($45 after rebate)

Bluray Reader
[BD-R] Samsung SH-B123L ($60 + $0)

and this memory since it has a rebate
[RAM] Corsair XMS3 Memory 2x2GB DDR3 1600 CL9 240pin ($22 after rebate)

WiFi adapter
[PCI] TP-LINK TL-WN951N 300Mbps WPA2 Band:2.4GHz ($34 + $0)

[NavySealsGuy]

why dont you go for an A8-3850 APU NavySealsGuy?

[CPU+iGPU] AMD A8-3850 4x2.4GHz HD6550D FM1 100W ($135 + $0)
[MOBO] ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX ($75 + $0)

no need for a separate video card and u get usb3.
PSU is perfect.

i'd go for this SSD
[SSD] Patriot Torqx-2 2.5" SATAII 32GB Trim Read:270MB/s Write:230MB/s ($45 after rebate)

Bluray Reader
[BD-R] Samsung SH-B123L ($60 + $0)

Thanks! But unless you linked to the wrong one that Cpu/igpu is 170 not 135, still it could work I think
EDIT: Just saw the SSD and Blueray....is 32GB enough for Windows 7 64 prem? Also is there any difference with the Blueray drives? Because the LG I can get free shipping on via amazon :p

[bluray]

You will be happier with this build than i3+GT210.

1. Case/PSU: SilverStone SG06B (top notch quality with very good PSU and fan in it)
2. APU: AMD A6-3500 Llano 2.1GHz (2.4GHz Max Turbo) (low power and will playback everything you throw at it)
3. MOBO: ASRock A75M-ITX FM1 (it'll allow you to turn off/on HTPC with IR/MCE remote)
4. Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) (4GB is the magic number for W7 64-bit)
5. SSD: Patriot Torqx 2 PT232GS25SSDR 2.5" 32GB (enough for W7 64-bit with spare room)
6. BD-ROM: Panasonic UJ240 6x Blu-ray Burner

It'll playback BD in full 1080P video with DTS-HD/TrueHD audio and 3D!

If you want to bitstreaming HD audio using XBMC Beta 1, this is the easiest route- Another External Player Code, but Very Simple to Setup.

If you want more info on Cisco router and USB dongle, you can check out my thread- Great wireless router and adapter...!

[eskro]

Thanks! But unless you linked to the wrong one that Cpu/igpu is 170 not 135, still it could work I think
EDIT: Just saw the SSD and Blueray....is 32GB enough for Windows 7 64 prem? Also is there any difference with the Blueray drives? Because the LG I can get free shipping on via amazon :p

yes 32GB is enough becuz if not, i wouldnt suggest it.
thats what i have as SSD and XBMC fits nicely on it!
no space issues i still have 16GB left

sorry for wrong CPU link,
here it is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as..._-19106001
there u go!

now, if u dont need such a powerful CPU,
u can go for the tripleCORE A6-3500 which is my personal favorite for HTPC use!
[CPU+iGPU] AMD A6-3500 3x2.1Ghz/2.4Ghz HD6530D FM1 65W ($90 + $0)
u can save $55 right there.

[eskro]

updated last post
http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=975...stcount=13

[NavySealsGuy]

updated last post
http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=975...stcount=13

Well the only thing I plan to use the HTPC for is the best video/audio playback I can get, and fast downloading from the internet. Do you think triple or quad would be needed for that? I don't plan to do any gaming, I have a xbox 360 for that. So programs that would be frequently run:
Windows 7 64x prem
Google Chrome
Google Earth
Bittorrent Client
itunes
and XBMC of course!