What's really needed for a multimedia PC?

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It would help to know things like budget and what the primary use is going to be - I'm guessing that it's not going to be a gaming PC, correct?



HTPCs are a different breed from their desktop counterparts - you can get by with the bare minimum and still have it do everything you want it to do. IMO - storage is key on a PC like this as you can get full utilization of Win 7 Home Premium's built-in DVR functionality.



It won't take much to power one - you can get by using the onboard video and be fine. The Intel onboard HD graphics are OK but if you want full HD you should check out the AMD LLano as the built-in GPU is a Radeon 6670 and eliminates the need for a central video card.

Approximate Purchase Date: anytime during 2012

Budget Range: Below $400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Music, Blueray, DVD's, able to run a 42 inch monitor, general TV usage (TV card??) Possible webcam usage.

Parts Not Required: Screen, Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Doesn't matter, but Amazon would be nice (really doesn't matter at all though).

Parts Preferences: Nice case with nice lights, but not over the top.

Overclocking: No.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: Not sure, definitely above 1080p

Additional Comments: I want a nice case, with lights. Well cooled, but not noisy. The lights must not be too bright either, I don't want them to distract you from the monitor.

Something like this almost



What about Micro ATX?

This is one area where I'd actually encourage a micro ATX build - the demand for HTPCs has increased 10 fold over the last 4 - 5 years and a lot of companies like Silverstone and nMEDIA PC have produced some great looking cases that can actually make your HTPC look like a home theater component rather than a PC sitting next to your HDTV.

Try something like this:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $69.99
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $59.99
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $79.99
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $69.99
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $41.99
Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... - $59.99

That will come out to $381.94

And then your storage options will vary - that's why I didn't include the HD in the price. In this case it would be better to have your data separate from your OS - get like a small 60GB SSD for your OS and then something like a Seagate Momentus XT for your secondary storage - around the 500GB - 750GB for Windows 7 Home Premium's DVR functionality.

That is really nice, didn't think it would turn out so expensive though, is the 500w PSU really necessary or is it for the micro atx case? Is 8gb RAM also necessary?

I have windows 7 atm so I don't need to buy that. I was hoping to buy a low end GPU maybe like a Radeon 6450, unless that'd make no difference against the CPU's on board GPU?

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