New HTPC Build

[bintopaulshin]

I am planning to build a HTPC and was wondering what the recommendations were

Approximate Purchase Date: in a week or two

Budget Range: 300-400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: watching HD movies, streaming videos, music, web browsing,
i don't think i will need a blueray player because i have a separate blueray player, probably a dvd player will do

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: no preference, close to microcenter

Country of Origin: US, California

Parts Preferences: no preference

Overclocking: probably not as it is a HTPC

SLI or Crossfire: no

Monitor Resolution: planning to hook it up to the TV, the Samsung UN46D8000 heres the link on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN46D8000-46-Inch-1080p-Silver/dp/B004N866SA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1312007168&sr=8-2
most likely through HDMI

Additional Comments: also i have a set of Mcintosh 2205 and the Tannoy D2000 speakers, how would i wire all this to the tv and the computer ? would i run the computer to the TV via HDMI and the speakers and the amplifier through the output cable on the TV?

this was what i was planning to purchase, here it is

CPU: Microcenter Bundle, Phenom II X4 840 with the MSI 880GM-E35 Socket AM3 880G mATX (due to the onboard 4250)
Ram: Crucial CT2CP25664BA1339 4GB 2GBx2 240-pin PC3-10600 DIMM DDR3 Memory KIT
Case: Silverstone GD05B, maybe the ML03B?
HDD: Western Digital 2 TB Caviar Green SATA II Intellipower 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive - WD20EARS
PSU:Antec EA-380D Power Supply EA-380D
CD/DVD: maybe a cheap $15 drive from microcenter

This adds up to around $360 USD
will the AMD Llano make a better HTPC at a cheaper price? or even the core i3 intel HD3000 build?
i don't really know which is better

thank you so much for the help!
really appreciate it

 

[aznshinobi]

Your build looks good. A Llano build isn't necessarily better, but it is more energy efficient. Since you have a total GPU+CPU TDP of 100w, as opposed to having a 95w TDP for the CPU and lets say give or take 15w (Since the 4350's TDP is 20). So you'd be using less power.

 

[Wisecracker]

ASRock E350M1/USB3 AMD E-350 APU (1.6GHz, Dual-Core) AMD A50M Hudson M1 Mini ITX

 

[bintopaulshin]

mm ok thank you so much for the input,
so if i end up putting a blueray drive on teh cmoputer and stuff it won't have any issues playing in 1080 HD right?

 

[bintopaulshin]

oh also can i put a 8 gig stick in there? theres a deal for the
8GB (2x4GB) Avexir DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory $37, 8GB (2x4GB)
on slickdeals so i was wondering if they were all compatible

 

[rwpritchett]

All of the recent video cards, IGP's, and CPU's can handle blu-ray with no problems. The 880G board you originally selected will do it. The Llano shinobi suggested will do it. Even the weak/low power E-350 setups can do it (personal experience here).

 

[jonfleck88]

For an OS you could use a student copy of Windows 7 Professional. If you know anybody with a .edu the student copy is only $30. http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/software/windows/default.aspx I've been using Windows 7 Pro for my HTPC for over a year and it's been great so far.

 

[Wisecracker]

All of the recent video cards, IGP's, and CPU's can handle blu-ray with no problems. The 880G board you originally selected will do it. The Llano shinobi suggested will do it. Even the weak/low power E-350 setups can do it (personal experience here).

This.

The UVD3 (Unified Video Decoder) on the E-350 Zacate integrated graphics provides a higher level of video hardware acceleration than the UVD2 on the Radeon 4250 IGP.

Not sure about the price difference between the E-350 and your MicroCenter bundle --- a small SSD for your OS/apps on the E-350 would really add some extra sweetness.