Budget SFF HTPC help?

So for christmas I'm looking on asking for some stuff to build a HTPC, and just have fun with it. Currently I only have a laptop so I miss a desktop .

I'm looking a shuttle barebones kit, or something cute and small to keep in my living room with my tv as it's only monitor.

shuttle KPC K45 $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856101064

E5200 2.5ghz 2mb (this is what I need help on!) $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

I'm basically looking for a processor that will do everything I need from it quickly and keep everything smooth. I won't be playing intense games on this computer at all.

2 gigs of 667 ram $30

500 gig sata HDD $55

tv tuner card $20

I have a cd/dvd drive already..

This gives me a very cheap, but non upgradeable system, that comes in under 300 total (which I could do for christmas)

If I could get a case with DVI, HDMI, or a pci-e16 slot for upgrading that would be better...



also what are some things you can do with HTPCs? I just got the itch to tinker with something and this seems like a good idea to learn about stuff. I also want to be able to set up a network where I can watch videos/tv stored on the HTPC on my laptop via wireless or something cool

Sounds like an good idea, even got me thinking. But as you said it lacks the ability to be upgraded later. The shuttle has a pci slot that will be used for a tv card but alot of people suggest getting a lower end video card to offload any HD content from the cpu. Does anyone know a tv card can do that as well as capture video? Of course if you aren't worries about HD then you have no problem.

Yeah I'm thinking I want a pci slot and a pcie16 slot for a cheap video card just to handle all that, but I am pretty clueless

This looks like it could work too, it's a little big and more expensive, but it has spidf in and out (useful for me) and pci16, more ram slots (probably wont go over 3 gigs though, as the fourth would be a waste)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110062

So I'm strongly considering moving to that Asus case. I like Asus a lot (my laptop) and it has a lot more features and upgrade-ability for $50. The card reader and front USB will be nice too if someone brings over a movie or we want to view some pictures quickly.

I can use the spidf out, but I have some questions. When I watch a DVD on it, will it output surround sound via the optical to my receiver?


Thoughts? I can't really skimp any more on any of the items, unless I can get a processor for cheap from the classifieds (looking now!)

Does anyone know if this case has a cpu cooler built into it? Can I get an OEM cpu?

bump to figure out about the CPU cooler on the ASUS, and other questions

Alright, I'm going to go a new direction for this.

AMD Athlon X2 4850E CPU - $60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G mATX Motherboard - $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090

Kingston KVR800D2N6/2G 2GB DDR2 800 RAM - $23 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134636

Western Digital WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $60

Silverstone SUGO SG02B-F Black mATX Case - $60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163112

Antec Earthwatts 500W PSU - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007
or
OCZ 500w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012

thoughts? suggestions?

The Shuttles kinda scare me. Seems they mostly come with a very weak PSU. That setup with the Silverstone case looks pretty solid, and looks like you can put it together for pretty cheap.

After reading this review, I am definitely going to be getting the AMD+gigabyte mobo combo.

http://hothardware.com/Articles/AMD-780G-Chipset-and-Athlon-X2-4850e-Preview-/?page=1

I can't tell you guys how excited I am to have a computer again! Thanks!

FWIW I run a Shuttle K45 as my HTPC and I have another waiting to be built for the bedroom. It has been running 24/7 since I built it a month ago without a single problem. For under $200 it is a great little pc to play movies and music

I have an E4300 running in it and it will play 720p content perfectly on my 37" lcd using the onboard video. I also play 720p video(planet earth) and play music at the same time with no problems

I have owned about 5 Shuttles over the past few years and havent had a single problem with any of them. Unless I decide to start gaming I am never going back to a "normal" pc again

Linux or XP?

I have built a few htpc's based on 780g mobo's they are awesome. That being said I would go with the asus mobo over the gigabyte, I've owned both, I just find the asus better.

I've had 3 dif setups in there starting with a 690g motherboard, then I went with the 780g from gigabyte when they came out and have sence moved on to the asus 780g motherboard. I've used a few cpu's but found that the 45w ones are able to handle everything I need and run cooler.

I am using this case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121027

It is cheap, but blends in well with my other gear, most people don't realize its a pc untill I tell them. The only issue I have is my blueray drive longer then most and so I ran into clearance issues with the oem heatsink, I solved that by getting a 1u copper cooler for servers.

I recently added a hd3450 for hybrid crossfire and have been playing TF2 using my xbox 360 controller. I don't notice any lag running 720p.