Recommendations for Building a HTPC

[gran turismo]

I did a search and nothing turned up regarding discussions on building a HTPC. So, hopefully this thread will give some good advice on building a HTPC through Memory Express.

Basically, I am looking at building a HTPC capable of playing HD via downloaded content (via HDMI or DVI) and playing at least 5.1 sound. I want to have a very quiet system with a case that looks like a receiver. Can this be done for ~$1,000? I am willing to spend more to add a higher quality video card that can play some newer games as well. I would probably go as high as $1,500 to do this.

[Super_Geo]

I recently built a HTPC for my theater setup.

Case (~$115):
They have some decent looking ones there. I got an Antec HTPC case, looks nice, came with a 380W power supply.

Motherboard (~$100):
Get something that comes with SPDIF out, otherwise the cheapest sound card available that does it is $100. SPDIF is one cable that goes right into your receiver and can send 5.1, 7.1, etc.

Processor:
I went with an Athalon 3800+ X2, didn't see the need to go faster than that.

Memory:
It's so cheap these days, there's no reason not to get 2GB.

Sound card:
Built in SPDIF is good enough, no reason to get a separate sound card

Video card:
Go with the onboard video unless you're going to be playing games on it... there's no real need otherwise as it doesn't affect video quality on movies/tv shows (or at least I don't think so)

Hard drive:
I went with two 500GB hard drives, and that might not even be enough... HD movies are 4GB or 8GB, and 1hour TV shows are usually 1GB or so, sometimes 2GB (I don't know why they're half the size of movies). So a full season of a show is like 20-30GBs!

I've had my HTPC since May, and it now only has 250GB free out of 1000 total.

Keyboard/Mouse:
Try to snipe some online deals for a wireless combo.

Output:
Use DVI to your TV.

All told my setup came to $900.

[rage2]

http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/en/news...CNO=en_0702151

Built in ATI w/HDMI 1.2 1080p out, SPDIF out... it's the best bang for the buck HTPC motherboard available.

ATI's newest driver is wicked, can do proper 1:1 mapping, as well as overscan/underscan adjustments for sets that can't do 1:1 properly.