recommendation of HTPC based on requirements

Hi everyone,

I am currently looking for a wdtv live replacement as I sometime experience stuttering playing high bit rate mkv rip and that just drive me up the wall. HTPC will definitely give more capabilities.

my setup:
- Sony Bravia HX701
- Squeezebox
- 2.1 stereo system
- wrt610n
- wdtv live

must have requirements:
- flawlessly playing high bit rate 1080p MKV movies
- must handle Jdownloader running at full throttle
- HDMI output
- web browsing
- Squeezebox streaming
- Magic Jack
- form factor: need to fit in a conventional stereo stand but smaller the better
- low power consumption

The system must handle this worst case: playing high bit rate mkv, while squeezecenter streaming flac music to squeezebox, while on the phone with magic jack and jdownloader is running at full throttle.

Budget: 450$

Some recommendations of HTPC system is appreciated either pre-built or I can built the whole system.

Thanks!

Hi Hirent,

Thanks for the quick reply, I have checked the HTPC building guide and found it very useful, but I am not sure which configuration would handle the worst described above.

I looked quickly at NetTalk, much better, I might wait till I can get a Canada phone number.

Hi Peter, thanks for your advice on mini-itx, I am looking at the ZOTAC GF9300-K-E LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300 HDMI Mini ITX Intel mobo, looks pretty good. Any reasons why you pick GeForce 9300 over Intel H55?