Budget HTPC

[mike96sc2]

I posted this in the UK/Ireland by mistake (sorry). Hoping I will have better luck on the US side.

Hello,
I am seeking some assistance in the building of another HTPC. I guess it's best I start with my requirements / goals.

I'd like it to be able to run the following

Browse the web with ease while watching a movie or something else (I'm thinking I will need to go dual core for this)

Playback of blu-ray discs and content

MAME, PSX, PS2?, and Sega Saturn and Dreamcast Emulation. I know I will be best suited going 64 bit in running these.

I have a 2tb hard drive already so no need to spend money there.

Also, it will most likely run Windows 7 as I have an extra license from my family pack I purchased.

I would like to be able to secure the memory, case (something small, possibly with LCD, but not important), cpu and mobo (ideally onboard video w/HDMI, but that's asking a lot) for around $400 at the very top. If I'm way too low then what's some ideas to get this as close to possible at my price point or what price point would I be looking at?

I know I'm asking a lot and I haven't built a computer in a long time so I'm trusting some experts here.

Also, does anyone recommend a good frontend for video? Ie should I use the Windows Media Center capabilities to do this?

Also if anyone has advise on a good frontend for Mame or other emulators that would be great too.

Any help would be great. Thanks in advance. -Mike

 

[genghiskron]

here are some suggestions, mind you, i have no personal htpc experience.
case (expensive, but looks pretty well built and has some cool features):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129054
mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131727
cpu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394
psu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

it would certainly be possible to go smaller and cheaper. it seems to me, however, that keeping the case at least somewhat large will give you more flexibility in terms of hard drives, blu-ray players, and psu. there are certainly smaller cases with bundled psu's, but i personally wouldnt trust any of them besides the antec or silverstone,and those require slim optical drives (which, for blu-ray, seem like utter garbage at the moment).

however, if you were willing to settle for a slim optical drive and 2.5" hdds, you could pair an i3-2100t with something like this for a super mini htpc:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129068&cm_re=antec_isk-_-11-129-068-_-Product

good luck.

option 2 would be to wait for llano to hit the shelves. the onboard graphics look pretty good and it might be a better option.

 

[ps3hacker12]

here are some suggestions, mind you, i have no personal htpc experience.
case (expensive, but looks pretty well built and has some cool features):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129054
mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131727
cpu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394
psu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

it would certainly be possible to go smaller and cheaper. it seems to me, however, that keeping the case at least somewhat large will give you more flexibility in terms of hard drives, blu-ray players, and psu. there are certainly smaller cases with bundled psu's, but i personally wouldnt trust any of them besides the antec or silverstone,and those require slim optical drives (which, for blu-ray, seem like utter garbage at the moment).

however, if you were willing to settle for a slim optical drive and 2.5" hdds, you could pair an i3-2100t with something like this for a super mini htpc:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129068&cm_re=antec_isk-_-11-129-068-_-Product

good luck.

option 2 would be to wait for llano to hit the shelves. the onboard graphics look pretty good and it might be a better option.

replace that CPU with the i3-2105:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115090&cm_re=2105-_-19-115-090-_-Product

its got a better HD3000 iGPU.

 

[genghiskron]

ah indeed, how long has that been out?

 

[ps3hacker12]

i think they started getting listed around the end of may/start of june, but they are fairly new (Q2 2011).