Spec me a HTPC for MKV and Steam

[Relentless81]

Hi,

I've been looking at WDTV Live for a while now but I would prefer something a bit more powerful, it doesn't have to be desktop gaming spec but I would like a PC in the front room with flawless 1080P playback that's guaranteed to support all forms of files and will play front room style games from my Steam library to a similar spec to lets say something similar to a 360/PS3 maybe a little better

It needs to be silent and relatively small no bigger than a console, I already have a copy of W7, no storage required apart from the operating system and maybe one or two Steam games unless there is a way of streaming these from my main PC Steam library? It will also need to be wireless.

Please spec me up my first HTPC and thanks in advance!

 

[Relentless81]

Please can you provide a little more info, I must admit I don't really understand those units.

Do you install Windows on them?
Can they handle sound ok and be used for Dolby surround?
Whats the playback like on 1080P?
How whats the performance like in regards to games?

Thanks

 

[Relentless81]

Thanks for the info, in considering dropping the steam requirement anyway as 1080p playback os the main focus im currently looking at building a htpc but struggling with on board graphics options as its something I've never bought before

I've read about that bug and would like to avoid it if possible

 

[Relentless81]

Great ill have a read, really appreciate the info this is more difficult than speccing a gaming pc!

 

[Relentless81]

After reading your thread i have a couple of questions please - can xbmc be installed as an app to windows 7 running on the nuc?

One disadvantage that i can see is if you have 5.1 on a htpc how do you go about this on a nuc ie what do you output to and does it support dts etc?

How do i know if my Samsung tv supports cec?

Will xbmc connect to my windows share to stream or will i need to install plex?

Thanks