[Solved] First HTPC Build, pls Help

You motherboard and CPU selection looks great. You should consider an ATX size motherboard though -- see below about tuners for why.

For OS and storage, I would select a 64GB SSD for the boot drive and a Samsung F4 2TB drive for media storage.

For the RAM, I would verify the compatibility with your motherboard but usually if the voltage and timings are the same as QC'd RAM it should work. You can find a list of tested RAM on the ASUS website page for your motherboard. I am a Kingston or G-Skill guy for RAM so I cannot say anything about Patriot from experience.

As for the TV tuner, there are two choices. You can go with a networked tuner that sits next to your router or a switch. I have one of those (SiliconDust HomeRun dual-tuner) which works well for me since my router and everything sit right where the cable comes into the basement. This means a much shorter coax run to my tuner. The 2nd choice is internal. The Happauge 2250 is a dual-tuner card. You then have to run your OTA coax to your PC. I think the answer will be about where your OTA is going to come in and how long the run will be to your tuner whether it's internal or external.

As for a case, even though it's hidden I would not go too cheap. my favorite "cheap" case is the Antec 300. I'd couple that with a Seasonic 350W or Antec EA-380D 380W PSU. Both are high quality and 80+ or better rated. The Antec 300 will take a ATX board which you should think about if you are going to have internal tuners since it will give you more room to add another tuner card in the future. You want as many PCI-e x1 or larger slots as you have room for. You'll find quickly the ability to tune 2 channels at once is never enough. You'll have two recordings going on and no way to watch TV at the same time. Trust me that this will happen more often than you think.

Something further to give consideration to is the new LGA1155 / Sandybridge chipset/CPU that's just been released. See how a i5-2400S with ATX 1155 H67 motherboard compares in cost to the i3-540 / H55 ATX motherboard in price and how the newer stuff fits into your budget.

[Edit] Just noticed you changed your original post to a budget of $500. That's not going to cut it for what you want to build and that parts you want including the tuner.

I think you are in trouble with your $500 budget if you want to go i3 / H55.

CPU + mobo: ~$200
Tuner: ~$100
Win 7 x64: ~$100

That leaves you $100 for RAM, HDD, PSU and a case. A good PSU will eat up at least $40 of that. $30 for the cheapest RAM (your Patriot) after rebate. Now you've got $30 left for a HDD and case.

The difference is just the clock speed and by very little (2.93 vs 3.06). Whichever one is cheaper is the way to go. Looks like it's the i3-540 that's cheaper even though it's the faster one.

I've talked with my CFO and the budget will be allowed to increase enough to cover the parts needed. As of right now I am looking at the following;

Case - Antec 300
PSU - Antec EA-380D
Mobo - Gigabyte GA-H55-USB3 (ATX Form Factor)
CPU - Intel i3-540
Memory - Patriot G Series

Can someone tell me if this will work with the mobo? The mobo calls out for 1.5v memory and the patriot is listed at 1.65v. Thanks

HDD - Samsung 1 TB
Tuner - Hauppauge 2250 w/ Remote
OS - Windows 7

Dougie, Thanks for your help/comments, any other comments on the build here?

I dont know much about the AMD's but will look into them today. How is the quality of the MSI boards compared to the Asus or Gigabyte boards, they seem alot cheeper in price. Also I was looking for a board with an optical output for the audio and an ATX form factor. What are you thoughts on the MSI 785GT-E63 mobo? If that along with either of the two AMDs listed in your post would work that would save me a nice little bit of money on the build. Thanks

Looking at those AMD deals they are in store only specials, I do not live close to a microcenter, having to pay for gas to drive to one would negate any savings in buying from there.

I've been an Avermedia A188 duet user for a while now. If you google around you'll see many complaints about the tuner disappearing. I had the same problem and had to RMA the tuner. The replacement tuner works great, however.

I don't know if the stock of "bad" A188 duets has been depleted (I purchased mine in Nov '09), but just be aware that there is/was a well-documented problem with that particular tuner.

Thanks for all the help I went ahead and went with the following setup;
Parts are on the way and I wil post pictures after the build.

Mobo - Gigabyte GA-H55-USB3 w/ the A-Data Memory Combo (Thanks for the combo savings Dougie, newegg also had 15% off memory)
CPU - Intel i3 Core i3-540
Case - Antec 300
PSU - Antec EA-380D
HDD - Samsung 1TB
OS - Windows 7

Currently my build is just over my 500.00 budget (534) and I am still trying to pick my tuner. Anyone else have thought suggestions between the Hauppauge 2250 and the Avermedia A188 Duet?