[Ramshackles]

My original idea was to built a custom system:
Core i3 530
Gigabyte H55N
Antec ISK case
and some random hd + ram

But that option seems to cost more than a prebuilt ION box, so I'm looking for advice.

Which ION box currently is the best purchase? I require excellent 1080p capabilities on windows 7 preferably with a nice skin Also wireless network is a must, optical drive is optional.

Would be a plus if it doesn't sound like a jet is about to take-off

[Flomaster]

shit I keep seeing the Core i3 mentioned but have not read anything good about XBMC and Linux. I do NOT want to run win7 on my HTPC. so I pulled the trigger on a Zotac ionitx mobo and some DDR3 ram my cost is just about the same as if I had bought the intel H55 board and Core i3

the i3 might be good for windows build and WMC not Linux and XBMC

now on to your question.
1.what is your budget
2.what form factor are you looking for?
3.are you buying everything from the ground up? ( I would assume so since add case, HardDrive Ram)


-=Jason=-

[Ramshackles]

1. I have a ceiling of above 500$ but everything seems to cost more in denmark than in the us, I saw someone mentioned a i3 530 cpu for 100$ and it's 173 here

Form factor would preferably be mini-itx.

Either ground up or buying a box, if I can achieve the same result with a Revo, foxconn, zotac mag or any of the other available prebuilts I wouldn't mind picking one of those

I'm used to tinker in W7, not in linux :o