Building a budget gaming HTPC

[aure1ius]

Hello,

I am looking to build a HTPC specifially for WoW and watching blue-ray movies. I would want one that would be able to run WoW on the highest graphic options and be able to handle the expansion MoP with no issues. I also will need it to have wireless-N connectivity. I know thats not ideal but thats a requirement.

BUDGET RANGE: no more than $800.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers

SOFTWARE: Need full version of Windows 7

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Would prefer the i5-3470k processor but am open to suggestions. HDD space isnt as much of an issue as the speed of the drive so if I can fit a SSD into my budget that would be ideal. This will be in a main room so the quiter then fans run the better. The case needs to blend in like an A/V reciever would and would like it to look nice and clean for it will be out in the open. This PC will be on all day and used for gaming about 3-4hrs a day and because of that it needs to stay as cool as possible. Thanks for all your help in advance.

 

[aure1ius]

i5-3570K is NOT a CPU for a HTPC, you need to lessen that.

Well here is what I have looked up and added to my newegg wish list. Im using a full ATX HTPC case that should have room for what I am doing. However I havent ever built and HTPC before so your insight will be helpful. Here is what I a looking at so far:

nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Steel HTPC 2000B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB x2 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL

ASUS P8H77-V LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K

Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Pioneer Black Internal BD/DVD/CD Writer SATA BDR-207DBKS

Keep in mind that when I say Im building an HTPC thats more for the case style than anything else. Its more of a gaming PC then the typical HTPC with tuners, large HD's etc...

What I want to make sure of the I am not buying anything that has a bad brand reputation or that willl not be compatible with anythign else.