Topic: Just ordered my HTPC (incl. component listing)

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

For those interested:

I just ordered the components for my new HTPC with these components:

Cage: Antec Veris Fusion Remote


Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 245 @ 2,90 GHz
Cooler: Cooltek Coolforce 2
RAM: 2x2048 Exceleram DDR3-1333
BluRay-Drive: Samsung SH-B123L
HDD: WesternDigital Caviar Green WD5000AADS (500 Gig)
Power-supply: Antec EA-380 Green 80+
DVB-S2 card: DigitalDevices Twin tuner card for Media Center PC

OS: Win7 32 Bit (Home Premium)
Player-Software: PowerDVD 10 Ultra

Total Cost: € 720,-

[Dr. Hasslein]

It's petty good, I personally would have gone with an Intel CUP.

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Yepp,
would have preferred an i3 myself. But sadly I didn't work in the "Open Budget"-zone (Had to keep the whole thing under € 800,-), so I went for the best combination of performance and affordability.

[Najemikon]

To be fair, the i5 is currently considered the best processor for performance/value ratio.

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Sure,
but a HTPC that (in my case) is solely designed to be a Media Center and will never be used for gaming whatsoever wouldn't need the performance provided by an i5, but would immensely profit from the integrated graphics of the i3.

A little cost comparison:
- AMD Athlon II X2 245 2.9 GHz (65 Watt): € 42,-
- AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8 GHz (125 Watt): € 150,-
- i3 540 3.06 GHz (72 Watt): € 95,-
- i5 650 3.20 GHz (73 Watt): € 150,-
- i7 870 2.93 GHz (95 Watt): € 239,-

Since the Intel CPUs need more Power I would have needed a bigger power-supply, that would have produced more warmth, so I would have needed faster (means: louder) cage-fans as well.
The mainboards for socket 1156 cost about € 30,- more for the same equipment

[Najemikon]

Ah, I understand now. Good point.