HTPC for Ben

[DannyBoy]

Ben wants to replace Time Warner with a HTPC that he can use for netflix instant viewing, hulu, streaming off network websites, etc.  We already tried looking into bd players that support netflix, etc but this will work out best.  

I know Erik just built one, and can't remember if Pete did as well, but figured I'd post this build here and see what you guys thought.  As mentioned earlier, it doesn't need to be a powerhouse (hence the low-end CPU).  Most likely won't even have an optical drive at all.  Streaming is the main objective here.  I searched around a couple websites and put this together at newegg.  Also, this computer only needs to run at 720p because Ben's tv isn't a 1080 set (another reason for the lax hardware).

Cart Item List:

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #:N82E16822136073
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
      $55.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073


APEVIA Black X-MASTER-BK/500 ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
Item #:N82E16811144231
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
   -$5.00 Instant
   $74.99
$69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231

AMD Sempron 140 2.7GHz Socket AM3 45W Single-Core Processor
Item #:N82E16819103698
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
      $35.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698

G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820231121
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
      $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231121

Foxconn A7GM-S 2.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813186165
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
      $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186165

Grand Total:   $286.95

also thinking of getting this keyboard with a trackball and mouse buttons for control.  Not sure if this is the way to go or bluetooth kb/mouse.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823176018


It'd be a big sucker (dimensions below) but he has plenty of room.  So what do you guys think? 

Dimensions&Weight
Height    14.3"
Width    5.3"
Depth    17.8"

[Pete]

I built mine around a cube case like this

http://www.xpcgear.com/nsk1300.html

however, if I had to do it again, I would have used this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129046&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Cases+%28+HTPC/Media+Center+Cases%29-_-Antec-_-11129046


also, go with 4gb of ram, it really helps when doing HD so the machine doesn't have to cache to disk.

That keyboard will probably work, it's similar to mine (built in trackball)

I had to try a few to get one that would work across my living room though

The rest of the machine looks good though.  Does it have audio out on the HDMI port?  Just curious how he would do his audio.  My board has an optical output.

for what it's worth, bluray drives are way cheap on Newegg now.  Might be worth the ~60-90 bux to throw one in.

[Ben]

We figured we would add the BD drive later, i really dont have much of a use for it now. Main thing is to stream netflix and TV websites and download shows. The $80 time warner is charging me for just cable is rediculous and i dont need it anymore at all if i get something like this, i would be set. 
 

[Pete]

I haven't scaled my TV back yet, will be hard to with enjoying watching UFC in HD and what not, but it's been useful for watching movies, Hulu etc.  I see that Netflix is going to start doing streaming movies over the Wii too, very interesting.

[Jeremy]

Looks legit.  I just setup my 360 to playback movies on my PC.  I plan on building a dedicated HTPC soon as well. 

[DannyBoy]

I built mine around a cube case like this

http://www.xpcgear.com/nsk1300.html

however, if I had to do it again, I would have used this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129046&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Cases+%28+HTPC/Media+Center+Cases%29-_-Antec-_-11129046


also, go with 4gb of ram, it really helps when doing HD so the machine doesn't have to cache to disk.

That keyboard will probably work, it's similar to mine (built in trackball)

I had to try a few to get one that would work across my living room though

The rest of the machine looks good though.  Does it have audio out on the HDMI port?  Just curious how he would do his audio.  My board has an optical output.

for what it's worth, bluray drives are way cheap on Newegg now.  Might be worth the ~60-90 bux to throw one in.

I thought I remembered you having some weird cube case.  Why the change of heart?  That case looks pretty legit, a little smaller than the other one too.  Might be worth the extra $$.

[Ben]

For another $20 i think it would be worth it for that case, be nice to put it where the DVR is now, or else there would just be an empty space there. So should we start this? Give the word and what to order, ill get started buying everything

[DannyBoy]

Reading about that case, it seems like a pain.  I also don't like that it's a non-standard sized PSU. 

[Pete]

my cube case has a non standard PSU too, it's the price you pay to have a small case.

[DannyBoy]

As for audio out, I wondered the same thing.  I can't find out for sure whether or not the mobo HDMI will carry audio, but I have a feeling it won't.  If not, Ben would be just fine with a plain audio cable.  That has worked fine with my PC. 

We could always add an optical soundcard down the line if he wants to watch Blu-ray on it or anything like that.

[Pete]

makes sense.  Seems like you have a solid build then.  My setup is built around a c2d laptop chip, but I still put the system to sleep when I'm not using it, and it barely draws 1W then.

[ELake]

sounds like a nice lil project

My kb/m setup is my latest edition to mine, been busy so I haven't had much of a chance to mess around

heres what I just picked up.. Best setup I've found for portability
http://www.ergogeek.com/2-4-ghz-long-range-wireless-keyboard-with-touchpad-mouse.html

I dont like that mobo, I would go with this combo if you want AMD.. Since you have an ATX case might as well use it. Modular PSUs are badass..highly suggest one if that is a cramped case like mine was
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315851

It passes audio with HDMI and should do the trick. As much as you say its just used for streaming, its pretty damn addictive to watch movies and play emulators

[JMann2380]

Mac Mini 

[DannyBoy]

sounds like a nice lil project

My kb/m setup is my latest edition to mine, been busy so I haven't had much of a chance to mess around

heres what I just picked up.. Best setup I've found for portability
http://www.ergogeek.com/2-4-ghz-long-range-wireless-keyboard-with-touchpad-mouse.html

I dont like that mobo, I would go with this combo if you want AMD.. Since you have an ATX case might as well use it. Modular PSUs are badass..highly suggest one if that is a cramped case like mine was
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315851

It passes audio with HDMI and should do the trick. As much as you say its just used for streaming, its pretty damn addictive to watch movies and play emulators

Thanks for that!  I think we'll definitely go with that mobo/cpu combo, only $13 more than the other one and I like knowing for sure HDMI will carry the audio. 

[JMann2380]

Ben, check out this thread: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/981311/

Goes through a TON of options when ditching cable.  Check out boxee.tv