After much browsing of this board and agonizing over components I'm putting together a wishlist for a new HTPC. Some components I have decided on but others I'm not 100% sure about. It will be my main living room HTPC and I want to be able to run the SAB suite, XBMC and probably some DVD ripping/transcoding. To do this I think I will run some variety of Linux with XBMC. Hookup will be HDMI out to AVR, then HDMI from there to TV. I will use a Harmony remote to control it.
Case: Silverstone GD05B-3.0 ($95) I like the look and it is the right size for my location.
CPU: I want to use linux to avoid the extra $100 or whatever for a Win7 license so I've mostly decided on the i3-3225 ($145). Am I right in thinking I should be able to watch anything on this using the iGPU and also not have any need to replace the stock cooler (noise)?
MB: Needs HDMI out, ability for IR reciever. mATX or mITX but probably mATX for cost savings. There's a ton of choices in $60-$75 range. ASRock B75M-Pro3-M ($70) looks good to me. Any reason it won't work or something that might be a better value?
RAM: Kingston HyperX seems well liked. 1600MHz assuming that mobo, 2x2GB or maybe 2x4GB if the price isn't that much extra. HyperX 8gb - ($40)
PSU: Seasonic S12II 430W ($60) Seems well liked, compact, quiet.
SSD: 60 or 64GB, not much more than 32GB so might as well right? Crucial M4, Samsung 830 or Intel (~$70), is one of them better than the others for my application?
Optical: Because of where it's located (up high) I think I will go with an external connected via USB. Reccomendations?
IR: Reccomendations? Needs to work with Linux, XBMC, Harmony remote, and the mobo.
Storage: I will probably put one or two 3TB WD Greens in for local storage until I can do an unraid server.
I have an old wireless keyboard and mouse for setup/config stuff. Is there anything else I'm missing?
Case: Silverstone GD05B-3.0 ($95) I like the look and it is the right size for my location.
CPU: I want to use linux to avoid the extra $100 or whatever for a Win7 license so I've mostly decided on the i3-3225 ($145). Am I right in thinking I should be able to watch anything on this using the iGPU and also not have any need to replace the stock cooler (noise)?
MB: Needs HDMI out, ability for IR reciever. mATX or mITX but probably mATX for cost savings. There's a ton of choices in $60-$75 range. ASRock B75M-Pro3-M ($70) looks good to me. Any reason it won't work or something that might be a better value?
RAM: Kingston HyperX seems well liked. 1600MHz assuming that mobo, 2x2GB or maybe 2x4GB if the price isn't that much extra. HyperX 8gb - ($40)
PSU: Seasonic S12II 430W ($60) Seems well liked, compact, quiet.
SSD: 60 or 64GB, not much more than 32GB so might as well right? Crucial M4, Samsung 830 or Intel (~$70), is one of them better than the others for my application?
Optical: Because of where it's located (up high) I think I will go with an external connected via USB. Reccomendations?
IR: Reccomendations? Needs to work with Linux, XBMC, Harmony remote, and the mobo.
Storage: I will probably put one or two 3TB WD Greens in for local storage until I can do an unraid server.
I have an old wireless keyboard and mouse for setup/config stuff. Is there anything else I'm missing?