Hello....My name is Evan and this is my first post....AND ALSO MY FIRST BUILD
I am not a computer guy at all, and had never considered doing anything other than buying a computer from dell....
I was in need of a new desktop computer so I started doing a little research....Long story short, after about a month of research I want to build my first HTPC....I may or may not actually BUILD it myself, but I do want to buy the parts on my own so I know what I am getting and putting into my setup.....
I have an existing 22" flat panel monitor (my existing PC is using this) and 42" flatpanel TV....
They are roughly 15' apart
I plan to keep my new HTPC under the TV and have the ability to hide a 15' DVI or VGA wire back to my existing monitor....And run an HDMI wire from the PC to my TV
The functions I am looking for this machine to do are:
I am looking to build something strong enough to perform multiple functions at once, such as using the TV and working at the monitor at the same time ect. I also would like enough space to store movies, music and pictures ect.
On the Monitor:
Standard Internet surfing, moderate word processing, light duty photo and video editing, downloading of music/movies ect.... (nothing the average person wouldnt do on a standard PC)
On the TV and surround sound:
Cable TV, DVR, Blue Ray playing/storage, Windows Media Center use, music playing, Xbox360/PS3 gaming ect.
I have already bought
The HTPC case I wanted from New egg....(the only wood HTPC case available)
ATI TV wonder internal tuner for "cableCARD"
I have spec'd out a few possible combinations for hardware but cant really decide on anything for sure.....thats basically what made me come here....
Here is a sample of what I am looking into buying, please critique/modify/give advice where ever you feel I am going wrong
LOOKING TO BUY:
CPU
Intel Core i5-660 Clarkdale 3.33GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core
Motherboard
Intel BOXDH55HC LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM Memory
Patriot G Series 'Sector 5' Edition 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
HDD
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EADS 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Blue Ray Drive
LITE-ON Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal BD-COMBO
Power Supply
Undecided
Operating System
Windows 7
Does it look like I am missing anything? Where am I going wrong? What do you think?
I havent really considered a budget for this project yet, but something in the $800-$1000 range (not including what I have already bought) seems like where I'll end up
If you wouldnt mind taking to time to help out it would be greatly appreciated
Thanks EVAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I am thinking about it a few questions have come up as well....
I would like to have 2 small speakers back by my desktop monitor...
They would only be used when I am sitting at the monitor...How do I switch between the computer speakers and my home theather speakers?
What would be a better wire to use between the PC and the monitor 15' away? (VGA or DVI)
If I use the ATI Wonder tuner will I only be able to watch/ record one program at a time? I currently use my cable company provided DVR/Cable box and can record/watch up to 2 programs....
These questions are in addition to what I have already posted....
I am not a computer guy at all, and had never considered doing anything other than buying a computer from dell....
I was in need of a new desktop computer so I started doing a little research....Long story short, after about a month of research I want to build my first HTPC....I may or may not actually BUILD it myself, but I do want to buy the parts on my own so I know what I am getting and putting into my setup.....
I have an existing 22" flat panel monitor (my existing PC is using this) and 42" flatpanel TV....
They are roughly 15' apart
I plan to keep my new HTPC under the TV and have the ability to hide a 15' DVI or VGA wire back to my existing monitor....And run an HDMI wire from the PC to my TV
The functions I am looking for this machine to do are:
I am looking to build something strong enough to perform multiple functions at once, such as using the TV and working at the monitor at the same time ect. I also would like enough space to store movies, music and pictures ect.
On the Monitor:
Standard Internet surfing, moderate word processing, light duty photo and video editing, downloading of music/movies ect.... (nothing the average person wouldnt do on a standard PC)
On the TV and surround sound:
Cable TV, DVR, Blue Ray playing/storage, Windows Media Center use, music playing, Xbox360/PS3 gaming ect.
I have already bought
The HTPC case I wanted from New egg....(the only wood HTPC case available)
ATI TV wonder internal tuner for "cableCARD"
I have spec'd out a few possible combinations for hardware but cant really decide on anything for sure.....thats basically what made me come here....
Here is a sample of what I am looking into buying, please critique/modify/give advice where ever you feel I am going wrong
LOOKING TO BUY:
CPU
Intel Core i5-660 Clarkdale 3.33GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core
Motherboard
Intel BOXDH55HC LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM Memory
Patriot G Series 'Sector 5' Edition 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
HDD
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EADS 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Blue Ray Drive
LITE-ON Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal BD-COMBO
Power Supply
Undecided
Operating System
Windows 7
Does it look like I am missing anything? Where am I going wrong? What do you think?
I havent really considered a budget for this project yet, but something in the $800-$1000 range (not including what I have already bought) seems like where I'll end up
If you wouldnt mind taking to time to help out it would be greatly appreciated
Thanks EVAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I am thinking about it a few questions have come up as well....
I would like to have 2 small speakers back by my desktop monitor...
They would only be used when I am sitting at the monitor...How do I switch between the computer speakers and my home theather speakers?
What would be a better wire to use between the PC and the monitor 15' away? (VGA or DVI)
If I use the ATI Wonder tuner will I only be able to watch/ record one program at a time? I currently use my cable company provided DVR/Cable box and can record/watch up to 2 programs....
These questions are in addition to what I have already posted....