Builiding a HTPC for a Friend

sepulchre · 12 Dec 2010 at 16:19

I've been asked to build a HTPC for a friend after he saw mine, I've updated the spec of mine to the following -

Zotac H55-ITX WiFi Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Mini-ITX Motherboard
Intel Core i3 540 3.06GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail
Silverstone sugo SG06
Sony Optiarc AD-7700S 8x DVD±RW SATA Drive
OCZ Gold 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low-Voltage Dual Channel
Samsung SpinPoint F4 EcoGreen 2TB SATA-II 32MB Cache

He's wanting to build a fast HTPC which he can add a gfx card to in the future.

Does this spec still look good or can we now do better for less money, not worried about downgrading the spec to save cash though.

hardc0re_tid · 12 Dec 2010 at 16:59

why no bluray drive, just asking as its going to be a htpc

sepulchre · 12 Dec 2010 at 17:48

thats an option but its 100 quid more as with this case it needs to be a slimline drive.

I'm open to other case suggestions, something about the same size, cost and with PSU included that can accommodate full size drives would be fine

Baboonanza · 13 Dec 2010 at 09:55

I'd be suprised if you could find a miniITX case which had both a PCI-E slot and a full sized 5.25 drive bay. If you're willing to go microATX the Silverstone GD04B / GD05B would fit the bill though. Just be careful about the low CPU heatsink clearance.

sepulchre · 13 Dec 2010 at 13:29

thanks baboonanza, quite a bit bigger those cases though. Pity Silverstone didn't make the sugo just a bit taller to accommodate normal drives

ChrisLandin · 13 Dec 2010 at 17:07

I just got a Antec remote fusion for my first ever htpc and im well chuffed with it. It gets a 5750 in it no problem and as for cooling I got a scythe big shuriken to cool the cpu. It all works a treat and thats with it cooling a b3 q6600. Bonus of the case to is that it can take an ssd and 2 hdd's without any modding at all. Oh yea and it takes a full size blu ray drive to boot. Top drawer case IMO