[Solved] Low Budget HTPC Build

I'm putting together a cheap HTPC and wanted some advice. I have some concerns over heat, as the case will be enclosed in a media cabinet. Also, all of my storage will be on a 6TB drobo device I already own. I have a spare 100GB hard drive that I'll throw in here for OS/Apps. Also, I'm hoping I can just use the onboard video, but can add separate video card if I need more power for watching HD content.

AMD Build:

Motherboard: ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 AM3
Processor: AMD Athlon II X2 265 Regor 3.3GHz
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1333 F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
Case: Silverstone Grandia Series GD05B
PS: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W

Intel Build:

Motherboard: ASUS P8H67-M PRO/CSM
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 3.1 GHz
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1333 F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
Case: Silverstone Grandia Series GD05B
PS: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W


It's possible I would eventually play a few games on this box, but I'll probably need to get a discrete video card for that. I would eventually add a TV tuner as well. The AMD build is slightly cheaper, is there any advantages I would get with the i3 build? Or should I save a few bucks and go with the AMD?

Would the PS also be good enough for my future plans (discrete Video & Tuner)? Or should I go with something with more power?

For the Intel Build, If you are going to use on board graphics, get this processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115090

This one has HD 3000 vs the HD 2000 the processor you chose. Thats the one thing you MUST do in my opinion. Since I just planned my HTPC build and the parts are coming tomorrow, my other suggestions would just be make my build. So I'll just post my build.

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115090
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813121507
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231321
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129068
TV Tuner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815116036

Here are the points why I chose what I chose:
CPU: low power, HD 3000 graphics
Motherboard: SataIII for my SSD, USB3, Dual monitor for onboard graphics(not sure if other motherboards will allow this but that point is advertised about the Intel board)
RAM: Low voltage and fast. I will have to underclock it to 1333vbut that should even allow lower voltage. Good timings. Designed for 1156 but should work on 1155.
Case: Antec is awesome. It has a fan. It's SMALL. It Has a small modular power supply. It is low power but this rig should not need much. Im hoping for 30 Watts. I'll find out tomorrow. Antec offers a 150 W version of this case if that's what you want.

The 300 Watt supply you have seems like overkill. If my rig works with 65Watts then yours should be around the same. My rig is mini ITX. I would go Mini if I were you but then you are limited to either a TV tuner or a GPU. If you want both, then Micro it is.

I dont know much about AMD but I think Intel's on board graphics is better. Don't quote me, you should look that up. If it is better and you plan on using on board graphics then Intel is the way to go. If not, then I would say save a few bucks.

Heres Llano with a graphics card added
http://www.overclockers.com/forums [...] p?t=486495

and heres the integrated
http://www.techspot.com/review/418 [...] age11.html

An htpc doesnt need this much juice , so an A6 model would be fine . Still a quad core , but clocked a little slower and less graphics power , but still more than any intel , and more than enough for great HTPC performance

I would be worried about heat if I were you. Heat is basically proportional to the power used. The more power the more heat. That being said, I don't think your build will use that much more power then the Intel(<--speculation). If you get a dedicated GPU then I would really worry. You can try under-clocking and under-volting the CPU to conserve power but I wouldn't want to do that on an already "low" clock speed. If I were you, I would modify the cabinet that you plan on using to let some air to flow through. Drilling/cutting some holes in the right places may be the way to go. Even the lowest power build with no ventilation will get hot as hell. You need to dissipate that energy somehow.

Buy whatever build you plan on buying. Run some temperature benchmarks on it within the unventilated cabinet. Open the glass and run some benchmarks. And then think about modifying the cabinet to accommodate your specific case. Think about where the air comes in and where it goes out. Good luck.

Seveveral Newegg Llano combos:

Basic computers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.719548

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.719552

HTPC builds:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.721385

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.721390

I would like to build in the same case as you, but with the A6 or A8. Do you think the 65W power supply is fine for that?