HTPC - Building from scratch...

[Vazzyb]

Hi,

Im building a PC to use as my home theatre PC and am trying to get a decently fast system without spending too much money. Im not really bothered about the physical size/appearance because its going to be hidden away.

The spec is attached.

http://img546.imageshack.us/i/screenshot20110412at170.png


I have a few questions

1. Apart from these items, what additional items will I need to get my system up and working? (I have HDMI cables and a wireless mouse and keyboard)
2. Will this spec work together? Will this processor + MB allow me to take advantage of the in-built graphics?
3. I don’t want to play games but clearly need the PC to be capable of playing back HD movies – is this spec (without a graphics card) sufficient to do that?
4. Will I be able to get this system up and running without a standard VGA monitor ie. all over HDMI ? I guess I wil definitely need a standard mouse and keyboard or will be USB (wireless) one do?
5. If I want a graphics card in the future, will this spec allow me to get one of those basic low-end ATI cards incase the in-built graphics give poor HD performance?
6. And finally…Is there anything here that is a glaring waste of money and I can downgrade to allow me to save even more money?

Thanks for your help

Vb

 

[Vazzyb]

Yeah I mean I thought that might be the case but there's a few other things I want it to do too like be able to download files off Usenet at 8 MBps and unzip them etc at the same time as smoothly playing back the movies, and also act as a server in the house for media while again playing the movies back without any jerks. I need a pretty fast PC but just wanted to make sure that the on-board graphics were up to the task - im just not that versed with the current capability of on-board graphics; the last time I built a computer myself, they were completely terrible! I also might upgrade it later with a decent graphics card + a better power supply if I decide too so having the i3 in there is important...

I sort of meant, the Asus MB - if there's another board thats £60 that does exactly the same things...that kind of thing.

 

[Vazzyb]

Thanks very much for your suggestions guys, I think I might well use the P61 chipset if SATA/USB 3 are the only differences! Unfortunately there's very poor TV signal where I am so a TV tuner is probably out. Are there any good barebones PC for Sandybridge yet?

Could someone clarify one point though, will I need to buy a DVI cable/mouse/keyboard to set up the computer or can the output come from HDMI without any drivers installed?

Thanks again

 

[Vazzyb]

Thanks for the help

I put the computer together today but when I press the on button the fan momentarily turns on and then turns off straight away on my ASUS MB. The green power LED is on - could it be the crappy power supply ive used?

Ive got an i3 2100, on the P8H67 Pro MB with two 2 GB GSkill DDR3 memory modules in channels A1 and B1, ive used a really rubbish quality 450 W PSU - it has a 4 pin 12V connector (the ASUS MB has 8 pins) - could that be the problem or is the orientation correct because the power LED has come on?