[Solved] HTPC build

Hey there everyone!

I'll be looking to a new HTPC build in a few days time and will place orders for the parts once the suggestions are final.

Mobo - Gigabyte H55
CPU - core i3-530
Ram - 4GB (or 2Gb is ok, if 4Gb isnt needed) but cant choose between all the manufacturers
GPU - i'm being drawn to passively cooled cards, seen sapphires 5670 ultimate
HDD - ?
PSU - ?
case - has been decided
Cooling - dunno about that either...the key here is being as quite as possible right?

I'm open to suggestions, so changes are welcome!

Thanks guys!

I'll second that you don't need a GPU - check out the article at anandtech about the H55 as a HTPC.

I built mine into an Antec Micro Fusion case that came with a PSU and it doesn't even come close to using that much power. I think the H55 will idle at something like 20-some watts and use only something like 80 some when at load. You'll be OK wit ha much smaller PSU.

I'll second the tuner card - love my hauppauge 2250 - works flawlesslly in Win7.

Hauppage makes good PCI tuner cards. A note on them. I have one, and I wish I had 2. The reason is, it's a dual tuner card, 1 High Def, the other analog. So if I want to record a high def show, I can't watch another high def show.

If you have 2 one will record the other will allow you to watch. Some dude on here had 2 PCI cards, and 3 USB coax inputs. (USB is never high def tho)

You could even use the 500W OCZ ModXstream PSU. All I can say is that they are inexpensive, modular and very good. 2 big thumbs up to OCZ.

That motherboard should be fine.

Just a note on storage, go big or go home. I've been ripping my entire DVD collection and I've gobbled up about 800 GB so far, I'm wishing I had gotten a 2TB HDD.

Other than that I think you're moving in the right direction!

Honestly RAM in an HTPC won't matter one bit. Any RAM you pick will do perfectly fine. Obviously DDR3 tho.

If the budget allows, try to get the Hauppauge HVR-2250. This tuner has a built in splitter and so you can record two digital streams at once (or watch one while another is recording). It does FM radio too.

Here are some UK vendors with the HVR-2250:

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q [...] &scoring=p

I'm not wise on UK retailers so I can't recommend who to shop from, but there's a number in the link above to choose from.

Other dual stream tuners you may want to look for are the HDHomerun (an external tuner), and the AverMedia Duet A188.

Edit- One more thing: double check that any of the suggested tuners support PAL since you're in the UK and it may have been overlooked.

it just occured to me , rwpritchett...you were in another post here... thanks for the case choice...i decided to get the Intel E4300 proc off my hands ...in with a new build

keyboards and peripherals are also bought.

Whats the dif between the media centre kit and the normal... would i need it cos i already have a remote with the DH101

Best answer selected by Lutfij.