[Valdysses]

So, cards on the table, I'm going to burden you all with yet another "which hardware should I choose" thread.

I did a little research beforehand, though, so I'm not totally without a starting point.

Currently, my setup revolves around SABnzb, Couchpotato and Sickbeard running on an iMac (also my primary workstation) and moving named files off to an HP WHS with around 8TB of storage. These are both wired via LAN through an airport extreme router to a popcorn hour C-200. From there, everything is hooked up to a good 5.1 system via HDMI, and controlled with a harmony remote. I would like to take the popcorn hour out of the equation and move the NZB apparatus from the iMac to the HTPC.

User "Eskro" has made a good hardware suggestion in a number of threads:

[cpu] Athlon X2 3.0GHz AM3 65W ($60) http://fwd4.me/u0U
[ram] G.SKILL Ripjaws 2 x 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 1066 CL7 ($40) http://fwd4.me/uJ3
[mobo] ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 USB2 MicroATX ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJS
[gpu] ZOTAC GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJ8
[ssd] Corsair Nova 2.5" 32GB SATAII ($79) http://fwd4.me/uJ4
[case + psu] Sentey SS1-2422 MicroATX 450W ($52) http://fwd4.me/u0Y

But before I pulled the trigger on this, I had a few concerns.

1) I'm not terribly comfortable in Linux. I could learn, if need be, but I would frankly prefer a system that could run 1080p content (40 MB/s throughput from server) on top of Win7.

2) Can this hardware effectively run XBMC alongside SAB? Currently, SAB makes my iMac processor work pretty hard when it's extracting files, and since this install would be largely unattended, I'd need something capable of running all systems simultaneously without much of a hitch.

3) Is 450w a necessity? I'm not concerned about power usage, but I frankly am not in love with the looks of that case. If need be, I'll buy a different case and a separate power supply. Size isn't a concern, but I want something with an "appliance" footprint, rather than a "tower" footprint, for aesthetic reasons.

4) How is the IR functionality of this system? For the benefit of my wife, once this system is running I want file playback to be seamlessly integrated with IR. XBMC is the only thing it will ever display, and I'll maintain it through VNC, RDC, or something to that effect.

SHORT TL;DR VERSION

Can this setup run XBMC, WIN7, and SABnzb at the same time via remote? Can I change the case?

[fekker]

yes, the hardware is more then fast enough for win 7 + xbmc + whatever
the ssd is abit small if your using it to download a bunch of stuff

depending where your located, this ebay case is great for a htpc, just add a 120mm fan to the back of the tray, above the cpu, ziptied to the hdd/cdrom tray to keep it cool, you'll need a pcie riser card to use a standard height video card.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Mini-ITX-Case-w-...1c133c1354

[eskro]

the hardware i suggest is a good starting point....
im not pushing it on anybody
Actually, as eveybody has different needs,
my list is a good start and users can work their way around it!

Now 450w is not a necessity...
that system would be running just fine with a PSU of 300w...
but hey, it comes with the case so, i can't complain....

now if you want the appliance feeling,
that ebay case could be great! cheap too!
but it uses MiNi-iTX motherboards...
so plan accordingly...

but there's plenty of MicroATX cases that can give the appliance feel you want...
examples...
--> hec HTPC Case MicroATX 300W ($50 + Free Shipping)
--> Foxconn HTPC Case MicroATX 300W ($45 + $10 Shipping)

[ashlar]

There's no need for Linux. Win7 does what you require out of XBMC.

[Valdysses]

the hardware i suggest is a good starting point....
im not pushing it on anybody

... there's plenty of MicroATX cases that can give the appliance feel you want...
examples...
--> hec HTPC Case MicroATX 300W ($50 + Free Shipping)
--> Foxconn HTPC Case MicroATX 300W ($45 + $10 Shipping)

This is excellent, Eskro! Thanks very much for your helpful posts on this subject, and on your continued recommendations. I've built a few PCs for friends before, but I was spending their money then, so...

