Budget HTPC : (Last updated : August 29, 2010)

Hardware Component Price
Processor Intel Core i5 750 $194.99 check prices
Motherboard ASRock P55 Extreme $124.99 check prices
Memory G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600 $119.99 check prices
Video Card GIGABYTE GV-R585OC-1GD $299.99 check prices
TV Tuner DIAMOND ATI Theater HD 750 USB 2.0 $51.99 check prices
Hard Drive SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB $59.99 check prices
Optical Drive Lite-On IHES208-08 Blu-Ray Combo $79.99 check prices
Case ThermalTake Bach $99.98 check prices
Power Supply CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W PSU $139.99 check prices
Keyboard & Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro $99.89 check prices

 

 

Component Info and Reviews :

Intel Core i5 750

Intel Core i5 750 quad core processor has a frequency of 2.66GHz and 8MB of L3 Cache. This processor features Intel Turbo Boost and has a TDP of 95W.

Reviews : XSReviews, Benchmark Reviews, Anandtech

 

ASRock P55 Extreme

ASRock p55 extreme is equipped with 4 slot DDR-3 memory, there are three slots PCI express x16, which ensure compatibility with crossFireX and SLI technologies.

This board features complex smart switch design, which includes the power switch, Reset switch and Clear CMOS switch buttons , and also LCD- screen (Dr. Debug), which will help to operationally conduct system diagnostics

ASRock p55 extreme meets the euP 2.0 Ready requirements, which guarantees the energy consumption of less than 0,5 W in the turned-off regime.

With the aid of OC DNA utility , user can preserve its profiles and share them with its friends. The technology intelligent energy saver will help to decrease the energy computer consumption , changing the quantity of active phases in the dependence on the load level , and the unique aSRock development - Instant boot, will ensure Windows load in a few seconds.

Reviews : PCShopTalk

 

G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600

G.Skill Ripjaw Gaming Series Memory is designed to optimised the high performance DIMMs for reliability in order to get gamers consistently fantastic FPS, while maintaining a solid overclock to prevent a mid-game PC failure from memory errors.

G.Skill Ripjaws Gaming Series Memory features the latest heatspreader design for the ultimate in extreme aesthetics and sleek aluminium cooling.

 

GIGABYTE GV-R585OC-1GD Radeon HD 5850

ATI Radeon™ HD 5800 Series graphics processors support Microsoft DirectX® 11 and ATI Eyefinity Technology which maximizes field of view across up to three displays. The GIGABYTE GV-R585OC-1GD has a core clock of 765MHz, 1440 Stream Processing Units, and 1GB of GDDR5 memory that operates at 1000MHz (4.0Gbps).

 

DIAMOND ATI Theater HD 750 USB 2.0

With HD 750 PC TV chip your Media Center PC is complete with live HDTV (where applicable). Bring it all together for a true all-in-one rich media experience and expand your digital entertainment capabilities –at home or on-the-go. Easily capture and convert recorded TV shows directly to your mobile device and take it with you for TV on-the-go.

 

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB

The Samsung Spinpoint F3 operates at 7200RPM and with this offering being 1TB of data storage capacity using just two 500GB per platter disks it offers suberb speeds. As well as meeting datacentre requirements for addition storage to meet rising demand and increasing performance needs, the new drives also deliver high-performance with lower power for desktop computers and servers.


This Samsung Spinpoint drive offers a superior combination of density, recording quality and reliability. It also features Samsung's industry-leading NoiseGuard and SilentSeek‚ technologies to eliminate acoustic noise. Servers, high-end desktops, RAID systems and DVRs are among the applications well suited to the Spinpoint drive.

Reviews: bit-tech.net

 

Lite-On IHES208-08 Blu-Ray Combo

Lite-On's IHES208-08 Blu-Ray Combo comes with a multitude of reading capabilities and is a DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD+/-R DL, DVD-RAM, CD-R, CD-RW writer; plus DVD-ROM, CD-ROM combination drive. Not to mention, it supports BD-R, BD-RE, BD-ROM single or double layer read and a double layer DVD+/- R9 recording function. The Lite-On IHES208-08 Blu-Ray Combo features Smart-Burn and Smart-X technologies in which Smart-Burn avoids Buffer UnderRun errors and automatically adjusts writing strategy & running OPC to provide optimal burning quality and Smart-X adjusts CD-DA/VCD/DVD data extraction to the fastest allowable speed according to data request rate from host and disk quality.

 

ThermalTake Bach

ThermalTake Bach is a stylish HTPC case that features Aluminum Bezel and 8 bays.

Reviews : Overclocker Cafe

 

CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W PSU

Corsair Professional Series power supply units have been designed by Corsair and engineered to the highest quality standards to meet the demands of enthusiasts that expect the very best. The Corsair Professional Series HX750W PSU utilizes advanced DC-to-DC circuitry and meets 80 PLUS SILVER certification standards for up to 90% energy-efficiency, reducing wasted energy and lowering the amount of excess heat generated. Corsair Professional Series power supplies are built using industrial grade electrical components, ensuring the stable, clean and reliable voltages that are essential for high-end gaming PCs and workstations.

Corsair Professional Series power supplies boast an innovative cabling configuration that uses low-profile, flat modular cables that reduce air friction to help maximize airflow through the computer chassis. The modular design also simplifies installation as it allows unprecedented flexibility in using only those cables which are needed.

 

Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro

Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro combines the field- and laboratory-tested comfort of the Logitech Wave Keyboard with the exceptionally comfortable, rechargeable Logitech MX 1100 Cordless Laser Mouse.


A perfect complement to the Wave keyboard, the MX1100 mouse is designed to support the naturally curved shape of your hand. Logitech’s newest mouse features an elegantly contoured, full-size shape that fits your hand for maximum comfort, providing exceptional palm support.


The mouse’s MicroGear™ Precision Scroll Wheel has two scrolling modes, including hyper-fast scrolling for flying effortlessly through long documents and Web pages. Eight programmable buttons allow you to get to the information, the Web pages, the files and the applications you want – fast. With software installed, a stealth thumb button makes application switching easy and zoom controls allow you to zoom in and out of documents with the press of a button. The mouse also features adjustable dpi (up to 1,600 dpi), which can come in handy when editing an image at the pixel level or, alternatively, when you need to move the cursor quickly within a document.


To give you a secure, reliable signal in a busy wireless environment, such as an office, Logitech’s advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology dramatically reduces interference, effectively eliminating delays and dropouts. In fact, Logitech’s wireless technology exchanges data between the receiver and the mouse 300 times faster than conventional 27 MHz wireless technologies for cordless mice – and 800 times faster than conventional 27 MHz wireless technologies for cordless keyboards. Plus, Logitech’s advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology provides 128-bit AES keyboard encryption for advanced security.


By optimizing the power management system, the improved wireless technology delivers a 3-year keyboard battery life.

Reviews : ExtremeTech, TrustedReviews

 

 

Intel Core i5 750
Lite-On IHES208-08 Blu-Ray Combo
ThermalTake Bach
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
ASRock P55 Extreme
G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600
GIGABYTE GV-R585OC-1GD Radeon HD 5850
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W PSU
Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro
DIAMOND ATI Theater HD 750 USB 2.0