[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

Double-check the PSU: I have a similar Jetway case and it doesn't have the four-pin power cable that your motherboard needs. I think you can get an adapter from a Molex, but you probably don't get many in there.

With the case/psu you want, you can't afford to get a 65 w cpu. Those cases are really meant for atoms, or other ULV (ultra-low-voltage) cpus.

What you might want to get is this case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147098) with a micro-atx mobo and cpu

AMD- Sempron combo- $97
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.262556

Intel- Celeron Dual Core- $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.263187

You could go with either of these builds, and you won't need a discrete card (onboard will be strong enough). The intel build has a little more cpu muscle, at the expense of slightly weaker graphics, but again, either of these should work for you. You could always upgrade the cpu in either of these, I just looked at the combos.

Don't forget the RAM- 2GB- $36
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231098

If you want an itx board with integrated graphics capable of HD content, check out the zotac 9300 itx board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] _-13500022

Never mind about the PCI slot thing; I looked at the pictures a little more and realized the dual PCI comes from the case, not the mobo, meaning you can get any mobo you want (as long as its ITX). Sorry about that.

I'm sorry, I made another mistake; I though the 9300 board had a PCI. After realizing this, the only board that has a PCI and is reasonably priced is the intel board you chose in your OP. Based on the pricing of the other mobos, and the case that you want to use, this is probably your only option unless you want to go AMD.

The zotac 9300 does have a PCI-E, even if it isn't advertised well, and the onboard gpu would be fine for encoding; however, your case is designed for a standard PCI, so the 9300 wouldn't work in that. You could get another case but you're going to have to find one with a full expansion slot.

Are you saying you already have the TV tuner card, motherboard and video card?

I would have sworn you're talking about the E5200.

Any of those Wolfdale CPUs have wayyyyyyyy more CPU power than what's needed for HTPC use.
I'd say E7400 for a gaming system and E3200 for a HTPC. Same for the discrete GPU; yes for gaming, no for HTPC.

AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz Socket AM3 45w / Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G: $100

Dammit. They raised the price $3.

We need to know whether your mom will be recording OTA or cable.

The Bad News is analog cable will soon be encrypted --- for OTA recording check out the Fusion HDTV7 Dual Express tuner.

Maybe ...

Please don't reply to 2 year old threads.