HTPC Build for Beginner

Let me know what you think about this scratch build. Just a newb so any help or comments would be greatly appreciated.

General use is for Watching Cable/DVD's/BR's, Listening to music, Burning DVD's/CD's, Storage, Surfing/email, General living room use) Going to run audio directly to amp then out to 5.1 surround, and video directly to TV.

TV is 50" Samsung 1080p, and using an amp direct to 5.1 speakers.

Proposed Parts List:

Case--Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Black Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

OP--Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit for System Builders

Motherboard--DFI LP JR P45-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P45 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory--G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

CPU--Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

Video--HIS Hightech H465PS512P Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

Drives--(2) HITACHI 0A38016 1TB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Burner--LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner

Power Supply--FSP Group ZEN 400 400W ATX 2.2V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Fanless Power Supply

Turner Card--Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface

Sound Card--HT | OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Keyboard/Mouse--Logitech LX 710 Laser Black USB Cordless Standard Desktop

Wireless--Rosewill RNX-EasyN1 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wireless-N 4.0 Dongle (1T1R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates WPA/WPA2 (AES, 64,128-WEP with shared-key authentication) WPS PIN, PBC (Hardware WPS Button) QoS-WMM

TOTAL--$1,468.82

I know you're knew, so don't take this as an *** chewing or anything. We have an HTPC section on here, with quite a few guru's on HTPC's.
Don't worry about re-posting it in the HTPC forum though. It's no biggie.
http://www.ocforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=155

Now on to the build. I'm by no means a know it all on HTPC's or PC's in general. From what I can see though, the CPU is quite a bit overkill. The video card as well, if I'm not mistaken. You might also want to look into getting a low-profile card since you're using a Micro ATX case/board.
I understand why you would want a fanless PSU for a HTPC build, but in such a cramped case, the heat might get bad. Just something to think about.
Make sure you're case will fit the tuner/sound/video cards. It would suck horribly to get all that in the mail just to find out you need an extra 2 inches for the video card or something.

Like I said, I'm no guru, just my general input.

Oh yea, welcome to the forums

I personally don't see much wrong with it. The case accepts full-height expansion cards, so that will be fine. I can't call overkill since I wouldn't mind something more powerful even though mine plays back all HD no problem and this system would stomp mine.

My only concern is what your HTPC front end software will be. If you're planning on Vista's Media Center, find another case or get a different remote/receiver. For every positive word on the Imon you find, I can probably find you 50 that hate it.

I can also only hope you plan on using the wireless for an Internet connection only.

Wireless internet only yes. Here's the other idea I have been toying with....


Proposed Parts List #2:

Case--Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Black Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

OP--Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit or 7

Motherboard--ASUS P5Q-EM LGA 775 Intel G45 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory--G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPI-B

CPU--Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q8400

Video--HIS Hightech H485QT512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported IceQ4 Turbo

Drives--(1) Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives
(1) Western Digital WD20EADS 2TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives

Burner--LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner

Power Supply--ENERMAX PRO82+ EPR525AWT 525W ATX12V Ver.2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Turner Card--Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface

Sound Card--HT | OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Keyboard/Mouse--Logitech LX 710 Laser Black USB Cordless Standard Desktop

Wireless--Rosewill RNX-EasyN1 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wireless-N 4.0 Dongle (1T1R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates WPA/WPA2 (AES, 64,128-WEP with shared-key authentication) WPS PIN, PBC (Hardware WPS Button) QoS-WMM

Subtotal: $1,677.82

Sound Card--HT | OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Click to expand...

If that card is anything like the HT Omega Striker I have you will not be disappointed, its an amazing Sound Card

I just received that case, I have yet to actually put the build in but its really nice.

Well after some more research and advice the build is looking more like this....



Case -- Antec Black Aluminum / Steel Fusion Remote Black Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

Motherboard -- GIGABYTE GA-E7AUM-DS2H LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9400 HDMI Micro ATX Intel

CPU -- Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model

Memory -- G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Power Supply -- Bfg Tech 550W EPS12V

TV Turner -- Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner 1213 PCI-Express x1 Interface

CPU Cooler -- Scythe Ninja Mini

Sound Card -- HT | OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

Burner -- LG Black Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20L

Hard Drive -- Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

OS -- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders or #7

Wireless -- D-Link DIR-625 IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE802.11n Draft 2 RangeBooster N Router and Rosewill RNX-EasyN1 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wireless-N 4.0 Dongle (1T1R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates WPA/WPA2 (AES, 64,128-WEP

Keyboard -- Logitech LX 710 Laser Black USB Cordless Standard Desktop

Any other comments or thoughts??? I'm happy with it, guess I was going a little overboard to start with, that's typical though. Now I've got enough $$$ to buy a great amp for my speakers.

My understanding of the greens are that they are great Storage drives but a bit slow for OS.

I would also be abit concerned about the BFG PSU (would need to look to see who the OEM is), personally I would suggest going with a Corsair instead (just bought my 4th corsair for another rig).

Beyond that it doesnt look bad for a rig. Im still deciding on a HTPC build and have been for a few years.