[cgc]

Since my efforts to get DLNA working with my Samsung TV I decided to look into an HTPC. Requirements are:

1. Silent
2. Internal storage (HDD)
3. Can play 1080P
4. Wireless connectivity
5. Priced under $500

At the top of my list is the Asus EEE 1012P but are there better options? AMD's Fusion looks promising and I may be able to build something better for the same price though I don't know where to start with a build.

What do you think? Buy pre-built or build? If pre-built which one? If a build, what would I need? Thanks.

[mduell]

Pre-built vs build depends on the value of your time and how much it's a project vs a product. If you build, you need a case (most htpc cases come with power supplies), a motherboard, a cpu, memory, a hard drive, and possibly a wifi adapter (if the motherboard doesn't include it). In general the DIY cases are going to be larger than the pre-built options.

1080p is easy as long as the media uses codecs that you have hardware acceleration for; even ARM can do it for H.264.

[cgc]

Thanks, would you recommend anything in particular? I'm not opposed to building a system to meet my needs.

The Zotac ZBox AD02 looks like another option (not yet released but more powerful than the Asus EEE 1012P I linked to previously).

[Spheric Harlot]

Used mini.