One reason I really like

One reason I really like Intel boards is that I can get a quality Intel NIC. With AMD boards and often 3rd party Intel chipset boards, the NIC is a substandard Realtek or equivalent. That component alone is worth ~$30.

If you are looking for a cheaper Intel setup, take a look at the Pentium G620 or even the new Celeron G530 if you are really on a budget. We know the G620 can handle all the basics for sure. It is dual core and has HD Graphics 2000. You can get by with any H61 or H67 Intel board that satisfies your needs. I went for DH67BL boards because of the price point of ~$90 and feature set. In my own primary HTPC, I am running with a Core i3-2100 and it performs extremely well.