HTPC Series: Let’s build a budget HTPC

Check out out HTPC on a Budget series and join us in building a great HTPC for under $1,000.

Over the next few weeks, we are gonna be working on a special project that we hope you guys will get a kick out of. You see, as gadget enthusiasts, we know that we all love when technology can make our lives easier, or when it is just downright cool. However, recent developments in the economy are going to lead to a tightening of the budget (if it hasn’t already), and we thought we’d try and see if we can build something awesome at a reasonable price. The task? We want to build a great home theater PC (HTPC), made with great parts, for under $1000 USD. You can follow our progress at our HTPC on a Budget page. Or, if you’re too lazy to hit that link, here’s a list of topics:

• Let’s Build a Budget HTPC
• Selecting Our Hardware
• The MSI 7411 Motherboard, and Why It Rocks
• Achieving Great 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound
• Driving multimedia content to the HTPC
• The ATI TV Wonder 650
• Laying Out All The Components
• The Final Tally

So, what are the goals of our HTPC project? Well, besides the aforementioned $1,000 limit, we have a few other things we want out of it. First, we want it to remain fairly quiet. After all, this thing is going to be use to watch movies and television. We don’t need any extra fan noise coming from it. Secondly, we want it to put out a high definition signal, with connections that use today’s technology. Ideally, that means it will have an HDMI out port, so we can get both high definition and surround sound out of this thing.

Yeah, we know it’s a challenge, especially when certain individual components can cost upwards of $300 or more, but we are up for the journey. In fact, we want you guys to participate. Feel free to leave comments on what parts you think we should put into this thing. Meanwhile, we are checking on a few new items, just so we can price out a few things that aren’t even on the market yet. If we can get some newly released technology into this thing, all the better.

So strap yourselves in for the ride, we are on a mission to build the best HTPC that money can buy. If you happen to see any unbeatable deals out there, again, hit us in the comments. We just know we are gonna end up right at the cusp of that one grand figure, so the more help we get, the better.