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Finally, the waiting is Over!! Here's my HTPC!! - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Finally, the waiting is Over!! Here's my HTPC!! (/showthread.php?tid=96489)

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For Canadians... - jackh - 2011-07-04

eskro Wrote:Since im in Canada, Shipping fees are crazy,,,,

Hey eskro, you are a godsend! I am in Canada too, and still trying to find a way to reconcile US pricing (found all over the place in these forums), CAD pricing, availability in Canada (not the same), shipping costs from US, Canada, Mars, you name it, etc, etc....
OoI guess you know better than me on all the variables. Oo

So the question is: Is it generally a better deal to buy from the US and ship up here, risk hefty customs fees, or buy local depending on what can be found, which tends to be more expensive and a more restricted selection?

I know, I know, the first answer is "it depends" but I hope you can shed a little more light into this for those of us heading into our first build, and trying to keep the budget under control...

Thanks!


- eskro - 2011-07-04

Buy form the Internet....
I purchased from these sites:

- http://www.newegg.ca/
- http://www.amazon.ca/
- http://ncix.com/
- http://ca.buy.com/

** note on newegg.ca **
you'll see that shipping fees for us are crazy..
But they use combined shipping fees so it helps a bit...

Also, the same item from newegg.com is often free shipping...
and its price is often if not always lower too....
what i did was chat with an online operator from newegg.ca,
and complained about the prices...

if you do the same, im %100 positive that they'll match the USA item price
specially since our money is almost on par, well our money has more value currently...
thats what i did for my items from newegg.ca
and they set the price as the USA price for each item....

And shipping, well, nothing to do here... thats what it is,.... Good Luck!


- Matryx - 2011-07-04

eskro Wrote:Buy form the Internet....
I purchased from these sites:

- http://www.newegg.ca/
- http://www.amazon.ca/
- http://ncix.com/
- http://ca.buy.com/

** note on newegg.ca **
you'll see that shipping fees for us are crazy..
But they use combined shipping fees so it helps a bit...

Also, the same item from newegg.com is often free shipping...
and its price is often if not always lower too....
what i did was chat with an online operator from newegg.ca,
and complained about the prices...

if you do the same, im %100 positive that they'll match the USA item price
specially since our money is almost on par, well our money has more value currently...
thats what i did for my items from newegg.ca
and they set the price as the USA price for each item....

And shipping, well, nothing to do here... thats what it is,.... Good Luck!

I didn't know you were also in Canada. All this time I thought you were getting all these great deals in the US.


- eskro - 2011-07-05

Yepp, im a canuck Tongue


- Matryx - 2011-07-05

I should of jumped on the Gaida nettop for $130 with free shipping on newegg.ca a couple of days ago. I was going to wait and build an i3 for Diablo 3 but I can't stand the heat that my old computer generates. I have the AC on in my house and my room is still flaming hot.

I'm going to wait for the next deal and definitely order it this time.


- eskro - 2011-07-05

PoofyHairGuy bought that Gaida nettop and love's it!!


- jhyland - 2011-07-05

How much did this cost you


- eskro - 2011-07-05

jhyland Wrote:How much did this cost you

if your talking about my build, it was $450 for the HTPC itself....

mini keyboard & air mouse not included...


- jhyland - 2011-07-05

Im contemplating just copying your build since it looks like it works pretty well and fits my requirements pretty well, lol.. (diff keyboard/mouse though)


- KidKiwi - 2011-07-08

I've been researching your build here locally (In NZ). Most of the stuff is available. WHat I haven't been able to locate is the same CPU. Would one go for something faster or slower (sorry, don't really know the correct terms I should use).

Would more RAM be any use?

I found your Case locally as well, but then I found this one that also looked good http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/hometheatre/componentview.asp?partid=7614 and seemed to have a better remote. (No PSU, but I have one in my cupboard) Not sure what the big knob on the front does? And it's slightly taller than your one - more space for GC?

Question - Does your remote boot the HTPC from cold? (I guess this would be a function of the motherboard??).

Thx.


- eskro - 2011-07-08

about the CPU, any Dual-Core Athlon X2's will do!!

about the RAM, for HTPC tasks, 2GB is enough!!

Yes the Remote will PowerON your HTPC from cold!!

but that ANTEC case has a LCD screen,,,
you need a PSU with a specific connection...


- KidKiwi - 2011-07-08

eskro Wrote:about the CPU, any Dual-Core Athlon X2's will do!!

So yours having an X3 is a triple core?

eskro Wrote:but that ANTEC case has a LCD screen,,, you need a PSU with a specific connection...

Eek That's good to know.

I know you said you wouldn't bother with a LCD screen again. Any downsides to one (Guess the light output is a pain, Letters scrolling through would also be distracting) Does the imon software run outside of xbmc or from inside it?

I actually didn't find a case that looked better. Some are really ugly. Not sure I really want a LCD myself Oo

eskro Wrote:Yes the Remote will PowerON your HTPC from cold!!

Is this a function of the MB or does something plug into the MB from the case that makes this happen?


- eskro - 2011-07-08

X2 = Dual Core
X3= Triple Core

i got the X3 because it was on sale
at the same price as the X2 at the time...
But if not, X2 is perfect!!

Next HTPC, i wont get an LCD screen,,,,
Totally useless to...
Heck, even dont look at it....

and to have it working with XBMC,
you a seperate application made by a member here named XBMC-on-IMON....
its for windows and im not sure the author, Montellese, made a linux version,,,,
you'd have to ask him,,,

the remote PowerON works because the LCd screen is an IR receiver too,,
its easy to plug into the motherboard...
just follow the instruction booklet...
pretty much fool proof...
but u need a special connection on your PSU for LCd screens....

alternatives to that case would be the SilverStone GD04 or SilverStone GD05


- KidKiwi - 2011-07-09

Thx dude for the detailed update. I'll do some more research locally for the CPU. Only a few stores do the MB, so I'll go with one of them for a CPU so they can install it as well. I'll see what else is relevant for a case as well.


- spong_miester - 2011-07-14

Eskro, What is that card like with gaming maybe GTA IV, Red Alert 3 not anything seriously intensive.