[ced64k]

Hi, my goal is to build my first HTPC. What do you think of this ?

Requirements :
- Nvidia graphic card for maximum compatibility with XBMC Live
- Maximum size : width 46 cm, height 20 cm, depth : 35 cm
- 1080p mkv playing
- HDMI
- Gigabit
- DVD/bluray : not required
- Remote control
- Silent
- Budget : 500 €

[CASE] SilverStone Grandia SST-GD05B
[MOBO] ASRock H61M/U3S3
[CPU] Intel Core i3 2100
[RAM] Kingston ValueRAM - 4GB (2 x 2GB) - DDR3 - 1333 MHz - PC3-10600 - CL9
[GPU] Asus EN210 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP)
[PSU] Be quiet! Straight Power BQT-E7-500W
[HD] WD Caviar Green WD15EARS - Festplatte - 2TB

[COOLER] ??
I don't know which CPU cooler is compatible with this GD05 case ?
Silverstone NT01-E ?
Scythe BIG Shuriken ?
Scythe Shuriken ?
Samuel 17 ?
Stock Intel ?

[CASE FANS] ??
Don't know if I could keep the 3 GD05 120mm fans... ? Noiseblocker s1 ? Fanmate ? Fan controller ?

[REMOTE] ??
If you have any tip for using with a Logitech Harmony.

Thanks :

[eskro]

looking at what you need to do with your HTPC,
i say your CPU is overkiLL,,,,

[CPU]
if AMD CPU: Athlon X2 for ~$60
if INTEL CPU: Celeron E3400 for ~$50

[GPU]
the Asus EN210 is great, keep it...

[MOBO]
if AMD CPU: ASRock 880GM-LE AM3 Micro-ATX ~$60
if INTEL CPU: GIGABYTE GA-G41MT-D3 LGA 775 Intel G41 ~65

[CASE]
i would save ~$40 by buying the SILVERSTONE ML03B Micro-ATX ~$60 on amazon.com

[PSU]
Antec EarthWatts 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ~$45

[RAM]
what ever Brand you choose, 2x1GB is enough!
Heres some examples:
if ASRock MOBO: 2x1gb ddr3 1333 CL7 Crucial Ballistix ~$36
if GIGABYTE MOBO: 2x1gb ddr3 1066 CL7 G.SKILL ~$28

[nemek]

Why not just ion?

Asrock A330ION ~ 125$ (mobo + cpu + gpu)

[eskro]

because for ~$30 more, you can outclass the anemic A330ION hands down!!

[CPU]
AMD Athlon X2 for $60

[GPU]
Asus GT210 $35

[MOBO]
ASRock 880GM-LE AM3 Micro-ATX $60

[ced64k]

I just placed my order, back to little Athlon X2

[CASE] Silverstone Grandia GD05B
[MOBO] Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H
[CPU] AMD Athlon™ II X2 265
[COOLER] Scythe Big Shuriken
[GPU] Asus EN210 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP)
[HD] Western Digital Caviar Green S-ATA - 2 To - 64 Mo
[PSU] Be Quiet Straight Power E8 - 400W
[RAM] Kingston ValueRAM DDR3 2 Go PC10600 CAS 9
[DVD] LG GH22NS50 - OEM
[WIFI] D-Link DWL-G122 (rev.E1)
REMOTE HFX Vista Remote Control GP

[eskro]

Looks very good! Congratz!

[ced64k]

[eskro]

Perfect! Very Nice HTPC!! Congratz!!!

[ThomasVH]

Looking great! Grats!

[ced64k]

6 years after... time to upgrade

My configuration still great with 1080p x264 but it's laggy with 1080p x265. Do you know if a brand new ASUS GeForce GT 1030 can do the job ?

[Andy2222]

6 years after... time to upgrade

My configuration still great with 1080p x264 but it's laggy with 1080p x265. Do you know if a brand new ASUS GeForce GT 1030 can do the job ?

Given that all intel iGPU that support HEVC can decode those without problems, the GT 1030 is much more powerfully and also has full support for 10bit 4k HVEC its a easy job for this card.
Its a great card to upgrade a HTPC or get more MadVR power. Here is just one review i read yesterday: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=ar...1030&num=1
As you can see, surprisingly the 1030 even does not loose much ground against the 1060/1070 regarding VDPAU performance.

[katsup]

A lot of users have replaced their HTPC with development boards (Odroid C2, Raspberry Pi, etc) or other alternatives. You may want to do some research to see if you'd prefer to replace the HTPC.