Approximate Purchase Date: Within a couple of months
Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) Before / After Rebates: Around $400 mark
System Usage from Most to Least Important: HTPC functionality - watching internet video, HBO Go, streaming applications, things of that nature, Blu Ray, etc.
Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS): keyboard, monitor (using Mitsubishi 55" HDTV), mouse, BD-R Burner (Pioneer BD-R 203), power supply (Corsair CX430), GPU (possibly reusing Sapphire HD5460 or EVGA GTX 550TI - have either one, depends on the case ultimately being used)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, doesn't matter really
Country: (e.g.: India): USA, Southern California (close to Newegg HQ)
Parts Preferences: by brand or type: No crap (Ultra, Apevia, Xion, Raidmax, etc.), see below
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Additional Comments: see below
My first attempt at building an HTPC using all spare parts resulted in a case that was way too big for the shelf and stuck out of the cabinets. I'd like to try mATX on this build and considering that this PC isn't going to be used for a lot other than web streaming, iTunes, music, things that don't require a lot of power (no games), I'm thinking of building around the AMD FM1 to save money or the Pentium G630. I have a bunch of components I could definitely reuse - the power supply is going to be a Corsair CX430 and I need it to fit in a case that is somewhat small but big enough that it can house motherboard, CPU, RAM, etc. Since the case needs to be somewhat tight there will be no overclocking on this machine and it needs to look good in a home theater cabinet.
Budget Range: (e.g.: 600-800) Before / After Rebates: Around $400 mark
System Usage from Most to Least Important: HTPC functionality - watching internet video, HBO Go, streaming applications, things of that nature, Blu Ray, etc.
Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS): keyboard, monitor (using Mitsubishi 55" HDTV), mouse, BD-R Burner (Pioneer BD-R 203), power supply (Corsair CX430), GPU (possibly reusing Sapphire HD5460 or EVGA GTX 550TI - have either one, depends on the case ultimately being used)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, doesn't matter really
Country: (e.g.: India): USA, Southern California (close to Newegg HQ)
Parts Preferences: by brand or type: No crap (Ultra, Apevia, Xion, Raidmax, etc.), see below
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Additional Comments: see below
My first attempt at building an HTPC using all spare parts resulted in a case that was way too big for the shelf and stuck out of the cabinets. I'd like to try mATX on this build and considering that this PC isn't going to be used for a lot other than web streaming, iTunes, music, things that don't require a lot of power (no games), I'm thinking of building around the AMD FM1 to save money or the Pentium G630. I have a bunch of components I could definitely reuse - the power supply is going to be a Corsair CX430 and I need it to fit in a case that is somewhat small but big enough that it can house motherboard, CPU, RAM, etc. Since the case needs to be somewhat tight there will be no overclocking on this machine and it needs to look good in a home theater cabinet.