My Intel Upgrade-able HTPC Build
#1
Question 
Tell me what you think and if all this works together. Went with Intel build instead of AMD in case I decided to upgrade CPU in future if needed which the mobo in this build allows for top end. HTPC will not be using Blue Ray, no gaming, no 3D, just basic streaming and downloading videos, basic internet use, downloading video and music files. I will purchase windows 8 as it will only be $69.00 supposedly but will use Ubuntu and xbmc for now. what does everyone thinkHuh


CPU: Intel Celeron G540 $44.04
http://www.hookbag.ca/product/H3C06MNHK/

MOBO: ASRock B75M-ITX $91.04
http://www.hookbag.ca/product/H3C0CNXEV/

RAM: Kingston HyperX 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1600mhz $25.32
http://www.hookbag.ca/product/H3C06I3JB/

HDD: Already own external drive of 1 TB which will take apart and install internally to hold all media

SSD: Already own Kingston v+200 GB (previously purchased for $58 on price error)

CASE Inwin BP 659 - $28.99 (previously purchased on clearance)
http://www.in-win.com.tw/US/products_pcc...del_id=294

Total cost will be around $247.39 without OS
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#2
Very similar to a build I did late July, same CPU + MB + mem, different case though. Worked beautifully in Openelec (Intel build) with backrow skin. I was similarly keeping my options open with 1155 over FM1.
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#3
(2012-09-06, 23:48)Scotty Wrote: Very similar to a build I did late July, same CPU + MB + mem, different case though. Worked beautifully in Openelec (Intel build) with backrow skin. I was similarly keeping my options open with 1155 over FM1.

How did you find your build with the mobo and cpu, run smoothly for all the media needsHuh I`m on a budget so was basically only going for the higher mobo because of potential future upgrades instead of a cheaper H61 mobo. But for 91 dollars the BM75 was basically only 10 dollars more so. Plus if needed I could always throw a low profile graphics card but I don`t think ill need it.
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#4
Have you thought about going for a H77 motherboard instead of the B75? H series are generally well designed for HTPC use, the B series are designed for business use.

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#5
(2012-09-07, 00:00)Arkitket Wrote: Have you thought about going for a H77 motherboard instead of the B75? H series are generally well designed for HTPC use, the B series are designed for business use.

Is there a major difference between the boards, I could go H77 but it will cost me around 10 dollars more. But if the H77 has enough features that are worth while then maybe I should switch it out
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#6
IIRC, the B75 has no RAID and no ISRT.

Personally, for just around $4 more, I would go with this ASUS H77 ITX board
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sk...ure=OTHERS
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#7
(2012-09-07, 00:13)Arkitket Wrote: IIRC, the B75 has no RAID and no ISRT.

Personally, for just around $4 more, I would go with this ASUS H77 ITX board
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sk...ure=OTHERS

Thanks for the link and info, I think I might switch to the H77 and choose the rest of the items on my list from the same site (directcanada) free ground shipping is nice.
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#8
(2012-09-07, 00:18)Palmer Wrote:
(2012-09-07, 00:13)Arkitket Wrote: IIRC, the B75 has no RAID and no ISRT.

Personally, for just around $4 more, I would go with this ASUS H77 ITX board
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sk...ure=OTHERS

Thanks for the link and info, I think I might switch to the H77 and choose the rest of the items on my list from the same site (directcanada) free ground shipping is nice.

Yeah it is, DirectCanada (part of the NCIX group) is where I will be getting the majority of my build parts. I have been using Shopbot.ca and PCPartPicker.com (set to Canada) to help find the best prices on my build.
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#9
(2012-09-07, 00:20)Arkitket Wrote:
(2012-09-07, 00:18)Palmer Wrote:
(2012-09-07, 00:13)Arkitket Wrote: IIRC, the B75 has no RAID and no ISRT.

Personally, for just around $4 more, I would go with this ASUS H77 ITX board
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sk...ure=OTHERS

Thanks for the link and info, I think I might switch to the H77 and choose the rest of the items on my list from the same site (directcanada) free ground shipping is nice.

Yeah it is, DirectCanada (part of the NCIX group) is where I will be getting the majority of my build parts. I have been using Shopbot.ca and PCPartPicker.com (set to Canada) to help find the best prices on my build.

I can get decent prices on the mobo and cpu, it`s just trying to find decent price on ram right now. There isn't many deals, might have to wait till weekend and hope for sale. for 4gb ram Im looking for $20 dollar price point, 8gb (dot need that much) missed sale last week was around $30.
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#10
I would suggest this for RAM http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sk...re=G.SKILL
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#11
(2012-09-07, 00:33)Arkitket Wrote: I would suggest this for RAM http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sk...re=G.SKILL

Does it matter that it says core i5 on these or is it just marketingHuh
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#12
It says i5 because only the Intel Ivy Bridge CPU's will do 1600Mhz, Sandy Bridge CPU's will do 1066 and 1333. However you can step the RAM down to run at 1333 Mhz to work with Sandy Bridge CPU's, or increase your processor to one of the new Ivy Bridge pentiums (although the G2120 is over twice the price of the G540)
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#13
(2012-09-07, 00:40)Arkitket Wrote: It says i5 because only the Intel Ivy Bridge CPU's will do 1600Mhz, Sandy Bridge CPU's will do 1066 and 1333. However you can step the RAM down to run at 1333 Mhz to work with Sandy Bridge CPU's, or increase your processor to one of the new Ivy Bridge pentiums (although the G2120 is over twice the price of the G540)

Yeah that ram sounds good then. Its really tempting to increase the CPU to a new ivy bridge but don't know if ill need the power. It's just always so tempting but I have a pretty tight budget.
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#14
Sorry for late reply. Aye, the Sandy Celeron dual cores run fine for me. I plan to switch to the i3 3225 at some point, but not yet. I did one build on H61 (it will run the IB's with a FW update), and one on the Asus H77.
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