[RaggSokk3n]

I've been looking into changing my two htpcs.
I'm now left with two options; a custom build or a zbox ad04 with agility agility 60gb ssd and and 4gb 1333MHz ram.

The most potent custom build I could come up with in the same price range is as follows:
ASUS P8B75-M LX, Socket-1155 m-ATX, B75, DDR3, 1xG3-PCIe-x16, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.0, 1xPCI, VGA, DVI, UEFI
ASUS Radeon HD 6450 1GB DDR3 Silent PCI-Express 2.1, DVI, native-HDMI, HDCP, "low-profile"
Chieftec A-85 Series CTB-350S 350W PSU ATX 12V V2.3, 80 Plus Bronze, Standard, 3x SATA, 3x Molex, 120mm
Corsair Value S. DDR3 1333MHz 8GB KIT Kit w/2x 4GB, Unbuffered, CL9-9-9-24, 240pin, 1.5V, for Intel and AMD DDR3
Intel® Pentium® Processor G630T Socket-LGA1155, Dual Core, 2.2Ghz, 3MB, 35W, Boxed w/fan
OCZ SSD Agility 3 Series 2.5" 60GB SATA 6 Gb/s (SATA3.0), 525MB/475MB/s read/write, SandForce® SF-2281
Silverstone Milo SST-ML03B HTPC Sort mATX, mDTX, mITX, 2x USB 3.0, Audio

What I want to to use them for:
Stream sd, 720p, 1080p and 3d h-sbs (max 6mBs)
Play 7.1 hd audio
Run skins like aeon
I don't care about netflix, hulu, blue ray or anything like that.

The size and performance is very different between these two setups.
But what's the best choice?
I'm open to OS suggestions

[Dougie Fresh]

The integrated GPU in the 630T is good enough for what you want to do. You do not need a discrete GPU card. The 6450 doesn't get you much over the Intel HD GPU in the 630T.

You could also look at a barebones like this to compare as well:
Realan E-i5 Intel barebones

[bluray]

What I want to to use them for:
Stream sd, 720p, 1080p and 3d h-sbs (max 6mBs)
Play 7.1 hd audio
Run skins like aeon
I don't care about netflix, hulu, blue ray or anything like that.

The size and performance is very different between these two setups.
But what's the best choice?
I'm open to OS suggestions

With the wish list above, G630T+HD6450 is your best option of the two options....you'll need HD6450 for 3d....and this Windows "Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Full - Branded" should work.....

[Dougie Fresh]

Ooops, missed the 3D requirement. Sorry about that. So, either G5xx/6xx/8xx + HD6450 or i3-21xx, etc.

[RaggSokk3n]

Well to clarify the 3d; I'm going to use h-sbs (half side by side) so it won't be harder on the gpu then the standard 1080p except for the higher bitrate. (6mB/s vs 4mB/s)

So why not the zbox?
Is i3 3220 a better choice than 630t + HD6450? (same price)
And why W7 instead of XBMCbuntu or OpenELEC?

[bluray]

So why not the zbox?

I don't trust the Fusion iGPU. My HD6310 is very buggy, and I end up installing GT430 in it...

Is i3 3220 a better choice than 630t + HD6450? (same price)

If you can find Intel i3-3220 for the same price as G630T+HD6450, you should go with the latest i3-3220 then.....

And why W7 instead of XBMCbuntu or OpenELEC?

I don't use anything other than W7.....

[RaggSokk3n]

Tank you for the quick reply.
I'm considering changing the PSU in the setup for the SEASONIC X-460 460W MODULAR FANLESS - very expensive but completely silent, but if I go for that one I'm worried that the stock cooler for the i3 3220T might be a little loud. Is Scythe Shuriken a good choice for a silent htpc or do you have any other suggestions?
W7 + xbmc looks like the best choice, but is there any guide on disabling the unnecessary services in W7?