Build a HTPC

Step 1:Planning

First of all you need to deciede what you want in the system, as this will partially determine what case and motherboard you will eventually choose...

• Video card - do you add card or use onboard graphics? (motherboard)
• Sound card - do you add card or use motherboard capabilities?
• TV tuner/Capture card - do you want 1 or multiple tuners (for watching and recording tv at the same time), and do we have individual cards for to view and record, or have one card with all capabilities?
• CPU - what type of processor do you want
• Memory - How much do you want and do we want dual mode capabilities?
• Hard drives - how many do you want within this system?

Using your list of desired components, you should have narrowed the choice of motherboards to choose from.

Example

• 1 x HD video card
• Use motherboard with 7.1 channel sound and spdif
• 1 x dual Tv tuner
• Core duo CPU, dual, upgradable to quad
• 2GB dual mode, with space for additional
• 1TB (2 x 500GB) 7200rpm

Step 2:Cards

The cards you add are up to your preference, but the amount and connection types will be what decieds what motherboard is required.

Example

• Tv tuner - Hauppauge WinTV-NOVA-T-500 (dual DVB-T tuner) $157.50 (1 x PCI slot)
• Video card - Leadtek WinFast PX8500 GT TDH HDMI (low profile noiseless heatpipe version) $175.32 (1 x PCIe-16 slot)

Step 3:CPU

The CPU is the next choice to be made, as once again, this will help determine what motherboard you require. Things to bear in mind when choosing a CPU:

• Quiet
• Cool
• Low power (means it wil run quiet and cool)

Example

• Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz, 1066MHz FSB, Socket 775, Retail pack with fan $455.49

Step 4:Motherboard

With the planning done, and the desired cards chosen, you should now know exactly how many and what type of expansion slots are required. You may have also chosen to opt for a motherboard that has some of the features you desire built-in, such as 7.1 channel HD audio (spdif), as many motherboards have these features as standard.

Things to bear in mind when choosing a motherboard:

• How many slots are available (for adding cards)
  • What type of slots are available (important, your above card selection requires certain types of slots)
• What type of CPU can be used
• How much memory can be added
• Intergrated peripherals/connectivity (lan, audio, firwire, usb, video output, HDMI)

Example

• Abit IP35 Pro $348.84

Step 6:Case

The first stage is to choose a case. This has been chosen as first as a HTPC is generally based on the cosmetic preferences of its builder/owner. That in mind, when choosing a case you must still bear in mind not only the cosmetics of the case but what features/capabilities you want, as the size of the case may limit what you can have.

ATX,...

Example

• Silverstone SST-LC16S-MR $368