Help me build a new HTPC

[Modular]

So wife and I have decided that it's time to get a new HTPC after sitting on the following for several years:

MSI Neo4 platinum socket 939
AMD 3400+
6600 vanilla
2 TB of storage
Earthwatts 380

The PC will run Windows 7 and use the default Media Player for recording etc. I'm no going to need any drives (HDD or DVD/Blu-ray) as the ones I have now are working just fine. So basically I need a new processor, motherboard, video card capable of 1080p that can run on a 380 watt high efficiency PSU. The only caveat is that I'd like to spend $300 or so.

I'm embarrassed to say that I'm out of the loop on CPU's as once i7 hit and was so far out of my price range (at that time) I lost interest. But I'd like a relatively powerful CPU so quad core isn't out of the question.

The other wrench to throw in the works is that I have a gaming computer that's a few years old that I could transfer the CPU and MOBO/RAM to HTPC use if I could get a decent enough system for $300-$400 to replace it. The gaming rigs' specs are:
Biostar TA-790gx 128m
Phenom II X4 920
4GB of ddr2
HD4850 512mb 1TB of storage
Earthwatts 500 watter

What would you do AT? Should I get a new CPU/Mobo for my gaming computer and make that my new HTPC, or should I just upgrade my HTPC and leave the gamer alone?

 

[jdjbuffalo]

I recommend an i3 530 with an H55 motherboard (see my sig). You are looking at about $350 for processor, motherboard and RAM. Beyond that it depends on what you want to add to the system.

You can get a good HTPC case (highly recommended) for $50 - $125. This could take you a while to figure out. I looked for weeks before I found one I was happy with.

A DVD drive will be about $25 or if you want to watch Blu-rays then your looking at $60 - $100 for the drive. You will also need a Blu-ray software player ($50 - $100). I recommend TMT3. They frequently run sales where you can get it for 20 - 40% off.

 

[HumblePie]

I highly recommend at least a dual core setup, but you seriously don't need to spend that much. However, if you want to this works well.

$40 ($35 with $5 off coupon) AMD dual core 5000+

$90 for a decent motherboard

$109 for 4GB of some goo G Skill DDR3 ripjaws

$40 for a nice low profile heatsink

Grand total of $280~

The board comes with an ATI 4250 with hdmi built in and is plenty for an HTPC. Has room for expansion as well. Also, if you are willing to try, that CPU can possibly have additional cores and cache that can unlock up to a quad as it is a Deneb cpu. Although it may not be needed for an HTPC. This way you can keep the rest of what you have and sell of your previous parts.

 

[mfenn]

I highly recommend at least a dual core setup, but you seriously don't need to spend that much. However, if you want to this works well.

$40 ($35 with $5 off coupon) AMD dual core 5000+

$90 for a decent motherboard

$109 for 4GB of some goo G Skill DDR3 ripjaws

$40 for a nice low profile heatsink

Grand total of $280~

The board comes with an ATI 4250 with hdmi built in and is plenty for an HTPC. Has room for expansion as well. Also, if you are willing to try, that CPU can possibly have additional cores and cache that can unlock up to a quad as it is a Deneb cpu. Although it may not be needed for an HTPC. This way you can keep the rest of what you have and sell of your previous parts.

Decent build, would like to point out that that CPU is most certainly not a Deneb, it's a couple of generations too old for that. 😉 I would probably just get a cheap Athlon II X2 OEM because there are some nice architectural improvements between the old Athlon X2s and the Athlon IIs.

 

[HumblePie]

Decent build, would like to point out that that CPU is most certainly not a Deneb, it's a couple of generations too old for that. 😉 I would probably just get a cheap Athlon II X2 OEM because there are some nice architectural improvements between the old Athlon X2s and the Athlon IIs.

Uhh no. That is not true. There is a big thread on slickdeals and other places talking about this chip. In many cases, AMD was forced to lockdown some phenom II denebs to fulfill some OEM orders they had outstanding. ewiz got a large supply of them. So it's a roll of the dice. You either get the dual core or you get a quad that's locked as a dual core. If you get the quad it's about a $130 cpu 🙂

 

[mfenn]

Uhh no. That is not true. There is a big thread on slickdeals and other places talking about this chip. In many cases, AMD was forced to lockdown some phenom II denebs to fulfill some OEM orders they had outstanding. ewiz got a large supply of them. So it's a roll of the dice. You either get the dual core or you get a quad that's locked as a dual core. If you get the quad it's about a $130 cpu 🙂

Alright, well that sound like a smokin' deal then! 🙂

 

[Modular]

I found a sweet deal at Microcenter on an Athlon II X4 630 w/ a free motherboard (total was $103 with tax for both). I picked one up the other day and am going to try it out in my HTPC to see how all the components fit (the board is micro-ATX, so it could be a tight fit with 2 tuners and a video card).