bintopaulshin

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Apr 19, 2010
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I am planning to build a HTPC and was wondering what the recommendations were

Approximate Purchase Date: in a week or two

Budget Range: 300-400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: watching HD movies, streaming videos, music, web browsing,
i don't think i will need a blueray player because i have a separate blueray player, probably a dvd player will do

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: no preference, close to microcenter

Country of Origin: US, California

Parts Preferences: no preference

Overclocking: probably not as it is a HTPC

SLI or Crossfire: no

Monitor Resolution: planning to hook it up to the TV, the Samsung UN46D8000 heres the link on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN46D8000-46-Inch-1080p-Silver/dp/B004N866SA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1312007168&sr=8-2
most likely through HDMI

Additional Comments: also i have a set of Mcintosh 2205 and the Tannoy D2000 speakers, how would i wire all this to the tv and the computer ? would i run the computer to the TV via HDMI and the speakers and the amplifier through the output cable on the TV?

this was what i was planning to purchase, here it is

CPU: Microcenter Bundle, Phenom II X4 840 with the MSI 880GM-E35 Socket AM3 880G mATX (due to the onboard 4250)
Ram: Crucial CT2CP25664BA1339 4GB 2GBx2 240-pin PC3-10600 DIMM DDR3 Memory KIT
Case: Silverstone GD05B, maybe the ML03B?
HDD: Western Digital 2 TB Caviar Green SATA II Intellipower 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive - WD20EARS
PSU:Antec EA-380D Power Supply EA-380D
CD/DVD: maybe a cheap $15 drive from microcenter

This adds up to around $360 USD
will the AMD Llano make a better HTPC at a cheaper price? or even the core i3 intel HD3000 build?
i don't really know which is better

thank you so much for the help!
really appreciate it
 
Your build looks good. A Llano build isn't necessarily better, but it is more energy efficient. Since you have a total GPU+CPU TDP of 100w, as opposed to having a 95w TDP for the CPU and lets say give or take 15w (Since the 4350's TDP is 20). So you'd be using less power.
 


This.

The UVD3 (Unified Video Decoder) on the E-350 Zacate integrated graphics provides a higher level of video hardware acceleration than the UVD2 on the Radeon 4250 IGP.

Not sure about the price difference between the E-350 and your MicroCenter bundle --- a small SSD for your OS/apps on the E-350 would really add some extra sweetness.