Advice regarding HTPC design

[Greenfire]

Hey all,

After screwing around with a raspberry pi for a few weeks (read: wasting time), I've decided to take the easier route out and build a windows-based box. I was wondering if you guys might have some advice, as I've never built an htpc box before.

Looking for:
- setup capable of 1080p playback
- quiet
- compact, horizontal case
- no gaming/encoding required, but n64 emulator should not be a problem
- 4 hard drives (more will make the case bigger)

Have:
- 4 hard drives
- win 7 license

Suggested build:

Processor - Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I33225 - $144.99

Motherboard - Newegg.com - ASRock H61M-GE LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $64.99

RAM - Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00 - $42.99

PSU - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $44.99

Case -SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front door and plastic front panel, 0.8mm SECC body Grandia Series GD06B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - $112.99

Total - ~$410 + Shipping

Edit: pedroc1999 is helping me out with this now, feel free to weigh in on anything. limit is ~$400

Thanks
-green

 

[Pedroc1999]

I am happy to help you pick parts but first... I need to know a real budget not just unlimited

 

[Greenfire]

Much appreciated. $400ish, though that's a moving target. That's not including hard drives which I already have. I also already have a Windows license.

 

[Pedroc1999]

OK,

So for processor I recommend the i3 3225 because of its hyperthreading and Intel HD4000 Graphics, Also very Energy Effecient http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774

Motherboard : h61 Chipset http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157236H61 Chipset

More to come

 

[Pedroc1999]

Case - Newegg.com - nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Acrylic / Steel HTPC 6000B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

 

[Greenfire]

Nah no need for a cd/bluray drive. I have a desktop which can handle those if need be.

Looks promising so far, its also important for me that this thing be quiet. My current desktop hums like a power saw.

 

[Pedroc1999]

Ram - Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00

 

[Pedroc1999]

PSU - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

 

[Pedroc1999]

Does it need wifi card?

 

[Greenfire]

I have a wifi dongle, should be enough

 

[Pedroc1999]

Any others things you want- as it stand it will cost you $371.95 + shipping from newegg

 

[Greenfire]

Just looked at the case, it has 6 hard drive bays. I only really need 4, it would be great to have as little empty space in the case as possible so that the box is as small as possible

edit: don't have a lot of room

 

[Pedroc1999]

err okay- il look into that...

 

[Pedroc1999]

and funny enough it just got pulled from newegg!

 

[Greenfire]

the mobo got pulled too

 

[Pedroc1999]

new mobo - Newegg.com - ASRock H61M-GE LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

 

[Pedroc1999]

new case - Newegg.com - nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Acrylic / Steel HTPC 5000B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case


im looking for new psu for that case

 

[Pedroc1999]

Im going to ask the guys over in the hardware section for a psu as i cant seem to find one

 

[Pedroc1999]

So turns out that PSU fits --- as far as i know that is your build complete


Processor - Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I33225 - $144.99

Motherboard - Newegg.com - ASRock H61M-GE LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $64.99

RAM - Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00 - $42.99

PSU - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $44.99

Case - Newegg.com - nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Acrylic / Steel HTPC 5000B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - $64.99

Total - $362.95 + Shipping

 

[Pedroc1999]

The i3 is a great processor - it will handle media tasks fine- not to mention the gaming potencial- The HD4000 is an amazing graphics chip, it can even play games like gta iv with reasonable settings- thats why i chose it