HTPC Build - Critiques Needed

[cobalt8]

Here's the build I have come up with. I would appreciate any suggestions or comments (good or bad). It's been a long time since I built a computer and I would like to make sure that I'm not overlooking anything or forgetting something vital (which is very probable..lol) before ordering.

Case (w/PSU): Antec New Solution NSK2480 MicroATX Case 380W Power Supply (I'm buying it from Amazon, though, because it's cheaper)

MB: GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH5050DOBOX - Retail

RAM: Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N5K2/4G - Retail

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

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

Remote w/Receiver: Anyware GP-IR02BK Vista 2 channel IR Remote Control

And here's the other information you guys ask for:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I'm building an HTPC. I intend to use it to play media (movies, tv shows, music, etc) from the local hard drive, stream media from networked sources and the internet, and watch Blu-Ray movies.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$450-$550

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
I'm leaning towards AMD, but I really don't have a preference.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
None. All new for me.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I've read several.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I don't plan on overclocking anything, so default speeds it is.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
I plan on ordering within the next day or two.

 

[somethingsketchy]

Good build overall although I suggest changing the HDD to another manufacturer. Seagate 1TB HDDs have been notorious (in the last 6+ months) for their high failure rate. I'd suggest looking at other manufacturers for the 1TB range and skip Seagate altogether. Not sure what their 500GB, 750GB and 1.5TB drives are like, but I would err on the side of caution. I've only used their 1TB HDDs and I cannot get any of their drives to work for more than a few weeks at a time.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136317

This Western Digital HDD is only $10 more (and it is the green version so it'll draw less power at idle and at load). Other than that all of your other parts look good for your purposes.

 

[DayLaPaul]

replace the hard drive with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A&Item=N82E16822152102

 

[DSF]

Pretty nice choice on the case. It doesn't have all the sound reduction around the chassis as some other Antec cases. It's basically just sheet steel in places. You may want to consider the noise level of your heatsink and exhaust fans if you want to minimize noise.

 

[cobalt8]

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[s44]

If you have a 120hz LCD or surround sound, go Nvidia mobo. 780G does neither 1080p/24 nor multichannel PCM (lossless audio).

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: s44
If you have a 120hz LCD or surround sound, go Nvidia mobo. 780G does neither 1080p/24 nor multichannel PCM (lossless audio).

Sorry to thread jack. I have a Z-5500 (5.1?) speaker set and I was considering this same motherboard. I plan on watching 1080P movies, as well.

What AMD motherboard would support both of these?