Windows 7: Advice regarding HTPC design

I dont know why i didnt look for one. Must have been a bit sleepy

I find it ridiculous that an AMD APU was not recommended, it's cheaper, and includes a much more advanced IGP.
Not to mention the i3 strugles with 1080p playback.

I see where you are going and i agree with you. Just i personaly assumed that the OP would like a bete upgrade path along with better single threaded performance .BUT lets not argue about this

I doubt that i3 will struggle with anything in an HTPC.

Even though the apu is a syrong competitor for a htpc. The i3 is simply better allaround

had just recently seen a video tutorial on HTPC with silverstone. worth a look:

Price to performance ratio, no.
You are thinking of an i3 as if it was going to be used for something else other than playback and an HTPC build. Single threaded performance between an i3 and an A10 will mean squat in an HTPC, you will never experience a difference outside of benchmarks.

I am not trying to initiate an AMD VS Intel fight, but if you are also talking about upgrade path, and real performance then the new Trinity APU's will give you more, and for less money. The whole system will be cheaper all around, and more powerful in terms of what it can do alone.

Regarding AMD v. Intel, I'm more inclined towards an Intel because I've used theirs for two previous builds, and have not had any problems or issues so far with them. I hear that AMD is pretty good too but just have never experienced them.

I might prefer the psu being modular - its a few extra bucks but helps during installation

Given that the case has all of two usb ports, will have to get a wifi card. also - since case supports 4 bays + ssd, might as well also get an ssd for the boot drive, but not sure if the mobo could support a fifth sata connection with the wifi card in the pci express slot

edit: watched the video, pretty psyched. their cases look like masterpieces

Im sorry but the Mobo only supports 4 sata drives, you may need a sata addon card