New HTPC/light game build. Thoughts?

[skaughtz]

I wanted a streamline HTPC/general use computer that I could also use for some light gaming if I decided to.

Case - Silverstone ML03B - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163174 - $60
CPU - Intel Pentium G620 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116399 - $64
MB - Biostar B75MU3+ - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138357 - $70
GPU - HIS Radeon HD 6670 1GB DDR5 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161397 - $100
PSU - Antec EarthWatts 430 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034 - $36
RAM - G.Skill Ares 2x4GB DDR3 1866 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550 - $45
(I snagged the memory on a shellshocker deal before I purchased the 1600mhz max motherboard)
SSD - Crucial M4 64GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441 - $68
HDD - Samsung Spinpoint 1TB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 - $50
(Picked that up back in September)
Sound - Asus Xonar DS 7.1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132013 - $28
Fans - Enermax 80MM x 4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999199 - $30

Those were the prices I managed to get each part for via Newegg, Amazon, or Ebay. $551 total, but I had $175 in gift cards so it really came to $376.

What do you think? I can't help but feel like I might have gone a bit overboard.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Looks like a very solid build. The only two nits I'd have with it are:

1) No need for the sound card. Do you really need 7.1 surround?
2) The graphics card is going to interfere with any PCI-Ex1 card you might want to install later.

Other than those two minor nits, looks good to me.

-Wolf sends

 

[Onus]

It looks like size constraints were important to you. Did you consider a mini-ITX build? It would have cost you the sound card (possibly important in this application, assuming you have a decent amp and speakers), but something like a Lian Li PC-Q08 lets you use a full-sized PSU and a dual slot GPU, and still have room for four hard drives, optical drive, AND SSD.
Otherwise, your build looks pretty well suited for its intended purposes, although I'd probably choose a stronger CPU, especially if you get more into games. Would you want to add a PCI wireless LAN adapter, or will it be hardwired? Video capture card (which would also rule out mini-ITX) ? Anyway, it looks like a nice little machine.

 

[skaughtz]

Looks like a very solid build. The only two nits I'd have with it are:

1) No need for the sound card. Do you really need 7.1 surround?
2) The graphics card is going to interfere with any PCI-Ex1 card you might want to install later.

Other than those two minor nits, looks good to me.

-Wolf sends

I have not used onboard sound in over a decade. I have a 5.1 speaker setup, and even though I probably don't need it, I'm a sound snob so I snagged the card for cheap on Ebay

I hadn't noticed the PCI-Ex1 issue, but I don't have anything to put there anyway so I suppose it is a worthwhile sacrifice.

Thanks for the comment. I havn't built a new PC for myself in probably five years. I went from a pretty regular gamer to married so I don't have much need for a killer gaming rig anymore

 

[Onus]

Sapphire has a single-slot low-profile HD6670 that doesn't block an adjacent slot, should Wolf's #2 nit hatch out.

 

[skaughtz]

It looks like size constraints were important to you. Did you consider a mini-ITX build? It would have cost you the sound card (possibly important in this application, assuming you have a decent amp and speakers), but something like a Lian Li PC-Q08 lets you use a full-sized PSU and a dual slot GPU, and still have room for four hard drives, optical drive, AND SSD.
Otherwise, your build looks pretty well suited for its intended purposes, although I'd probably choose a stronger CPU, especially if you get more into games. Would you want to add a PCI wireless LAN adapter, or will it be hardwired? Video capture card (which would also rule out mini-ITX) ? Anyway, it looks like a nice little machine.

I went with the mATX build instead almost specifically because of the design of the cases available. The whole idea was to slip a small, shallow case into the entertainment center to blend along with other components there. I looked briefly at mini-ITX cases, but they all seemed too cube-ish for the aesthetics I was going for.

Fortunately the system is hardwired and I have the option to get a stronger CPU if I need one. I can't imagine I will though since the most recent game I played was WOW about two or three years ago.

I originally really, really wanted to build a Trinity machine for the low-power/fewer component route, but when I heard they delayed the release until October I couldn't wait any longer.

 

[Onus]

Ah yes, the Lian Li is nice, but the shape isn't consistent with typical entertainment center shelves.
Sandy Bridge CPUs are fairly miserly when it comes to power. It may not even be worth getting a "T" model unless you start seeing temperature problems.