My new HTPC build...

[Caladin2]

Lian Li (PC-V351-B) Mini Tower Computer PC Case - BLACK $120

AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor $55

GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $55

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $50

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS $50

SPARKLE P980X+ GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $150

Hard Drive ?

Wireless Nic ?

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse ?

---

This will be connected to a
Vizio SV470XVT - 47" Class 120 Hz LCD FHDTV

Any recommendations or ideas on this build?

 

[letsgetsilly]

Looks good. Not sure what you need a wireless NIC for, the motherboard has a gigabit ethernet port which you will want for any kind of streaming HD. Of course you'll need wireless if you will not have the computer wired to your home network, but I would recommend it.

I don't see a tuner card in there, so I'm guessing you aren't going to be using it (at least yet) for TV capture.

Hard drive: go with the western digital green line to save on energy costs. This thing will be on all the time, and even though the green drives are slower, they will be more than enough for sharing files over the network, loading up games, playing HD content, etc.

I don't have suggestions on your keyboard and mouse other than I hear bad things about microsoft. Go with logitech.

 

[Caladin2]

Nope I wont be capturing any TV.

Yes I have been thinking on going with the green drive from WD.

Well If I can get the cabling run through the house then no Wireless Nic. It will be accessing media content from my Windows Home server.

Was thinking since I will be connecting to a WHS. Could I get away with a small drive maybe a SSD. Runs cooler, fasters, ?

As for the DVD drive... Im not sure if I want a blueray dvd player or just a base dvd player or burner? Not sure yet...


"anyone use that brand or model of Vid card?"

 

[Slugbait]

It's always curious to me why people build an HTPC without an HTPC case...does it fit well in the stereo cabinet? This Silverstone would allow easier upgrades in the future if the best board is standard ATX. If black is out, this one is pretty nice, and it also comes in black as well.

Microsoft's MCE remote is really good, if you can find one. I use it in conjunction with a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse. Another thing to consider is distance: you may need to go with a bluetooth kb/mouse.

If your machine is in an isolated area, yeah, a wireless NIC will be handy for getting the guide listings. Just be aware that there are very few N cards, and most of them are crappy, so your Hulu might stutter. Also, if the box is backed up to a wall, the signal is going to be weak, so you might need to get better antennas.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: Caladin2
Was thinking since I will be connecting to a WHS. Could I get away with a small drive maybe a SSD. Runs cooler, fasters, ?

Runs cooler, yes. Runs faster, no (for some SSD drives, add an exclamation point to "no", with the exception of the X25-M). Runs quieter, yes. Far more expensive, absolutely...unless you go with an SLC drive, in which case it will be faster, and insanely expensive.

 

[letsgetsilly]

I think SSD on an HTPC is tremendous overkill. Go with a $60 750gig WD drive that I saw today on amazon, that should be more than enough if you have WHS setup.

I highly recommend getting a gigabit chord going there. You don't want to have guests over to check out your new movies and have them stuttering.

The bluray drives are only about $99 these days, I suggest you go for it. If you don't you'll regret it the first time you want to watch a bluray and have no ability to.

 

[Caladin2]

Originally posted by: Slugbait
It's always curious to me why people build an HTPC without an HTPC case...does it fit well in the stereo cabinet? This Silverstone would allow easier upgrades in the future if the best board is standard ATX. If black is out, this one is pretty nice, and it also comes in black as well.

Microsoft's MCE remote is really good, if you can find one. I use it in conjunction with a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse. Another thing to consider is distance: you may need to go with a bluetooth kb/mouse.

If your machine is in an isolated area, yeah, a wireless NIC will be handy for getting the guide listings. Just be aware that there are very few N cards, and most of them are crappy, so your Hulu might stutter. Also, if the box is backed up to a wall, the signal is going to be weak, so you might need to get better antennas.

The reason I chose that case is that it is small and I assume that the with 120 fans will run cool while being quiet. I like the look of that black silverstone case but Im concerned that the small fans and tight quarters might cause cooling problems and be louder to boot.

 

[Caladin2]

Originally posted by: letsgetsilly
I think SSD on an HTPC is tremendous overkill. Go with a $60 750gig WD drive that I saw today on amazon, that should be more than enough if you have WHS setup.

I highly recommend getting a gigabit chord going there. You don't want to have guests over to check out your new movies and have them stuttering.

The bluray drives are only about $99 these days, I suggest you go for it. If you don't you'll regret it the first time you want to watch a bluray and have no ability to.

Can you recommend a blueray drive that is best overall. I dont want to spend more then around $100 for it.

The more I think about it the more I like the
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: Caladin2
The reason I chose that case is that it is small and I assume that the with 120 fans will run cool while being quiet. I like the look of that black silverstone case but Im concerned that the small fans and tight quarters might cause cooling problems and be louder to boot.

I have a Cooler Master ATC-600 inside my stereo cabinet. The only internal fan is a quiet Thermaltake sitting on top of a pure-copper heat sink (a Northwood 3G). My Sparkle 400W PSU has the only other fan. It's been running 24/7 for well over two years now, I don't have heat issues.

Fan noise depends more on speed and manufacturer than it does on size. There are loud 120s out there, too. For example, get two of these Enermax fans: install one to the left side of the case for intake, and the other to one of the exhausts. As long as you have airflow, and you're not overclocking or overloading the case with devices, you should be fine. If you're worried that it's not enough airflow, but you want about the same noise level, you have to spend more...like this SilenX.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: Caladin2
Can you recommend a blueray drive that is best overall. I dont want to spend more then around $100 for it.

LG makes the better drives right now, especially their BD burners. You have a couple to choose from at the 'egg for about $110.

 

[Caladin2]

Here is another option


SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / Steel LC13B-E ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail $120

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor $65

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $130

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $50

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS $50

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $100

LG Black Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20L - Retail $110