Building HTPC as a all-in-one media hub

[downphoenix]

Anyway, I decided that the next machine I build, I want it to take advantage of my widescreen HDTV, which has about 5 times the screen real estate in square inches that my current machine's 17inch CRT has, and Im all about that.

So basically, Im wanting to build a machine that I can hook up using my TVs HDMI port, so an HDMI enabled motherboard is a must, because graphics card will be an afterthought since I mainly do console games anyway, and probably won't bother putting a graphics card in for months anyway. The TV is a Sanyo 32inch and renders at 720P, not the best, but considering the great price I got it for months ago (paid only 400$), I decided it was time to ditch the SD.

So anyway, first question is first: Since I have a TV that is HDMI capable, is there ANYTHING else I need to be aware of before I decide to go on this venture? Is there any possibility that I won't be able to use my TV as a monitor at all? If its possible that I may not get sound from the TV, that doesn't bother me, I have some good speakers I can use, but the monitor MUST be my TV, otherwise it may be many more months for me to find and afford a suitable flat panel monitor that I can also hook my XBOX360 and Wii too, and considering the age of my TV, I dunno if I can wait anymore. Another reason is I plan on keeping this machine around, optimize it for stuff like word processing, internet browsing, good ol' boring PC stuff that doesn't require a demanding machine. So considering I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, I can't have too many computer desks and systems set up.

Another requirement is, my machine MUST be a microatx or smaller case. I won't be doing a standard ATX case, it will take up too much real estate in my entertainment center, and being stuffed in there won't give it much room to vent anyway. I think I've pretty much decided on going microatx. standup or laydown is fine either way.

As for hardware itself, I wanna go basic but high performance and highly upgradeable. I want an intel motherboard that supports quad core processors and even preferrably the 45nm penryn. Support for at least 4GB ram, preferably 8. just basic components, no extras like graphics cards or sound cards for now.

here's a sample spec Im working on (sans case, because I cant decide):

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion...uildinprogress

The final build will probably be dropped for price some. I will probably downgrade the processor to a dual core and probably choose a cheaper mobo, but I want a quality board, and ASUS is quality, so it may have to stay. Might drop the 64bit vista and install a spare copy of 32bit XP Home I have laying around just to get started, then upgrade it to a 64bit XP or Vista when the money comes. The ram will probably stay, because I will need lots of it for stuff I will be doing (Video editing, etc.) and is part of the reason why I went with a 64bit OS, so that I can take advantage. Also why I chose the PSU I did, Antec is quality stuff, so I doubt that will go anywhere. And I can't exactly knock off the DVD burner, gotta have one of those, and they dont come much cheaper, if at all.

Future plans for months down the road:
Graphics card. It will have to be something that is fully HDMI capable of course, and under 300$. Figure Ill just wait it out since the Geforce 9 series has just came out and the ATI HD3 series hasn't been out for that long, prices will be coming down.
Blu Ray drive. I want to enjoy blu ray, but I can wait, prices are bound to start plummeting sooner or later.
an HD TV Tuner card. Won't need it for a bit, but its inevitable.

I appreciate any advice anyoen has. And Im not ruling out AMDs phenoms, I just dont see how the price vs. performance ratio really benefits me, yea, they're cheaper, but the performance just doesn't match, I can get a pretty fast dual core for the same price as a quad core phenom that will beat it out in most benchmarks (Except for ones that having quad core will give an advantage, but there's not much really).

[mattaggie]

as far as the case goes, pick out something on newegg from the HTPC / Media Center choices. Also, XP cannt support 4GB of Ram, I think 3GB is the max. Gigabyte makes good MB's that are typically cheaper than Asus.

[phigdon]

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813128090

this mobo was designed to be a drop in HTPC. put in a processor, ram and a HDD and you are off and running and it has HDMI built in. Here's a review.
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=12116

and here is a case that is also designed for HTPC.

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811129030


HTPC post.
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=194053

[downphoenix]

Originally Posted by phigdon http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813128090 this mobo was designed to be a drop in HTPC. put in a processor, ram and a HDD and you are off and running and it has HDMI built in. Here's a review. http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=12116 and here is a case that is also designed for HTPC. http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811129030 HTPC post. http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=194053

The case is a little too pricey for me. I don't mind personally if its a standard tower or desktop unit, just as long as it gets the job done and the case is sleek and doesn't look like an abomination.

As for the 4GB of ram, XP may not utilize it all for applications but it can utilize the rest of it for buffer and for drivers and such, it uses about 3.25GB for applications. Yea, .75GB seems a little overkill for drivers and such.

I really like the mobo choice though, even though it IS an AMD instead of Intel spec. I may play around with the newegg wishlist and see what kind of machine I can muster using that mobo. Since the Phenom processors are just new, when they go to the 45nm dies later this year, will I be SOL with that MOBO or would I be able to upgrade to one of these processors using that mobo?

I guess you can pretty much say that this machine won't be a true HTPC, but rather a PC that I can use as one, that will be used for most media based applications (movies, games, music, etc.) and won't be really utilized for productivity, with the exception of graphics, video, and sound editing, hence the need for a good processor.