Case: Silverstone Crown CW03-MT
I've been fantasizing for years about the ideal high-def computer, and now I've built the ultimate entertainment system from 12 killer components. To read my entire HD PC how-to, click here. To see which parts I picked for my HD machine, read on.
Pick a case that will look good on your desk or as part of your home entertainment center. Many home-theater cases include displays for identifying the name of a song that's playing and even for navigating media: in a word, slick. I chose the SilverStone Crown CW03-MT as the case for my HD PC, largely because of this integrated LCD display.
Case price: $700
System subtotal: $700
Power supply: Antec NeoPower 650
A 500-watt power supply should be adequate if you aren't loading up with multiple hard drives, a high-end video card, and other energy-hungry devices beyond the items recommended here. Go green if possible, with the latest energy-efficient spec, 80 Plus. I chose the Antec NeoPower 650 because of its quiet fan; its 650-watt rating provides a generous margin for growing with future upgrades.
Power supply price: $130
System subtotal: $830
Motherboard: Asus M3A32-MVP
Be sure to pick a motherboard that works with the previous parts: ATX versus MicroATX for your case, and the right socket for your processor. The graphics board should work with any new motherboard's PCI Express slot; but for best compatibility, get one that has a like-brand on-board video chip set. (Or avoid on-board video entirely.) The standard assortment of PC ports should be fine, but look for gigabit ethernet to handle high-speed, wired video transfers over a home network. I picked the Asus M3A32-MVP for its compatibility with all of the previous components and for its silent heat-pipe design (which provides extra cooling).
Motherboard price: $240
System subtotal: $1070
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 BE 2400
You could build a good system with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 or similar chip, but I decided to go with something less powerful and a lot cooler. The AMD Athlon X2 BE 2400 works well for home theaters because its peak draw of 45 watts helps minimize the cooling burden on the fans. This CPU's 2.3-GHz speed and dual-core architecture provide enough muscle for general media tasks; a dedicated HD video decoder on the graphics card will add more power.
CPU price: $110
System subtotal: $1180
Heat sink: Zalman CNPS9500
Though you can buy liquid cooling components that are completely silent, I avoided that route because of the maintenance required, not to mention the possibility of leaks. Instead, I opted for a quiet, variable-speed fan attached to a heat sink. Be sure to double-check the specific model for processor and case compatibility. The Zalman CNPS9500 CPU cooler fits with my components and case, and it runs quietly when turned down.
Heat sink price: $60
System subtotal: $1240
RAM: Crucial 2x2GB DDR2 PC2-5300
Don't pay a premium for the fastest DDR3 RAM on the market. Instead, invest in quantity: 4GB of RAM is ample for Windows Vista or Windows XP Media Center. The middleweight Crucial 2x2GB DDR2 PC2-5300 DIMMs strike a sensible balance between price and performance.
RAM price: $125
System subtotal: $1365
Graphics board: ATI Radeon HD 3450
The graphics board is a crucial component in my setup, since it's going to take over much of the HD playback from the processor. In just the past several months, graphics boards have taken a giant leap forward in quality while prices have dropped.
You don't have to choose an ultra-high-end board: In fact, such models tend to generate excessive heat. I picked the ATI Radeon HD 3450 graphics board because it meets my other needs and doesn't require a fan for cooling. This board lacks an HDMI port, but it works well with any DVI-equipped HDTV.
Graphics board price: $50
System subtotal: $1415
Hard drive: 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.11
Pick a hard drive that runs at 7200 rpm or faster. Though you could install multiple drives for peak performance, a large single drive will suffice. Go for at least 500GB of disk space. I settled on a 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 because of its speed and its capacity (it can hold 140 high-def episodes of Lost).
Hard drive price: $240
System subtotal: $1,655
Optical drive: Pioneer BDC-2202
I chose the Pioneer BDC-2202 for my system, because it can play back Blu-ray discs and burn standard DVDs. (Blu-ray burners cost about three times as much as this model.)
Optical drive price: $190
System subtotal: $1845
Tuner card: ATI TV Wonder 650
I have to get my over-the-air HDTV through an ATSC tuner card and antenna. Since the ATI TV Wonder 650 supports the Clear-QAM format for digital cable, I can use it to capture unencrypted digital channels directly from a cable feed.
Tuner price: $125
System subtotal: $1970
Input device: Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
If you plan to use your PC with your home entertainment system, a Media Center remote is a must. You'll want something that controls mouse movement and can input key commands. I like to have a full-on wireless keyboard and gyroscopic mouse nearby for extensive input. But you can get home-theater-designed devices that fill all of these roles. With a universal approach in mind, I picked the Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard. This Bluetooth remote handles mousing with its trackpad, and its thumb-friendly keypad works well for entering URLs.
Input price: $145
Total system price (without display): $2115
Display: Samsung SyncMaster 275T
I'll be plugging my system directly into my existing HDTV, but the 27-inch Samsung SyncMaster 275T makes a good desktop alternative because it includes a range of inputs for analog and digital connections. Make sure that your display supports HDCP for Blu-ray Disc and movies (as this one does). And if you intend to use a PC display rather than connecting to an HDTV, be sure to splurge on some good speakers, too.
For my full HD PC how-to, including more advice on selecting the right components for your situation, check out "Build Your Own High-Def PC."
Display price: $1000
Total system price (with display): $3115
Zack Stern, PC World