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Help with finalizing my 1st HTPC build

post #1 of 13
5/7/11 at 1:33pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all,

I'm ready to try my hand at my first HTPC build. I've read assassin's thread and used renethx guide and they were both incredibly helpful.

I want to use this HTPC to replace my Tivo and be able to watch and record all my Comcast channels, burn and watch blu-ray DVDs & reg. DVDs, watch internet video like Hulu, Netflix, etc., and play some casual/older games.

I wanted to run my list of parts by you guys and have a couple of questions.

The parts I am considering buying are:
CPU - Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100
MB - GIGABYTE GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
MEMORY - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-4GBXM
PSU - SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W ATX12V V2.3/EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
OPTICAL DRIVE - LG WH10LS30 10X Blu-ray Burner - LightScribe Support - Bulk - OEM
VIDEO CARD - SAPPHIRE 100326L Radeon HD 6670 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
HDD - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
OS - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit English 1-Pack - OEM

Things I already have:
TUNER CARD - Ceton InfiniTV 4
Small wireless keyboard and mouse


The questions I have are:

1. I can't decide on a case. I'm torn between the black Antec steel fusion with remote, the Silverstone LC17-B, or the Silverstone GD05B, OR anything else you guys would think would fit my components. The only real requirement is that it be no wider than 17.5" or deeper than 15". Height is not a factor.

2. Am I missing anything? I know once I decide on a case, I need a remote and a receiver but is there anything else I am missing?

3. Are all of the things I have picked out going to work well together?

Thanks for your help!

-mrflashman

(sorry I couldn't post links to anything...It seems I need to have a couple posts here first)
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post #2 of 13
5/7/11 at 2:09pm
Spend $20 more and get a 2tb f4 over the f3. Speed is fine for an os drive.
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post #3 of 13
5/7/11 at 4:02pm
Might be better off with the Win7x86 (32bit) if you plan on doing HD Audio and want to get a TV tuner in the near future.
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post #4 of 13
5/7/11 at 4:20pm
You can't go wrong with the Antec case. I've had one for 5 years still with original 380w psu and it's solid as a rock.

Do have a couple of suggestions, though. If you are going to be recording HD, remember the files are 6-8GB each and they eat up drives fast. I'd recommend going to a 2TB drive for storage and run your OS on a smaller, faster drive or even a solid state drive. If you're not into high gaming, you can get by with a lot less video card and save on heat and noise (a 5450 silent should be more than adequate for what you are proposing). I'm using one now with a lot less CPU and do quite a bit of transcoding while watching a show and recording a couple of others with no problem.
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post #5 of 13
5/7/11 at 5:02pm
you don't need discrete graphics with your cpu which has integrated intel hd 2000(i have the same one and it handles hd video without any problems although i don't do any gaming), software for bd disc playback that will bitstream hd audio to a receiver if you go that route.
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post #6 of 13
5/7/11 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by armada10 View Post

you don't need discrete graphics with your cpu which has integrated intel hd 2000(i have the same one and it handles hd video without any problems although i don't do any gaming), software for bd disc playback that will bitstream hd audio to a receiver if you go that route.

If you don't do any video processing like compressing video into another format, you might consider the 2100T it has awesome power consumption numbers.
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post #7 of 13
5/8/11 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of the advice.

I decided to ditch the video card, I need to get the cost down and it seemed like the easiest part to add later, if needed.

I ditched the 1TB HDD for the seagate F4 2TB and an SSD - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB

For the case, I decided on the SILVERSTONE Grandia Series GD05B

I also swapped out the PSU listed above for a SILVERSTONE Strider Plus ST50F-P 500W ATX 12V v2.3 & EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Same price as the other PSU but its modular which I read is a good idea for the GD05B case.

For the remote, I just added a AVS Gear GP-IR01BK - took that right out of renethx recommendations. seemed like a good MCE remote

It's coming out to $900, which is a little over budget but I think the build is good...I hope!
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post #8 of 13
5/9/11 at 12:46am
I have the GD05B, very, very happy with it. It is a bit tight inside, and only takes 2 hard drives, but that is fine for my use. It looks really nice in the rack. I added an IR receiver under the optical drive, I will take pics if I get a chance. The receiver kit was $12, I got the link here but forget for the life of me who I got it from.
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post #9 of 13
5/9/11 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdcrox View Post

I have the GD05B, very, very happy with it. It is a bit tight inside, and only takes 2 hard drives, but that is fine for my use. It looks really nice in the rack. I added an IR receiver under the optical drive, I will take pics if I get a chance. The receiver kit was $12, I got the link here but forget for the life of me who I got it from.


I also have the GD05B case and I'm completely happy with it. It perfectly matches the look and size of your standard Receiver.
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post #10 of 13
5/9/11 at 7:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdcrox View Post

I have the GD05B, very, very happy with it. It is a bit tight inside, and only takes 2 hard drives, but that is fine for my use. It looks really nice in the rack. I added an IR receiver under the optical drive, I will take pics if I get a chance. The receiver kit was $12, I got the link here but forget for the life of me who I got it from.

I would love to see a pic. I agree on this case have it and love it.
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post #11 of 13
5/9/11 at 8:40am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the confirmation on the case, honestly it was the hardest component to decide on. I think with my SSD for the OS and the 2TB HDD, I should be OK for storage.

I tried to find a case with more HDD expansions but I need a case that's less than 15" deep to fit my setup.

There's a $25 short cable set available for the Silverstone PSU I'm going to pick up too which should help with cable management.
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post #12 of 13
5/9/11 at 10:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrflashman View Post
Thanks for all of the advice.

I decided to ditch the video card, I need to get the cost down and it seemed like the easiest part to add later, if needed.

I ditched the 1TB HDD for the seagate F4 2TB and an SSD - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB

For the case, I decided on the SILVERSTONE Grandia Series GD05B

I also swapped out the PSU listed above for a SILVERSTONE Strider Plus ST50F-P 500W ATX 12V v2.3 & EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Same price as the other PSU but its modular which I read is a good idea for the GD05B case.

For the remote, I just added a AVS Gear GP-IR01BK - took that right out of renethx recommendations. seemed like a good MCE remote

It's coming out to $900, which is a little over budget but I think the build is good...I hope!
I think you meant Samsung.

If you want to save a few bucks here and there, go with a small micro ATX case, or even better, mini-ITX case and mobo. I refuse to pay more than $50 for a case, no matter how fabulous someone said it is.

Any Windows Media Center remote will work. Newegg has their house brand, Rosewill remote on sale for $15-$16 shipped pretty regularly. You will eventually replace it with a Harmony remote anyway, so no sence spending a ton on the remote.
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post #13 of 13
5/9/11 at 7:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by blueiedgod View Post

I think you meant Samsung.

If you want to save a few bucks here and there, go with a small micro ATX case, or even better, mini-ITX case and mobo. I refuse to pay more than $50 for a case, no matter how fabulous someone said it is.

Any Windows Media Center remote will work. Newegg has their house brand, Rosewill remote on sale for $15-$16 shipped pretty regularly. You will eventually replace it with a Harmony remote anyway, so no sence spending a ton on the remote.

It is super duper fabulous though, even comes with rubber mounts for mounting all drives so no irritating vibrations.
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