Sweet Little HTPC for <1000e

Ctrl+Alt+De1337

I've been trying to come up with the cheapest possible [but still fully featured] HTPC for the family living room, here's what I've come up with:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ @ 70e
OCZ Tempest CPU Cooler @ 15e [might just stick with stock but I'm a bit wary about noise]
Asus M2NPV-VM @ 85e
Hauppauge! WinTV-PVR-150MCE @ 94e
LG GSA-H42NRBB DVD DL Burner @ 36e
D-Link 802.11g PCI @ 30e
TwinMOS DDR2 PC4200 2x512MB @ 50e
WD Caviar 500GB x2 @ 220e
DVI to HDMI Cable @ 36e [I'm sure there are cheaper ones out there]

either
Antec Cube Case + 300W PSU @ 86e
or
Antec Fusion HTPC Case + 430W PSU @ 160e

and maybe
Gyration GO Gyro Mouse & Keyboard @ 130e

I'm not sure if I'll go for the 1TB of storage but it's either that or stream all the films and episodes from a server computer, which I'd like to avoid, this way the HTPC IS the server.

As for the case I really want the fusion but it would push the price up that bit more.

Why not get a Core 2 Duo you ask?
Because Music and Video - even HD with surround sound - don't need it.
And it doesn't need a particularly beefy GPU either - the mobo I picked has the nVidia 6150 onboard GPU, it's SM3.0 and H.264 capable, making it perfect for HD content and even capable of some CS:Source or WoW. [reviewed with the mobo here]

I'm planning on putting Ubuntu / Linux MCE on there so no software costs at all.

The only thing I'm not entirely sure about is whether or not the remote control that comes with the PVR-150 can control everything I want it to. Ideally I'd want a gyroscopic mouse (basically a Wiimote but for computers) but the only one I've found is this one from Dabs and that's another 130 euro I'd like to avoid spending.

All in all the prices come together something like this:

1TB, Fusion & Gyro = 926 euro.
1TB, Cube & Gyro = 851 euro.
1TB & Fusion = 796 euro.
1TB & Cube = 721 euro.

500GB, Fusion & Gyro = 816 euro.
500GB, Cube & Gyro = 741 euro.
500GB & Fusion = 686 euro.
500GB & Cube = 611 euro.

There gonna be some delivery charges and of course I'll have to build the thing but as far as I can tell that gets me everything I could ask for in a Media Centre PC for (almost) minimal expense.

If anyone can put me right on anything I've missed or has better prices / parts I could use, please do.

SouperComputer

What exacty do you enviasge this computer doing? What software do you plan using?

Is the wireless card for internet only? Streaming is going to be hit and miss, especially if you have more than two computers on the network.

Although you may not need a beefier CPU for playback, bear in mind that as time goes on, you may well have you HTPC do a lot of post-processing such as transcoding for storage and removing ads etc etc. In cases like this the more CPU you can get, the better, especially for HD content. The cube I would avoid given a choice. The silverstone LC17 is one of my personal favs.

However, unless you plan to watch and already have in your posession HD content, the machine is WAY overspecced.

My main concern about antec fusion the case is the severe lack of airflow around the HD's. The 2x 120MM fans seem to be wasted in that regard.

Ctrl+Alt+De1337

The machine itself will really just be for letting my parents access the internet and my collection of video files on the shiny new LCD TV in the front room, which comes close to 500GB as it is.

I generally want to avoid routing cables or buying a new router so I want to avoid having to stream content where I can, hence the big storage. The wireless we have should still manage the internet well enough though.

I suppose I could get a rangemax or a wrt54g instead of the second 500GB, but then there'd have to be another computer holding the files that's always on.

I think you might be right on the transcoding / ad removal front. I'm not sure though, it'll mostly be for playback of regular old xvids, DVDs and maybe the occasional HD content.

I'm still not 100% on the tuner either, the parents being as yet undecided about getting digital TV in the house - and whether that means a set-top box and/or digital tuner or not.

As for the case, yeah I like the silverstone too. The problem with that is the size/style, it's quite a bit taller and less A/V looking.
Plus I am a fan of the über quiet antecs, judging from the reviews I've read ventilation is not a problem.

Know any decent 775 Micro ATX boards with on board DVI/Composite?
I might be persuaded to switch up if it didn't mean a huge price jump.

Software-wise I want to get linux on there, MythTV / Linux MCE.
I'm not finished checking out the different options there, I don't want to pay for WMC or Vista if I can avoid it.

I know I'm sounding really cheap but that's exactly what this has to be.

SouperComputer

couple of considerations. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray playback on Linux is convolted to put it mildly, so bear that in mind.

Linux MCE, despite its version number and its video on utube is not stable and is pretty problematic to setup. My advice would be to give FC6 a whirl and use the guide here . Unless you are already very used to programming and Linux of course.

Tunerwise, if your parents go digital you have two options:

1) Use the same tuner card as before with the STB
2) Spend the guts of 200e on an unsupported and messy digital setup.

AFAIK, and im open to correction on this, right now you can get a digital setup internally for Sky digital, but not for NTL. Typically they occupy a floppy bay for your viewing card so keep this in mind too.

TBH, I wouldnt be too pushed to go for onboard graphics, if you can find one that does the job great. But it ifs taling too long to find what you need, just get your hands on an nvida 6xxx card with a component dongle. Should be doable for a mere 40e.