Suggestions on my HTPC build

[yannifb]

Hey, do you guys think the following HTPC is overkill for blu ray/netflix/hulu/other hd video on a 1920 x 1080 42" Panasonic vierra?:

CPU- Athlon II x2 240 OEM (already have extra cooler)- $52.99
Mobo- MSI 770 AM3- $51.99
GPU- Gigabyte 5450 512mb- $54.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125314&cm_re=hd_5450-_-14-125-314-_-Product - will the small fan on that thing make much noise? I thought about the passive designs but heat might be an issue.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129046 - comes with PSU

RAM: 4 gigs ddr3 1333 Corsair XMS3- $94.99 - is this overkill?

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Blu Ray drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135203 - is the picture quality on this good?



and Win 7 HP 64 bit- $100.

Total: $619.92 which seems a bit steep for an HTPC

Is this system overkill for what i want, and is there anywhere i can cut down costs? And if you suggest a different case, make sure its the same style as that Antec one.

Thanks!

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

Do you have a last system?

I mean I don't think that amount of RAM is really needed. But you could go with a DDR2 motherboard, that at least should be cheaper. I've only got a $50 blu-ray drive in mine.

Other than that it's a cooler master elite 360 case. A 530 watt rosewill green series PSU and a HD 4670. That's all that was actually bought for it. The rest is a 4200+ x2 CPU and 3 gigs of DDR2 RAM, and the motherboard that came out of another system when it got upgraded.

 

[amoghthegamer]

Dude a 5450 is too much and creats too much heat. Get a 4350+. I use a 4350 and it is great on a 46" Toshiba LCD TV @ 1920 X 1080. Switch the MOBO to any DDR2 mobo and save a lot. I use DD3 for gaming.

 

[yannifb]

Dude a 5450 is too much and creats too much heat. Get a 4350+. I use a 4350 and it is great on a 46" Toshiba LCD TV @ 1920 X 1080. Switch the MOBO to any DDR2 mobo and save a lot. I use DD3 for gaming.

Whats your motherboard? You think the 4200 on a 785g is good enough?

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

Just for video duties? Easily. Even if you put a blu-ray drive in there, it could handle it.

Even the 3200 on a 780G should be enough. (in case these are cheaper in DDR2 versions) There are articles here on Toms that deal with using these IGP's for blu-ray and other HD content.

Just don't expect any game playing to happen. Or at least not much/ high quality.

 

[yannifb]

Just for video duties? Easily. Even if you put a blu-ray drive in there, it could handle it.

Even the 3200 on a 780G should be enough. (in case these are cheaper in DDR2 versions) There are articles here on Toms that deal with using these IGP's for blu-ray and other HD content.

Just don't expect any game playing to happen. Or at least not much/ high quality.

Good to know. But ive never built an HTPC before, and i was wondering if there is any difference in image quality between a 4200 and 5450

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

I don't think so.