Kodi Community Forum - A few HTPC component recommendations please

Hello,

Background: I have a Dell Inspiron 1501 since '05 or '06 with 60GB capacity it's getting ready to retire or at least go through a whole system cleanup. So I'm thinking about building an HTPC (first time ever building a PC) for media as well as my main PC.

Uses: web browsing/video streaming, downloads, maybe a little gaming (SC2-- because my friend bought it for me), occasional photo editing, storage (photos, music, videos).

I've been reading about how to build computers and which components will optimize builds, but I'm probably still missing a lot of insider information. With that being said, this is my list right now:

case $130 LIAN LI PC-V352B Black Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811112279

CPU $145 Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I33225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819116774

MOBO $95/$90
GIGABYTE GA-H77M-D3H LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128548
OR
ASRock H77 Pro4-M LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157301

RAM $41 CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820145345

HDD $120 Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822148681

Optical Drive $55 ASUS Black Blu-ray Drive SATA Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827135247

GPU-- using igpu on cpu
SDD-- need help with
PSU-- need help with (according to reviews for the case, sounds like a modular psu a necessity-- I hear seasonic is good?)

Can anyone see any compatibility issues? Thanks for any help with this!

SSD:
Agility 3 if you want cheap performance
Samsung 830 if price is no object
(60gb should be fine)

PSU:
Seasonic is great..

I have a quite similar setup my self (se signature)

To my untrained eye that all looks good but as you've mentioned games........
I'm no expert but for a gaming if you're a casual gamer like me I would say a radeon hd 6670 gpu with gddrr5 ram,
I know pc gamers will flame the hell out of me for saying that but my HTPC with that card inside gives a 720p gaming experience equal to ps3 or xbox 360 imho.
There must be nvidea equivalents of that card but without researching I don't know them.

(2012-10-14, 21:08)tfang Wrote: [ -> ]GPU-- using igpu on cpu
SDD-- need help with
PSU-- need help with (according to reviews for the case, sounds like a modular psu a necessity-- I hear seasonic is good?)

Can anyone see any compatibility issues? Thanks for any help with this!

-SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W
- Kingston SSDNow V+200 KR-S3020-3H 2.5" 120GB

Everything else seems okay.....

(2012-10-14, 23:42)RaggSokk3n Wrote: [ -> ]SSD:
Agility 3 if you want cheap performance
Samsung 830 if price is no object
(60gb should be fine)

How is OCZ reliability? I'm just a little skeptical because people always say 'you get what you pay for' and i don't want to pay little for a drive if they're known to have issues, you know? Tongue

(2012-10-15, 00:40)stammie Wrote: [ -> ]To my untrained eye that all looks good but as you've mentioned games........
I'm no expert but for a gaming if you're a casual gamer like me I would say a radeon hd 6670 gpu with gddrr5 ram,

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm really hesitant about getting a GPU because I seriously don't play much games. I know I listed games in my "uses", but I think if it involves getting a dedicated GPU, I may just skimp out on that. I really only play when he asks me to, and it's not often. That may change in the future, but I guess I can buy a GPU then if I decide to! Smile

(2012-10-15, 00:45)bluray Wrote: [ -> ]-SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W
- Kingston SSDNow V+200 KR-S3020-3H 2.5" 120GB

Are there any modular PSUs that you would recommend? It just seems that cable management is such a widely discussed topic with the case that I've picked that I think it's going to be necessary.

Also, does anyone have preference over either motherboard that I have listed? pros/cons? experiences? Tongue

(2012-10-15, 02:09)tfang Wrote: [ -> ]
(2012-10-15, 00:45)bluray Wrote: [ -> ]-SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W
- Kingston SSDNow V+200 KR-S3020-3H 2.5" 120GB
Are there any modular PSUs that you would recommend? It just seems that cable management is such a widely discussed topic with the case that I've picked that I think it's going to be necessary.
Also, does anyone have preference over either motherboard that I have listed? pros/cons? experiences?

Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450-M 450W....perfect scores....!

If you are planning to turn off HTPC via remote controller, AsRock included 1 x CIR header....

(2012-10-15, 02:19)bluray Wrote: [ -> ]
(2012-10-15, 02:09)tfang Wrote: [ -> ]
(2012-10-15, 00:45)bluray Wrote: [ -> ]-SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W
- Kingston SSDNow V+200 KR-S3020-3H 2.5" 120GB
Are there any modular PSUs that you would recommend? It just seems that cable management is such a widely discussed topic with the case that I've picked that I think it's going to be necessary.
Also, does anyone have preference over either motherboard that I have listed? pros/cons? experiences?
Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450-M 450W....perfect scores....!

If you are planning to turn off HTPC via remote controller, AsRock included 1 x CIR header....

Ah-- thanks, bluray! I think I'm pretty set on the mobo then Smile

I was peeking at this Silencer MKIII PSU and was wondering if anyone knows if it will fit okay in the Lian-Li V352 case I have listed? The case says it will fit a "standard ATX P/S2 power supply". Is it safe to assume that any ATX PSU will fit without exceptions?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...r-Supplies

(2012-10-17, 06:18)tfang Wrote: [ -> ]
(2012-10-15, 02:19)bluray Wrote: [ -> ]
(2012-10-15, 02:09)tfang Wrote: [ -> ]
Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450-M 450W....perfect scores....!

If you are planning to turn off HTPC via remote controller, AsRock included 1 x CIR header....

Ah-- thanks, bluray! I think I'm pretty set on the mobo then

I was peeking at this Silencer MKIII PSU and was wondering if anyone knows if it will fit okay in the Lian-Li V352 case I have listed? The case says it will fit a "standard ATX P/S2 power supply". Is it safe to assume that any ATX PSU will fit without exceptions?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...r-Supplies

PS2 is the standard ATX\ATX12V sized PSU......

If it is me, I go for the gold+140mm cooling fan vs bronze+120mm cooling fan.....