[kevinspruill]

First off, long time vistor to these forums, first time poster. I have been using XBMC since the only way to get it was through efnet and was only availible for the XBOX.

I have used many other media center softwares, and none are as easy and customizable as XBMC. But, with all the HD content out there, and the hardware limitations of the original xbox, i need to move over to a pc build to take full advantage of all that XBMC can do.

So I have been following this forum to get ideas for hardware and this is kinda what i am looking at, please critique and offer any substitutions or suggestions to the hardware.

First off, here is some things i am trying to accomplish with this build:

• need to store files locally (this will be the server to all media on my home network)
  
• need to be able to handle all my HD content
  
• Need to be able to run emulators for NES, SNES, Mame, Etc
  
• Blu-ray capability
  
• needs to be quieter than my xbox
  
• will run windows 7, most likey x64
  

There are other requirements, but those other requirements are mostly configuration based and not hardware based.

Here is what i have planned so far:
Notes: some things are out of stock, but i am willing to wait til they are in stock. I choose AMD over intel mostly from a cost perspective.

Case:
SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum skin reinforced plastic front panel, 0.8mm SECC body MILO Series ML03B Micro ATX Media Center ...

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H AM3 AMD 880G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU: Thanks Soulnothing for the advice!
AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX

CPU Fan/Heatsink:
Scythe Big Shuriken SCBSK-1000 120mm CPU Cooler

Memory:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

PSU: Modular is the way to go
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ...

Video Card: $65!!!
EVGA 01G-P3-1430-LR GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

HDD: Data Drive
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

SSD: System/Program Drive
Corsair Nova CSSD-V32GB2-BRKT 2.5" 32GB SATA II Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Optical Drive:
Sony Optiarc Black 2X BD-ROM SATA Model BR-5100S - OEM

Remote: Thanks Poofy for the recomendation!
Rosewill Windows Vista Certified Media center Infrared Remote Control RRC-126

The components i need the most advice on are the: PSU, CPU, fan/heatsink, and remote

[kevinspruill]

well apparently, as of today, the MB is now in deactivated state. need a recommendation on that too. I have always been a fan of gigabyte and asus

[soulnothing]

I just recommended a similiar build in another post.

My only suggestion is drop the phenom ii x2 and go with an athlon ii x3 or x4. It may help with performance in the long run. I also don't think the l3 cache will make that much difference.

Motherboards are pretty flexible, gigabyte, asus, asrock biostar, etc. I'm assuming you want usb3? Since that case has usb3 on the front.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813131660

Also if you want quite, a lower power proc may help. Note these are low power variants regular power falls within price range of the phenom ii.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103917 x3
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103899 x4

For the psu ocz is a good brand, and even though its not all about wattage that should be enough.

That heatsink you listed looks good, and should fit The only concern I have is heat of the ram. I read a few reviews talking about ram with higher heatsinks.

My knowledge of remotes is limited. However any MCE branded remote seems to work.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Rem...ol_Reviews

[poofyhairguy]

Only thing I really dislike on the original build is the remote. Here is much better:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

For the record, stick to a Gigabyte mobo, they are the best nowadays. If you were in love with the USB3 feature get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128445

[kevinspruill]

I just recommended a similiar build in another post.

My only suggestion is drop the phenom ii x2 and go with an athlon ii x3 or x4. It may help with performance in the long run. I also don't think the l3 cache will make that much difference.

Also if you want quite, a lower power proc may help. Note these are low power variants regular power falls within price range of the phenom ii.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103917 x3
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103899 x4

Thanks for the advice on the x3 and x4. I think i am going to go with the x4.

The only reason to go with a lower power proc is for the lower heat and therefore less power needed to heatsink fan correct? I was looking at this proc: AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processo

[kevinspruill]

Here is a link to my wishlist:

HTPC 2011 Build

[poofyhairguy]

I am having trouble seeing it, would you mind posting a list of links or a screenshot?

[eskro]

have a look at bmcclure937's build...

its probably the best you can get out there for the money!!

http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=690...stcount=90

oh and, i think the Sony Optiarc Black 2X Blu-ray Combo ($50 + Free Shipping) is a recipe for disaster

check this one out at least --> LITE-ON Black 8X Blu-ray Combo ($50 + $4 Shipping)

i can't imaging ripping a BD disc with a 2X drive....

and for a $4 difference between the two, you gain exactly FOUR times the speed

[kevinspruill]

updated list in OP

[poofyhairguy]

NO NO! Not the 126! Get the 127! The 126 isn't the same, not as compatible!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...will%20127

Otherwise it looks great.

[eskro]

check this one out at least --> LITE-ON Black 8X Blu-ray Combo ($50 + $4 Shipping)

$4 difference between the two, and you gain exactly FOUR times the speed