[Doomstone]

I have been out of the hardware game for quite a while, so i am having some problems selecting a CPU and Motherboard.
My media center will be used as NAS, Media Player (XBMC) and downloaded.
I would like it to be as cheap as possible I where thinking something like a i5.

This is what i have on my to buy list so far.

1 x CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9
1 x ASUS GT610-SL-1GD3-L GeForce GT 610 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card
1 x CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power
1 x SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / Steel Grandia Series SST-GD08B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
5 x Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARX 2TB SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Also is a 650W psu overkill or just right?

[Jetster]

The i5 and the TX560 are overkills

So you need to check out Esko's builds

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?pid...3pid938719

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

[assassin]

Take a look at many free hardware guide. Link in my sig.

[GortWillSaveUs]

The i5 and the TX560 are overkills

So you need to check out Esko's builds

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?pid...3pid938719

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

+1

[Nimo]

look at my sig, full fanless or take i3-2125 with hd3k (i dont like amd´s )

[Dougie Fresh]

300W-400W is all you need (300W is better). Look at the Seasonic SS-300ET/SS-350ET.

[wsume99]

Most likely - depending on what CPU you decide to buy - you won't need a dedicated graphics card. For standard media center duty integrated graphics will be just fine.

[bluray]

I have been out of the hardware game for quite a while, so i am having some problems selecting a CPU and Motherboard.
My media center will be used as NAS, Media Player (XBMC) and downloaded.
I would like it to be as cheap as possible I where thinking something like a i5.

Actually for multi-purpose (NAS, media player, transcoding, ripping, etc) HTPC, i5 is excellent choice. Below are the rest of your components.....

Intel Core i5-3450 Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.5GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core (you'll have the latest technology)

GIGABYTE GA-H77M-D3H LGA 1155 Intel H77 (it included USB 3.0 header for front port)

Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450 450W (it's good for multiple hard drives, and 450W should be enough for your needs)

[Jetster]

Ive never tested it. But my thought on the i3 vs i5 for transcoding would be about the same as they both have 4 threads. The i3 having Hyper threading and the i5 not. Just a thought