[Solved] HTPC question

I'm going to build my mom a computer for Chirstmas. I know this is early but I want to ask. I want to make the computer so that it'll record TV shows from a TV tunner card so she saves money so she is not wasting Tapes no more. I was thinking of either the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, E7500, or the Pentuim Dual-Core E6300.

It's going to be in a slim case like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811120008

have this Tunner card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815293003

This motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813121381

and this GPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161283

I just can't figure out what CPU to get. I know I'm going to upgrade the PSU to this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6834993077

Big problem.... that mobo has only one slot for PCIe and no extra PCI clots. You might want this one instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813121355

Its a better chipset and as well has a 16x PCIe 2.0, 1x PCIe 2.0 and PCI slot while still in the same form factor.

For the CPU, a E7500 would be fine since the GPU you are getting will pick up some of the slack with UVD2. Also would pair up great with a $50 Blu-Ray drive.

The reason for the case and motherboard is becuase I need it to fit in a tight spot under a TV. The CPU should not be a problem becuase I'm going to try to underclock it to 2GHz at 1.5v so heat is not an issue. That is where my E8400 is at with speedstep enabled on a C0 stepping one. I was originally going to go with the zotac Geforce 7100 which had the 630i chipset but they are no longer availible.

Thing is there are no tunner cards that have PCIe x 16 and I want a case with 2 PCI slot like the Jetway one I have on OP.

The one you have in the OP is an intel single PCI. Your case is also single PCI. I'm not sure they make 2 PCI slot mini-ITX boards.
Unfortunately, the PSU you planned on upgrading to won't work; its designed as a universal laptop charger, it won't plug into your mobo and replace your PSU, meaning you will be limited at 80 W. Your thought of underclocking might alleviate that a bit, but I think your going to need to get a single core, such as a 35 W celeron. At least they're cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116039

BTW, if you get a 9300 mobo, you won't need a discrete GPU.

What do you mean there are no PCI-E TV Tuners? NewEgg shows 34:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] rchInDesc=

I origainlly wanted a PCI-E tunner but the motherboard that is the 9300 dose not have a PCI-E and I also wanted a GPU as well to handle the encoding of the Video. So this leaves me with only a regular PCI option.

If I was going to go for the E3300 I might as well get the E5200 or E5300 and get 1MB extra cache. Dose any one know if the extra cache is better for this type of work I'm going to have it do?

Just barely - not enough to notice.

And you'd get some power savings along with the lower price.

(other benchmarks here)

Only Blu-Ray video would a reason to get the separate GPU on the DG41 G41 Mini ITX MB.
The Zotac 9300 Mini ITX onboard GPU is beefy enough to power through even Blu-Ray encoding.
Zotac 9300 Mini ITX review
Even the DG45 G45 Mini ITX MB's onboard X4500HD video GPU would do well with HD content.

nope. I have nothing yet. And I was talking about comparing the E3300 to the E7500 or somthing like that.

ok. That is all I need to know. I guse Cache dose not matter for recording TV. The E3200 is what I'll get.