Hi RehabMan, Thanks much for

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August 14, 2011 at 6:09 pm #5247
JonDeutsch

    Hi RehabMan,

    Thanks much for the detailed response.  So, I haven’t done any commercial skipping software to-date, but that’s mostly due to a concern of earlier reports of such tools missing the cues and deleting whole segments of shows.   As I do not want any errors like that, I’m still in the mode of skipping forward through commercials.  If those problems are behind us, then perhaps I should be looking into such software.

    If I do, is the Core i5 significantly superior to the i3?

    re: SSD.  So, I’ve been reading up on them (it’s all rather new to me), and it seems like the Intels experience the least problems/errors/return rates.  I was a bit freaked out by the more recent OCZ feedback on NewEgg, where a lot of people recently were losing their data!    So, the Intel is significantly more expensive, what I do not want is an unreliable HTPC.  It needs to “just work” for 3-5 years.  Just like an STB.   With that, does that change your recommendation?  Or am I over-reacting to a string of feedback on NewEgg?

    re: PSU.  Thanks.  I have completely lost track of what’s needed for the new breed of CPUs and cards.  If you have a specific model # that you recommend that is very quiet and modular (apparently, that Silverstone chassis really works well with modular PSUs), that would be greatly appreciated.

    re: RAM.  Oh yeah.  8GB DDR3 RAM is about $50. Need to get that onto the list!  

    [quote=RehabMan]

    You could save some money going with an i3 instead of the i5, unless you have some specific use for the additional CPU abilities (ie. you plan to do a lot of transcoding, commercial skipping, etc.).  The Sandy Bridge i3 chips… and even to some extent the Sandy Bridge Pentiums are more than capable of normal HTPC duties.

    The SSD is definitely a luxury, but it is likely a luxury that you’ll like… a lot.  You might look at some of the OCZ drives, unless you’re stuck on going with Intel.  The Sandforce based Vertex II drives have worked out pretty well for me so far (I also had an Indilynx based Vertex drive that went belly up less than a year — it was replaced on warranty though and is still running fine).

    You definitely do not need a 650w power supply.  I’m running 350w Seasonics in a couple of HTPCs and a 400w fanless Seasonic in my main HTPC.  All are still overkill.

    When you take out the cost of the Ceton ($300 at newegg.com) you’re down to $700.  Not that I’m suggesting not having the Ceton card… just that it is the most expensive component of the HTPC and makes comparing your cost for the HTPC against what “computers normally cost” difficult.  You’d save about $100 going with an i3 so now you’re down to $600.  The SSD is a $180 luxury, so now you’re down to $420… which is pretty low for a pretty nice PC.

    Oh… you’ll need some RAM.

     

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