ITX HTPC for £250-300 Can it be done?

Deadude · 20 Apr 2010 at 18:02

Hi all

I'm currently after a nice ITX PC for our lounge so i can get some HD stuff playing down there (mainly from mkv files etc) i plan to use mediaportal on it as im currently using it on my own PC and find it rather good.

I just have no idea of what ITX stuff is decent, it needs to be able to play HD files only needs to take 1 hard drive and a DVD drive would be fine. Ideally it needs to be as small as possibly as i just want to hide it behind the TV and just use something like the PS3 remote to control it.

so any ideas?

Deadude · 20 Apr 2010 at 23:48

few reasons i didnt want a media streamer were firstly i've not seen any after looking at a few that catalog things as nicely as media portal does with all my tv series/ films also theres always the odd thing they dont seem to be able to play and i would also like the unit to double as a DVD player seeing the current one has just died.

Deadude · 21 Apr 2010 at 21:29

Do the Ions actually handle HD ok ive read so many contradicting things about them. most of the stuff would be 720p but i do have a few 1080p files as well

Deadude · 22 Apr 2010 at 17:40

Right thanks for all the help guys i have spec'd a system up from all the suggestions. Just a few more things with the Antec case will a standard CPU cooler fit in there ok? Also will the CPU i've picked handle HD playback ok?

OK so the stuff i picked was

Intel Celeron 430 1.80GHz Socket 775 FSB800 £32.86
Antec ISK 310 - 150 Mini ITX Case - With 150W PSU £66.30
ZOTAC GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi Socket 775 DDR2 £104.45
2GB DDR2 667MHz Value Memory Non ECC Unbuffered £36.99
Western Digital WD1600BEVT 160GB 2.5" Hard Drive £32.71
LG GT20N 8x Slim Notebook DVD±RW £22.99

Total is somewhere around £300 can anyone see anywhere i can improve with no added costs

?

Deadude · 22 Apr 2010 at 19:25

Cant get on the members market yet

I Do think i probably should go for a better CPU tbh i might browse some auction sites i know the E2200 can handle HD fine and they sold for around 30-40 new so maybe i can get a second hand bargain.

Also does anyone know if that case will fit a normal intel cooler?