[icecoled007]

Hello all, new to the forums. Looking to build my first HTPC. Searching for deals to have the best bang for my buck


PSU: Intel Core i3 2100 LGA 1155 3.1GHz Boxed Processor - Microcenter $99.99

Mobo: I am hung up on what to order. Microcenter has "Buy an i3 get any 1155 mobo for $50 off. I was thinking either
- Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2H LGA $15 after rebate/coupon or
- Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LGA 1155 Z68 for $55 after rebate/coupon (wont be able to utilize full functionality of this board without an i3-2125?!?!?)

Case: MI-008 Tower Black P4 Chassis with 250W Itx Psu+sata Power Supply. $~40 at Amazon

Ram: Corsair XMS 8GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit $~25 after rebate at Microcenter

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda Green 5900 2TB internal Hard Drive. My friend can get me this new for $120. The bottle neck in my budged build. Cant find any HD deals.

OS: Windows 7 Enterprise $0

XBMC: Free!

Wired mouse/keyboard: Free/have on hand.

Total: $300+tax ~$17 after $30 rebates and the cheaper Mobo.

This should get me running on the lowest budget possible. I can add on in the future, but what do you guys think of what I have so far?

[Beer40oz]

Have you seen this?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199

If you are going to run win 7 I would get a AMD A6-3500... are you going to game on it?

[NavySealsGuy]

http://www.microcenter.com/single_produc...id=0376494
well here is a i3-2125 at microcenter for only 20 bucks more

[icecoled007]

Have you seen this?
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=94199

If you are going to run win 7 I would get a AMD A6-3500... are you going to game on it?

Why the A6. Then I wont get the $50 off at MC

No gaming, no 3D, just 1080p and a one stop entertainment area

[icecoled007]

http://www.microcenter.com/single_produc...id=0376494
well here is a i3-2125 at microcenter for only 20 bucks more

$20 more the the CPU but then another $40 for the better mobo. Is it worth it?

[eskro]

If you are going to run win 7 I would get a AMD A6-3500... are you going to game on it?

+1

[Beer40oz]

Why the A6. Then I wont get the $50 off at MC

No gaming, no 3D, just 1080p and a one stop entertainment area

It's just great with the IGPU it has built in. Take full power of no Macroblocking and some other stuff. People are really enjoying this Llano Apu's there is also the A8 but thats if you plan to game on it. Either way the A6 you can still game on it too.

[icecoled007]

Humm, thanks

I also realized that my ITX case wont work with my mATX board......

I am hung up on the $50 off mobo with a i3-2000 deal. Is that not that great of a deal?

[Beer40oz]

Humm, thanks

I also realized that my ITX case wont work with my mATX board......

I am hung up on the $50 off mobo with a i3-2000 deal. Is that not that great of a deal?

I guess.... have fun for whatever you choose.

[eskro]

if ur happy were all happy

[CpTHOOK]

Why the A6. Then I wont get the $50 off at MC

No gaming, no 3D, just 1080p and a one stop entertainment area

With regard to 3D, unless you plan to run FULL SBS 3D files, you wont need any special fancy schmancy hardware to play 3D as long as the files you choose to dowlnload are Half SBS side-by-side or top-to-bottom in MKV or ISO containers. SO... I would not base my hardware decisions on weather or not the harware is 3D compatible. Any media player to include streamers(WD Live/ROKU) and HTPC's, regardless if the HDMI version is 1.3 or 1.4, can play 3D files as long as you have a 3D TV.

[icecoled007]

if ur happy were all happy

Lol that doesn't answer my question...

[eskro]

shoot your question again then