Need recomendations for HTPC.

[DesiPower]

I wanted to build a gaming rig by the end of the year but then I realizes how much I have almost given up gaming and how badly I need a HTPC. So here's I need.

I need a HTPC that can do Blu-Ray, Netflix, Hulu. I want to keep the cost as low as possible, close to 500 - 600 range. Till now this is what I have. Oh, and I don't want AMD.

CPU - Intel Core i3-2100 - $125 (Decent Price, willing to go older tech if it makes significant difference)
Mobo - Intel BOXDH61BEB3 - $97 (I feel Intel is reliable and I need SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 but I am open to suggestions.)
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws 2x2GB - $47 (Decent Price, decent reviews)
PSU - already have Antec NEO ECO 620W - $0.00
GPU - XFX HD-567X-ZNF3 Radeon HD 5670 1GB - $70 (1GB DDR5 RAM 128 bit was my minimum requirement and wanted to keep the cost low)
HDD - Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB - $44 (I will have external and network drives, this is just for OS)
Optical Drive - LG Black 10X BD-ROM - $75 (10X Blu-ray!)

This brings the total to $470. I can go upto 600.
Now all I need is a case, never looked at HTPC cases so no idea, please recommend, looks are important but NOT looking for fancy LCD stuff in particular. Looking for solid built, reliable quality (mobo fits without being creative), fits my PSU, should not be too noisy, maybe fit a quieter Heat sink.


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Pure HTPC, will be permanently attached to a Sony 46" TV bought in 08, has HDMI and VGA inputs. Might upgrade to a 55" Samsung towards the end of the year.

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

Looking at close to $500 - 20% spread

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US of A, buying mostly from Newegg US.

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.
Intel (CPU & MOBO)

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
OS (W7) and PSU


6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, I did, but wanted to spam anyways

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Heck NO

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
Not for gaming remember? HTPC only

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
June 11

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
I have been posting in P&N and OT for years, it doesnt get any thicker than that :biggrin:

 

[Venom20]

I was going through it, the parts look solid. You could shave off a few dollars here and there, but otherwise looks ok to me.

basic gskill RAM- $7 cheeper (still free shipping)

There's a cheeper HD, but it's only cheaper by ~$5. Also it's only 160GB, so you may as well get the 500.

 

[mfenn]

I was going through it, the parts look solid. You could shave off a few dollars here and there, but otherwise looks ok to me.

basic gskill RAM- $7 cheeper (still free shipping)

There's a cheeper HD, but it's only cheaper by ~$5. Also it's only 160GB, so you may as well get the 500.

:thumbsup: OP, the build looks good. I would probably not get a Seagate due to reliability concerns, but that's up to you. There is a good Samsung F4 320GB (single-platter) drive available for $43.

Also, for what you described, you don't need the Radeon. The integrated HD 2000 is more than up to those tasks.

 

[Venom20]

There is a good Samsung F4 320GB (single-platter) drive available for $43.

I thought about suggesting that, but I think the OP is looking for a 6 GB/s connection. Unless I'm mis-interpreting it.

 

[fffblackmage]

I thought about suggesting that, but I think the OP is looking for a 6 GB/s connection. Unless I'm mis-interpreting it.

Does that matter? It's a HDD. HDDs are nowhere fast enough to even saturate SATA II 3GBps.

It's too bad that there never seems to be free shipping for the F4 320GB.

 

[DesiPower]

I guess I can go with a 3Gbps, I just though it would be nice to go with the latest tech. Any reliable 6Gbps Drives?

Also cases? can anyone recommend me a nice case that would fit everything including the PSU that I have.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you want a small HTPC case, then it's likely that you are not going to find one that takes a standard ATX PSU.

I'm not sure why you want to use a 620W PSU in a HTPC anyways. You would be better off with a physically-smaller case that includes something like a 200W PSU, IMO.

That mobo is curious, I thought that you didn't get the 6Gbit/sec SATA with the H61 chipset. But this being an Intel board, perhaps they got a special batch of H61 chips with the SATA 6G still enabled.

 

[fffblackmage]

I guess I can go with a 3Gbps, I just though it would be nice to go with the latest tech. Any reliable 6Gbps Drives?

Also cases? can anyone recommend me a nice case that would fit everything including the PSU that I have.

Getting SATA III on the mobo for future upgrades is fine, but don't pay anything extra for an SATA III compatible HDD. Consider the Vertex 3 or Intel 510 or Crucial M4/C400 if you really want to make use of SATA III 6gbps.

And as for cases, there are some good recommendations and options here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2163826

 

[mvbighead]

:thumbsup: OP, the build looks good. I would probably not get a Seagate due to reliability concerns, but that's up to you. There is a good Samsung F4 320GB (single-platter) drive available for $43.

Also, for what you described, you don't need the Radeon. The integrated HD 2000 is more than up to those tasks.

I find this statement curious myself... I have bought several seagate drives over the past few years, and have had issues with none. The reviews on the OP's choice of drive had one customer who had bad luck, and another 15 without problems.

And somehow, back 4 or so years ago, I bought a Samsung drive that died while installing the OS. I guess I am just a lucky Seagate customer.

 

[DesiPower]

If you want a small HTPC case, then it's likely that you are not going to find one that takes a standard ATX PSU.

I'm not sure why you want to use a 620W PSU in a HTPC anyways. You would be better off with a physically-smaller case that includes something like a 200W PSU, IMO.

That mobo is curious, I thought that you didn't get the 6Gbit/sec SATA with the H61 chipset. But this being an Intel board, perhaps they got a special batch of H61 chips with the SATA 6G still enabled.

well... was trying to save money on the PSU, already had it so though I could use it. I looked around too and realized that I will probably have to go with a Mini tower atleast...

 

[betasub]

SATA III 6G/s is little more than a marketing feature on HDD (the interface does nothing to improve rotating disk or data transfer speed). Don't pay any extra for it over a standard SATA II 3GB/s. (SSD is a different matter).

 

[50]

Drop the GPU, get an SSD and checkout silverstone cases, they can fit your PSU and aren't gargantuan.

 

[mfenn]

I find this statement curious myself... I have bought several seagate drives over the past few years, and have had issues with none. The reviews on the OP's choice of drive had one customer who had bad luck, and another 15 without problems.

And somehow, back 4 or so years ago, I bought a Samsung drive that died while installing the OS. I guess I am just a lucky Seagate customer.

Return rates on the F3 and F4 drives are about 1.4% versus 2.2% on the Barracudas.

 

[mvbighead]

Looks like you're right according to: http://www.behardware.com/articles/831-6/components-returns-rates.html.

I dunno, I just seem to have bad luck with Samsung, and yet to run into an issue with Seagate. Oh wells, either way, anything is better than Hitachi apparently.