Review my HTPC build please!

ShoFly54

August 27, 2009 6:12:03 PM

Hi everyone.
My main reason for building this is I am tired of having to hook my laptop to my TV to play my HD movies. This HTPC's sole purpose is to store and play 1080p Blu Ray rips on a 52" hdtv. Video will go through HDMI. Will probably use the optical for Audio at first and then HDMI for both when I get a new receiver with 1.3a repeater.

Here are my parts I've selected with a brief reason why I chose it. Please let me know if you have different opinions and why!

MOBO - Popular 785 motherboard. I've always been more partial to Gigabyte brand. Will this be okay for audio through HDMI also?
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU - Only ~$15 to up it to the 3.0 so may as well.
AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM - I went with this because it has 7 CAS and 1.5v ratings. Less power, less heat right?
Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BA1067 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CASE - Little larger but not a big deal. I like having the remote included with it and the IR built in.
Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Black Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU - Can't go wrong with Corsair. 80+. Also $25 rebate card!
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HARD DRIVE - Definitely going Caviar Green. Probably a 1.5tb though but out of stock currently from newegg.
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Am I missing anything? I don't need a drive as we have a PS3 for retail movies. Don't need a tv tuner. I may look into a keyboard/mouse combo but I have some that will do for initial set up.

I plan to put Windows 7 on it.

Thanks!

More about : review htpc build

| E-mail me updates
| Report abuse

Transmaniacon

August 27, 2009 6:23:58 PM

Unless you plan on installing Windows 7 from a USB stick, your going to need an optical drive, you may as well get one anyway, $20 gets you a good DVDRW drive... How do you plan on transferring the movies to the HTPC, over a network?

| Report abuse

xaira

August 27, 2009 7:35:11 PM

looks good, network supplied htpc, sounds interesting

| Report abuse

ShoFly54

August 27, 2009 8:39:41 PM

Oh sorry I didn't specify, I have plenty of DVD drives around that I can either put in it or just hook up temporarily to install so that's not an issue.

To transfer I will probably set up a remote login to it. I use logmein since it's free and easy so may just take control of it like that from desktop or from work to transfer stuff over. It will definitely be on a wired network.

I may look to see if it can even handle streaming over the network and ditch a hard drive if possible with 1080p. I tried it using a network media tank like Popcorn Hour but it doesn't really have enough processing to handle 1080p streaming. I just really want to free my laptop up!

| Report abuse