[Solved] NEED ADVICE ON BUDGET HTPC PLEASE.....

I am new to the HTPC and mostly computer building world. I have to admit its been very confusing and overwhelming so far researching on my own....especially since non of my friends dabble in any technology at all! So I am turning to everyone for help because I can't even make enough headway to create an example build to reviewed yet!

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: By October 1

BUDGET RANGE: $550 or less

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:

1. Playback of 480p, 720p, 1080i (Ripped/Recorded/Downloaded: Moves, Tv shows and DVD stored on HDD).

2. Up converting content to 720p, 1080i

2. Recording HD and SD digital cable from cable top-box.

3. Running TED (Torrent Episode Downloader) for TV shows.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard/Mouse/DVD Drive

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: tigerdirect.com, newegg.com or (any that is trusting and provides reasonable prices).

PARTS PREFERENCES:

1. I would like to use which ever brands are best for playing and up converting content of 480p, 720p, 1080i (i.e. whether Intel, AMD, NVIDIA).

2. I also am trying to figure out what the advantages/disadvantages are of using either: Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, or ATX and which on would fit my needs the best.

3. Would like wither MB or Graphics card to have HDMI.

4. Like to connect computer to my receiver via Toshlink.

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe?? Not totally sure what these are and if it will benefit me???

MONITOR RESOLUTION: My monitor will be a Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX80U plasma TV its a 720p capable of up-converting to 1080i.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

1. I would like it to fairly quiet with a average power consumption.

2. Will on-board integrated graphics be enough for HD or will using a discrete graphics card display better?

3. I would like to connect to the TV via HDMI!

4. I want to thank everyone who is able to contribute, i could really use the help!

Well as for the HDD, that is the reason why I had suggested the 7200.12 and Samsung F3 drives...Those are little more efficient than the WD Black drives and have noise level comparable to the Green ones...
So you still get better performance comparable to the Blacks and noise levels and efficiency comparable to the Green series...So they are more of a balanced drives...

And the Green series and LP are more of backup/ Secondary drives rather than boot drives...
So I would still suggest F3/ 7200.12 over the Green/ LP ones for primary drives and when you want to increase the storage, you can get the Green/ LP ones...

^ If your Set top box has a Firewire, then it becomes pretty easy...
Here is a post that will help you with that...
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=429065

I would not plan on recording too much unless you have good local OTA signal for HD. Cable TV providers are moving towards cablecards required to get HD channels and recording from a satellite provider in HD is not a good option. The long term prognosis for HTPC and TV recording only looks good for the free antenna channels.

i agree with disco duck, it's not that cost effective to try to recreate with an HTPC what a settop box does for $5 a month.

I have an HTPC but I don't do any recording with it. I leave that to my DVR, which does a much better job of it.

My HTPC does a good job of letting me show my family and friends pics of the kids, watching downloaded episodes of shows I forget to record, DVD movies, eventually blueray movies when I get around to buying a bluray player/burner, and hulu.

May I suggest Antec's Verios which allows you to control your HTPC with a simple remote control. I can turn mine on (and off), launch the media player, and control the DVD controls from that simple little remote. I think for $20, every HTPC should have one. I have the basic version which takes up a 3.5 in bay. There's a $20 version that plugs into a USB port, and then there's more expensive versions with VFD or LCD displays.

I've been doing some research the last couple of months on building a HTPC and I'm also new to this. Thanks Benight27 for asking the exact question that I had in mind and thanks to everybody for responding.

I do have an added question I'm hoping someone can answer. Is there a slightly cheaper solution, somewhere around a $200-$300 range. The only thing that I want to use my HTPC for is to stream 1080i or 1080p videos directly from the HTPC to my Samsung PN58B550. I have an ethernet cable coming directly from my router to my TV and what I'll be using to stream the vids and music is XBMC for windows.

Thoughts?

Linux based low-end HTPC would be best, any suggestions?