[doug2255]

Please review this build (I know it is probably a little bit on the over kill side):

case - Lian Li Black Alum PC-C50B Micro ATX HTPC Case ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811112303
) ($179)

MOBO - MSI H67MA-E35 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...20%28B3%29 ) ($103)

CPU- Intel Core i3-2105 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32105
- (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...pk=i3-2105
) ($140)

PSU - Antec EA-380D ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...%20EA-380D
) ($45)

RAM - Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT25664BA1339 - ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...Pin%20DDR3 ) ($45)

HDD - Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822136514 ) - ($80)

SSD for OS (OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX30GXXX 2.5" 30GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820227393 ) ($85).

My usage will be primarily viewing movies from HDDs (internal and external) (.iso files and blu ray). Hopefully heavy skin usage. Any ripping/decoding will be done on another machine. If I need to use physical DVDs,I will use stand-a lone DVD/Blue ray/3D player.

TV is a 60" Panasonic Vierra Plasma.

I might order the new Lian Li PC-C60B case (availability is supposed to be in about a week or two - probably will add approx $30)

I do not know how much room there will be for an aftermarket CPU cooler, therefore I do not know which one to order (need slim and quiet cooler??). I assume the stock cooler should be replaced??).

Oh yeah - Windows 7 64 bit will most likely me the OS

I guess these components will work together.

I probably forgot some info -please do not hesitate to ask , comment or suggest. I know you guys are not bashful!!

Thanks!!

[Mallet21]

Looks good. Stock coolers for the Sandybridge processors are apparently pretty quiet compared t previous intel coolers. I'd stick with stock to test out and swap it out later if needed.

[Zon2020]

For the uses you describe (and for any HTPC uses) by all reports the i3-2105 will give you nothing for the additional cost over the i3-2100.

I was going to use a 2105 for my recent build, but after reasearching it, used the 2100.

If you are near a Micro Center, they are still selling the 2100 for $99.99.

Also, I agree with the comment about using the stock fan. It works fine and is quiet.

FInally, since your motherboard has SATA 6.0gbs sockets, you might consider using a SATA III SSD and hard disk. You won't notice any difference with the hard disk, but you will with the SSD. I used a Plextor PX-64M2S 64GB SATA III SSD and a Hitachi Deskstar Coolspin 2TB SATA III Hard Drive 0F12117. The boot up and program loading is truly amazing. Newegg has had good deals on the Crucial M4 SATA III SSDs.

[eskro]

Huge OverKill!!

Specially if you plan on doing Ripping/Encoding tasks on another PC!!

I mean, its ok if your ok with it but, thats a total overKill for what u need to do !!

as reference,
even this AMD build here --> http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=93846
or even this INTEL build here --> http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=99557

will do everything you want without a hitch
including using any Heavy Duty XBMC skins fluidly!!

and since you plan on getting an SSD, which i agree btw
man, those 2 builds would FLY HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zon2020]

Huge OverKill!!

Why is it "overkill"? Your system costs $167 for a CPU, GPU and MB and you get obsolete technology that provides no headroom in case the owner decides to do something more with the machine over the next three or four years.

I paid $199 for an H67 MB and an i3-2100 and got a vastly more capable device using current technology.

I don't call that overkill.

[Choque]

Kinda have to agree with Zon there. It's roughly 30 more bucks, uses current technology and has headroom left for "who knows what's coming"

[Zon2020]

Kinda have to agree with Zon there. It's roughly 30 more bucks, uses current technology and has headroom left for "who knows what's coming"

Plus, Intel has indicated that at least some of the Ivey Bridge chips next year will be based on the LGA1155 architecture and work with the H61, H67, and Z68 chipsets, which provides even more flexibilty.

And, while I haven't sat the two next to each other and measured them, I would be surprised if the i3-2100 doesn't run cooler (and thus quiester) than the E5700.

[eskro]

im referring to doug2255's choices ....
his current Mobo + CPU = $243!!!

my AMD suggestion (mobo + cpu + gpu) = $143!!
or my Intel suggestion (mobo + cpu + gpu) = $165!!

[doug2255]

For the uses you describe (and for any HTPC uses) by all reports the i3-2105 will give you nothing for the additional cost over the i3-2100.

I was going to use a 2105 for my recent build, but after reasearching it, used the 2100.

If you are near a Micro Center, they are still selling the 2100 for $99.99.

Also, I agree with the comment about using the stock fan. It works fine and is quiet.

FInally, since your motherboard has SATA 6.0gbs sockets, you might consider using a SATA III SSD and hard disk. You won't notice any difference with the hard disk, but you will with the SSD. I used a Plextor PX-64M2S 64GB SATA III SSD and a Hitachi Deskstar Coolspin 2TB SATA III Hard Drive 0F12117. The boot up and program loading is truly amazing. Newegg has had good deals on the Crucial M4 SATA III SSDs.

Zon2020 - Thanks for the info/reply!
Going with the SATA III SSDs looks like a no brainer. Of course, the specs for Plextor and Crucial are different/conflicting and priced similar ($5 difference form New Egg).

Crucial - read (up to)= 415MB/s, write = 95 MB/s
Plextor = read (up to)= 370MB/s, write = 110 MB/s

I assume the read speed is more important (for a OS drive), so should the Crucial be my first choice??

Also good to know that the stock fans should be OK. I will go with that for now.

Thanks again (also to the other responses).

Doug

[Choque]

I'd go with the i3-2100T. Costs a few bucks more but it's TDP is 35W. There are even reports about people who use this passive cooled. Even though I'd simply slap a Scythe Shuriken BIG onto it and let it run with 800u/min

[Zon2020]

I'd go with the i3-2100T. Costs a few bucks more but it's TDP is 35W. There are even reports about people who use this passive cooled. Even though I'd simply slap a Scythe Shuriken BIG onto it and let it run with 800u/min

There are also reports that at the CPU levels actually experienced most frequently in HTPC use, there is no power or heat savings in the T over the plain 2100, or you can underclock the 2100 if you choose.

With the i5-2400, the i5-2400T has an advantage because it runs at a lower normal clock speed, but has nearly the same Turbo speed as the i5-2400 . That is, the Turbo boost on the T is significantly larger than that of the plain.

But since i3s don't have Turbo Boost, the advantage of the T over the plain is far less than with the i5.

One advantage is that the T comes with a low profile cooler/heatsink, if that matters in the case being used.

[Zon2020]

Also good to know that the stock fans should be OK. I will go with that for now.

Thanks again (also to the other responses).

Doug

I was referring to the CPU heatsink/fan as working well. I have no idea how the fans are in your chosen case.

Also, I seriously doubt if you will ever see the slightest real-world difference in performance between those two SSDs.

[doug2255]

There are also reports that at the CPU levels actually experienced most frequently in HTPC use, there is no power or heat savings in the T over the plain 2100, or you can underclock the 2100 if you choose.

1 - With the i5-2400, the i5-2400T has an advantage because it runs at a lower normal clock speed, but has nearly the same Turbo speed as the i5-2400 . That is, the Turbo boost on the T is significantly larger than that of the plain.

But since i3s don't have Turbo Boost, the advantage of the T over the plain is far less than with the i5.

One advantage is that the T comes with a low profile cooler/heatsink, if that matters in the case being used.

Obviously, I am no expert, but with minimal differences, I will opt to go with the higher clock speed - i3-2100.

2 - I worded my response poorly - I knew you were referring to the cpu cooler fan . I will go with the stock cooler to start with and if need be upgrade (though it sounds like it will be OK).

3 - SSDs - That was my guess also - I am really glad you caught the SATA III oversight - THANKS!!