HTPC replacement for Tivo

S

StiCy

n00b
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
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38
Looking to build a HTPC to replace my Tivo HD. Currently I am not using cable cards and just use the cable out of the wall. Trying to keep the costs down at first, but still leave room to upgrade later. However I am planning on adding a second dual tuner card in the future, once the HTPC is built. I would like to be able to play blu-rays, but will add the drive later. The plan is a quiet, and energy efficient I3 HTPC running WMC, single hard drive, dual tuner card. How does this look?

Motherboard: MSI H61M-E23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130592

CPU:Intel Core i3-2100 1155
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...w?ie=UTF8&qid=1325471373&sr=1-1&condition=new

Cooler: Stock intel OEM

RAM: G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Case:SILVERSTONE MILO ML03B / HTPC Case
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...w?ie=UTF8&qid=1325373692&sr=8-2&condition=new

Tuner: Hauppauge 2250 Dual TV Tuner Kit ORDERED
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E2T6Y4/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

OS: Microsoft Windows 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Hard Drive: Western Digital Green 750GB (Already have)

DVD Drive: Random SATA drive (Already have)

Remote: Harmony 880 (Already have) Need recommendations on an IR receiver that works with WMC.
 
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What about a larger HD?

If you buy a WMC remote, you can use the receiver with your harmony. Just select a device called media center PC (IIRC).
 
Get a different motherboard that one is way too expensive for what you get. That mobo should be $60 tops.

Here are some other suggestions.
Cheap
itx h67.
other
 
I have been looking at the i3 2100T. It costs a bit more, but uses 35W instead of the i3 2100s 65W. It seem to be a better choice for power savings, but would anything be sacrificed as far as performance?
 
munkle said:
Get a different motherboard that one is way too expensive for what you get. That mobo should be $60 tops.

Here are some other suggestions.
Cheap
itx h67.
other
Click to expand...


That mobo ain't that over priced..only $7 more than your most expensive one...and your top choice only has 100Mbps ethernet. No one should be buying that thing in this day and age. Other two lower choices in the list are fine, but not really all that better than his.
 
StiCy said:
Good find on the first one. I need two pcie x1 slots, going to be running two tuner cards.
Click to expand...

Don't buy that first one with on 100Mbps lan. Get one with 1000Mbps lan. You never know, you might want to one day stream blu-ray over a network.
 
StiCy said:
I have been looking at the i3 2100T. It costs a bit more, but uses 35W instead of the i3 2100s 65W. It seem to be a better choice for power savings, but would anything be sacrificed as far as performance?
Click to expand...

You actually pay more for the lower wattage part. It's a good choice for an HTPC.

Some i3 has HD 3000 graphics rather than HD 2000. 3000 is faster, but both are okay for movie & TV watching. If you plan to add a separate graphics card, then get the cheaper one with 2000 graphics.
 
AQ_OC said:
Don't buy that first one with on 100Mbps lan. Get one with 1000Mbps lan. You never know, you might want to one day stream blu-ray over a network.
Click to expand...

Good point, right now I have to run wireless. .Plan to either use usb wifi of some sort.
 
AQ_OC said:
That mobo ain't that over priced..only $7 more than your most expensive one...and your top choice only has 100Mbps ethernet. No one should be buying that thing in this day and age. Other two lower choices in the list are fine, but not really all that better than his.
Click to expand...

I never said any of them was my top choice... and yes his is overpriced. Newegg often puts the h61 mobos in shellshockers for $50 free shipping.
 
munkle said:
I never said any of them was my top choice... and yes his is overpriced. Newegg often puts the h61 mobos in shellshockers for $50 free shipping.
Click to expand...

Then he can wait for it to go on sale...but it's not like it's stupidly over priced. Stuff there goes on sale and off sale there all the time. It is good for him to comparison shop, though, and pay attention to specs. And look for free shipping (or buy from Amazon.com if you have prime). Newegg has way, way better product info.
 
StiCy said:
Is 4GB of ram overkill for watching TV or a blu-ray?
Click to expand...

Are you going to watch netflix? I've seen IE and Firfox use 1.5gb of ram just watching netflix (I don't know if its a memory leak or should be that way though). Either way its not going to hurt to have 4gb of ram and as cheap as it is might as well have the extra just incase.
 
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