Llano A8-3850 HTPC build but which board?

[sypher365]

Have been itching to build a new htpc and was originally going to go down the Fusion route with a Asus E35M1-I DELUXE but the Llano seems to offer more for not much more investment.

Problem I have is im stuck on deciding on which board to go for the build rest of the components are decided on:

Llano A8-3850
Low profile htpc case with 350w psu
Crucial RealSSD M4 64GB (Media content is all stored on NAS so just needed for win7 + whatever media software xmbc/mediaportal undecided atm)
Samsung blueray (taken from main rig as just not used)

and basically have decided on one of the following 3.

Asus F1A75-I DELUXE (£100ish)
Asrock A75 Pro4-M (£84ish)
Asrock A75M-ITX (£65ish)

Asus F1A75-I DELUXE
Pros: Wifi (may be able to hardwire), bundled remote/keyboard
Cons: CPU placement looks iffy and may be an issue with low profile heatsinks and the pci-e slot like the Scythe Shuriken, jump in price for the keyboard & wifi.

Asrock A75 Pro4-M & A75M-ITX
Pros: Both have pretty much same features Pro4-M has 4 ram slots and dvi against 2 and vga on the A75M-ITX but both have hdmi (which I believe is 1.4), Price £65 for the A75M-ITX is £35 towards a better SSD against the Asus
Cons: Can't really think of any apart from the keyboard and wifi against the asus

So given the choice or personal use of any of the above boards which would you go for? I'm edging towards the Asrock A75M-ITX because for the money on paper it should do everything.

Or any other suggestions welcome.

 

[sypher365]

Lebump - Anyone?

 

[sypher365]

I would not use wireless for HD media streaming. In my personal experience it just does not compare to a decent wired conection.

As such, save the money and get your preffered remote/keyboard combo. And maybe some home plugs?

Networking shouldn't be an issue if the htpc stays static it's more of a query on the motherboards listed above and if anyone has had any experience with any of them?

 

[sypher365]

I will probably fit a Scythe Shuriken in my build and I'm not expecting any issues as there's one currently in my main rig, which is built around a AM3 Asus mITX board. Though having looked at the Asus again it does look rather more cramped than the Asrock....

Be interested to hear/see how you get on when it arrives with clearance over the pci-e slot if you do go that route with the Shuriken cooler on the asus, as the case I have is low profile and will struggle with anything over 100mm in height and there are only a few choices for low profile quite coolers, Zalman having a few of them as well as the Scythe's.