[Aso_TC]

Just looking for a little feedback on my first HTPC build. I am probably going a little overboard but that's typical for me.

Parts
Lian Li PC-V355B Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811112378)
Corsair CX600 V2 PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817139028)
Samsung 830 128GB SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820147163)
Seagate 500GB HD

Mushkin 2x4GB DDR3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820226191)
Intel 2120 I3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115077)
Asrock Z77 Pro4-M (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157306)
Galaxy GT 630 1GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814162116)

Pioneer Blu-Ray player (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827129067)

Windows Home Server 2011 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6832416443)


I am using WHS 2011 because NewEgg had it on sale for $35.
SSD is going to be used as a boot drive for OS and applications. I know 500GB isn't going to be enough storage but it will work for now since I have the drive laying around from a RMA. Once I figure everything out I will go to a three WD 2TB or 3TB red drives.

I really struggled on what video card to get since trying to decipher Nvidia's product line is confusing. I did find this matrix on the Nvidia site that helped a little (http://www.nvidia.com/object/graphics_ca...krrycr0ymy). From that graph I figured the GT 630 would be my best bet for the price.

Would like to go with a IB I3 but there doesn't seem to a be a accurate release date on them yet.

Main use will be for watching movies, playing music, and also has a home server running TFS express. Eventually use it has a DVR once I have more storage space and also figure out what else I need to record TV.

Any suggestions on if the build looks ok or if I should change anything out?

Thanks and I will post build updates with pictures to this thread once I start piecing everything together.

[assassin]

Just looking for a little feedback on my first HTPC build. I am probably going a little overboard but that's typical for me.

Parts
Lian Li PC-V355B Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811112378)
Corsair CX600 V2 PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817139028)
Samsung 830 128GB SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820147163)
Seagate 500GB HD

Mushkin 2x4GB DDR3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820226191)
Intel 2120 I3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115077)
Asrock Z77 Pro4-M (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157306)
Galaxy GT 630 1GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814162116)

Pioneer Blu-Ray player (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827129067)

Windows Home Server 2011 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6832416443)


I am using WHS 2011 because NewEgg had it on sale for $35.
SSD is going to be used as a boot drive for OS and applications. I know 500GB isn't going to be enough storage but it will work for now since I have the drive laying around from a RMA. Once I figure everything out I will go to a three WD 2TB or 3TB red drives.

I really struggled on what video card to get since trying to decipher Nvidia's product line is confusing. I did find this matrix on the Nvidia site that helped a little (http://www.nvidia.com/object/graphics_ca...krrycr0ymy). From that graph I figured the GT 630 would be my best bet for the price.

Would like to go with a IB I3 but there doesn't seem to a be a accurate release date on them yet.

Main use will be for watching movies, playing music, and also has a home server running TFS express. Eventually use it has a DVR once I have more storage space and also figure out what else I need to record TV.

Any suggestions on if the build looks ok or if I should change anything out?

Thanks and I will post build updates with pictures to this thread once I start piecing everything together.

IVB i3 will be released in Sept 2012.

[RealDealNeil]

If you want to save a bit on costs:

- 128GB SSD may be unnecessary, 64GB will suffice if you need a few programs (WHS, media center software, few background programs)
- 4GB RAM is enough. Of course, more can be added easily later
- i3 has excellent integrated graphics, no need for a video card. Will keep heat down as well. Try it, if you don't like it, add the video card later.

[Aso_TC]

Thanks for the input guys. Hints on saving money are appreciated. I decided to pull 2x4gb out of my main box for now since it has 16gb which is never fully utilized.

I went with the 128 gb SSD cause Newegg had it on sale for 89 with free shipping which was only 5-10 bucks more than the 64gb version.

Is the integrated graphics in the Ivy Bridge processors going to be worth the wait or should I just grab a 2120 from MicroCenter for 99?

[TheV]

Is the integrated graphics in the Ivy Bridge processors going to be worth the wait or should I just grab a 2120 from MicroCenter for 99?

The Ivy Bridge i3-3225 will be running HD 4000, which is what I am waiting for. It is quite a nice bump from the HD 2000 AFAIK.

From AnandTech:

What makes Ivy Bridge different from your average tick in Intel's cycle is the improvement to the on-die GPU. Intel's HD 4000, the new high-end offering, is now equipped with 16 EUs up from 12 in Sandy Bridge (soon to be 40 in Haswell). Intel's HD 2500 is the replacement to the old HD 2000 and it retains the same number of EUs (6). Efficiency is up at the EU level as Ivy Bridge is able to dual-issue more instruction combinations than its predecessor.

Link