HTPC advice needed

[Deleted member 2277]

I am planning on building a small, quiet HTPC for use in the lounge at a minimal cost. I have ordered a Zotac Ionitx-F-E board as it is well specified and has a coaxial digital output (I only have a coaxial input left on my AV amp so this is a big plus) and it was only £109. After ordering I came across a Zotac H55ITX-A-E, this board is cheaper but requires a processor, ideally an i3 530, also it only has an optical output.

So, which option is the best?

The ion board will cost £109 and the H55 board with processor will cost £180, is it worth spending the extra money? The main use for the system will be watching films and listening to music streamed from my readynas and watching an occasional bluray DVD. I'll probably use a linux version of XBMC (live version?)

 

[chipps101]

for watching films and listening to music the ion will just be enough and no more in my opinion, so if you ever plan to do anything more in the future go for the i3 system.

have you ever tried to get a bluray to play in linux before ? if you haven't then good luck and i hope you are patient

 

[AbsenceJam]

The ION is fine for all that.