There's no need for Linux. Win7 does what you require out of XBMC.

That's good to know. I had initially read about a lot of the smaller, Revo-like Atom systems before I decided to build, and they seemed to often benefit from Linux's smaller footprint. I was hoping to simply spend money rather than time to solve the larger Win7 footprint problem

[eskro]

on a setup like i suggested you, XBMC + Windows7 = Blazing Fast!!

running your OS on a SSD is the way to go!!
thats mainly what makes this setup FAST!!
because you can have the strongest CPU / RAM,
if your using a normal Hard Disk Drive,
your limited to that speed...

thats where SDD's come into play!
they are way faster then regular hard drives!

if you feel a 32GB SSD is not enough for you (it should)
you can always add another $10 and buy this one
--> Mushkin Callisto 2.5" 40GB SATAII ($100 + Free Shipping - $10 MIR)

[ashlar]

I cam confirm. SSD makes a lot of difference. Any other system feels sluggish afterward.

[fekker]

the hardware i suggest is a good starting point....
im not pushing it on anybody
Actually, as eveybody has different needs,
my list is a good start and users can work their way around it!

Now 450w is not a necessity...
that system would be running just fine with a PSU of 300w...
but hey, it comes with the case so, i can't complain....

now if you want the appliance feeling,
that ebay case could be great! cheap too!
but it uses MiNi-iTX motherboards...
so plan accordingly...

but there's plenty of MicroATX cases that can give the appliance feel you want...
examples...
--> hec HTPC Case MicroATX 300W ($50 + Free Shipping)
--> Foxconn HTPC Case MicroATX 300W ($45 + $10 Shipping)

a note on the ebay case, you can actually fit a full sized atx motherboard in there. It's not a perfect case, but sure does the job nicely for the cost. (it's a silverstone case and psu in there)

there's more info and pics on avsforum.. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...417&page=4

[spencers]

OP, that's quite the beefy setup for XBMC + SAB/SB/CP.

My little Acer Revo 1600 handles all that just fine. But again, it's a linux-based setup (XBMC Live).

In any case, I'm betting it will handle Win7 + XBMC + SAB/SB/CP just fine! Having a SSD will make it much faster, as well.

[Valdysses]

OP, that's quite the beefy setup for XBMC + SAB/SB/CP.

My little Acer Revo 1600 handles all that just fine. But again, it's a linux-based setup (XBMC Live).

In any case, I'm betting it will handle Win7 + XBMC + SAB/SB/CP just fine! Having a SSD will make it much faster, as well.

I'm strongly of the opinion that a little overkill is a good idea. I tend to hold on to hardware too long, in any case.

I like the Foxconn case you linked, Eskro. It looks like it will do the job well, and not break the bank. At ~$350 (with a 60 GB SSD) it seems that it will kill for what I need it for.

I went with a larger SSD to try and avoid having a secondary drive in the case. Occasionally I download larger files, and I'd love to keep them on the machine until they're totally unpacked and then transfer them to the server. Having ~30 GB constantly freed up should be helpful.

[Valdysses]

Alright, here's a screenie of the revised part list. Fans seemed like a good get, since silence is golden.



Parts are thus:

[cpu] Athlon X2 3.0GHz AM3 65W ($60) http://fwd4.me/u0U
[ram] G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) ($40) http://fwd4.me/uKm
[mobo] ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 USB2 MicroATX ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJS
[gpu] ZOTAC GT430 1GB DDR3 128-bit Low Profile ($65) http://fwd4.me/uJ8
[ssd] Patriot Inferno 60GB SSD ($130) http://fwd4.me/uKn
[case + psu] Foxconn DH153C-CF300K Steel MicroATX 300w ($45) http://fwd4.me/uKo
[fans] 2x Evercool 40mm ($5 ea) http://fwd4.me/uKp