HTPC Build Log - Part 1 - Intro and Parts List

Hi everyone, after quite a while we are picking up the blog again by sharing our experience in building a Home Theater PC. We will start with the hardware. If you find it useful tweet/link to it. If we get enough views we will add more stuff.

The HTPC we are building will be whisper quiet, fairly powerful, and energy efficient.

It will be able to play and burn Blu-rays, access a media server in your home network (more on that later), stream content from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.

It will have more than enough juice for 3D and 1080p movies, but it will not be a gaming system.

A word about streaming. Even at high definition it is not as good as Blu-ray. The number of titles available is a bit limited, particularly in high definition. Still, we like it better than cable/TV for the options it provides.

Keep in mind that as of this writing you can get 12 months no interest at Newegg.com with a preferred account!

The full blow system:

	Silverstone ML03B Micro ATX HTPC Case $59.99
	Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Power Supply $39.99
	Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 Micro ATX Motherboard $114.99
	Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz LGA 1155 Dual-Core CPU $124.99
	Scythe SCSK-1100 CPU Cooler $34.99
	G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 Memory $32.99
	Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" MLC Internal SSD $109.99
	Lite-On 12X Blu-ray Burner with Blu-ray 3D $99.99
	Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo MK260 $28.99

Read on for the unboxing and photos of the build.

Here is a preview: