HTPC have an idea for parts just want reccomendations

Hey I've been thinking of building an HTPC and have a parts list of what I think I want to get
Antec Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129054
Lite On Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106325
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813135233
Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103687
TV Tuner:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815293007
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815116037
Mouse/Keyboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126174
OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116485
PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171031
WiFi:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6833315041
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227362
I currently have a decent sized HDTV, a comcast cable box with digital cable and a 5.1 surround sound system. I do not need much help finding a HD since I have a few laying around. What I would really like to know is if the TV tuner is good. If the PSU will fit in the case and if I can rely on either the integrated graphics or a 8600 GTS that i have laying around. I really want to use this media center to play movies and cds, play mp3s, and be able to watch and record tv on it I don't need to record and playback HD stuff but I would like to be able to use my digital cable features like the TV guide and on demand stuff. Any help?
Thanks

I'm not sure that motherboard will work with that CPU without flashing the BIOS. Here are some hardware suggestions:

AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103687 $64.99

ASUS M3N78-VM AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131318 $74.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166 $54.99 (The RAM you picked would work also, but this RAM has tighter timings and free shipping)

Antec Black M FusionRemote 350 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129046 $199.99 (I wouldn't bother getting a case and PSU separate, just get them together so you're sure they work together)

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815116036 $127.99

I would also get 64-bit Vista with a free upgrade to Windows 7. There's really no reason to use a 32-bit OS today.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116677 $109.99

You could save $100 off of my case suggestion above if you like the looks of this case:

Antec NSK1380 Black/ Silver Steel MicroATX Cube Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129038

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.216252 (case + motherboard combo)

I don't see a good reason NOT to go with a 64-bit OS. You won't be able to fully use all 4GB of RAM with a 32-bit OS and you don't even have the option of adding more RAM later. Driver support for 64-bit Vista is excellent also. 32-bit is quickly going the way of 16-bit because there's really no reason for it to exist.

The remote that comes with the TV-tuner will work seamlessly with Windows Media Center which is a very good user interface for a HTPC.

To be honest, the CoolerMaster PSU you picked out is a POS. It doesn't have active PFC and is only about 70% efficent. You can do MUCH better. Here's a few options for high quality PSU's that will power this system:

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139008 $59.99 - $20 MIR

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=ea380 $49.99

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] %20modular $58.99 - $25 MIR

SeaSonic SS-400ET 400W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151061 $44.99

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS370X 370W ATX12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703018 $39.99

There's nothing wrong with the motherboard you originally selected, it's just that it may be old enough to require a BIOS update to work properly with an AM3 processor. The rest of your selections look fine. As far as a 64bit OS goes, given the specs of the motherboard, and the parts you've chosen it would probably be overkill, on the other hand future-proofing can be good. I was wondering about how you intend to hook up the sound from the PC to your surround system, that is if you're going to do that.

For sound hook-up options alone I would recommend this board:
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154][/url]

Also it has more options for video connection, twice as many DIMM's for memory, and on-board dedicated graphics memory (Sideport,) and it's only $10.00 more than the board you originally selected. Of course, if you got this board I would recommend a 64-bit OS, only because this board is more upgradeable than your original pick.

Alright well I think the mobo Aarchel picked out seems good since I really would like HDMI. I'll switch my RAM to the G SKILL kit, my OS to the 64 bit, get the TV tuner with the remote, and get the OCZ PSU. Anything else that I should consider?
EDIT: Oh and I should be able to record comcast digital cable without way to much hassle right? I've heard a lot about encoding stuff that might be a pain. I don't care about recording HD though just regular stuff.

Don't forget to save some of your budget for some additional software.

I suggest you take a look at TotalMedia Theater 3 Platinum for blu-ray playback since your BD drive is an OEM without software.

Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. The reason I recommended a Tuner card with a VMC remote is because I'm not sure how well the case remote would work with Vista Media Center and all it's functions.

There is an issue with (that I'm experiencing anyway) with the IR Blaster not working with the HD Cable Box. Mine worked fine with the standard box, but will not change the channel on the HD box. All other remote control functions work perfectly.

Since the cable box has to be on for you to record non-clearqam signals anyway, just set your cable box to record whatever program you want (and make sure it automatically changes channels when the program starts). Set your TV Tuner card to record the same program and it will work. Since you're connecting the TV tuner card to the HD cable box, you may lose the ability to record two different shows simultaneously. I don't actually have that card, so I can't check it out.

Recording OnDemand is a manual process. First, make sure your HTPC is powered on and ready to go. Start the LiveTV option (again, I'm using Media Center). With the cable box remote control, start your OnDemand movie selection. Once the movie begins, press the Record button on the VMC Remote Control. When you're done recording, press the stop button on the VMC Remote to end the recording. Press the stop button again to stop the LiveTV application of Media Center.

-Wolf sends

Ok. This all depends on what shows/channels you want to record. There are two ways of connecting your TV Tuner card.

1) Directly from the wall socket. This will allow you to watch and record all channels Comcast sends out ClearQAM (unencrypted). Comcast in St. Paul, MN sends about 50 channels (2-99 range) ClearQAM. Your TV Tuner card acts as the tuner and you'll use it to change channels. If you want to know what channels you get ClearQAM, plug your cable line from the wall directly to your HDTV and scan the channels.

2) From the wall socket to the cable box and from the cable box to the TV Tuner. This essentially turns your TV Tuner card into a glorified Video Capture card. The cable box acts as the channel changer and tuner. All channels you subscribe to are now available for recording on your PC.

If the shows you want to record are sent ClearQAM, then I'd suggest getting a splitter and connecting via method 1. If not, use method 2.

-Wolf sends

The problem is you only have one coax input (the other coax input is actually for an FM Antenna).

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/prod [...] r2250.html

So you'd have to go from the wall to the splitter, to the coax input on the TV Tuner card (ClearQAM) and then from the splitter to the cable box and S-Video from the cable box to the tuner card. I'm not sure how well that second connection would work.

I don't know that I can try it on mine. All my experience is based on the two TV Tuner cards I have: The AVerMedia AVerTV PCI-Ex1 card and an old ATI All-In-Wonder X1800XL. The specs for my card say I can, but it'd be a real pain to pull apart all the connections and rewire it tonight.

-Wolf sends

Well I don't really need FM Radio maybe this one?
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/prod [...] r1600.html
Doesn't come with the media center remote though.
Id like something thats easy tbh =p

in the picture it shows FM, Cable and an antenna port not an analog cable or will it still work?Oh wait i see a S-Video to composite converter
EDIT:Im guessing the antenna input will work as the analog input?