Rig:
Case: SilverStone ML05
PSU: SilverStone ST45SF-G
HDD: 2x Seagate ST95005620AS
CPU: Intel Haswell Core i7 ES (Unknown, not a retail SKU)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L9i
Motherboard: ASUS Z87I-Pro
Graphics Card: IGP
Sound Card: Not sure yet.
Memory: FLKF66F-C8KLAA
OS: Windows 8

Other:
TV: Samsung UE55D7080
Audio: Logitech Z5500
Remote: Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400




Case: It's "The Mini-ITX HTPC benchmark" no need to explain why I chose this one
PSU: Designed for this case and it's 80Plus Gold
HDD: Need 2.5" drives and I already have those, lets make use of them.
CPU: I wanted to go for an i3-4330TE but they are freaking expensive (130€) so the ES will do fine (I will undervolt it)
CPU Cooler: Bit better than Intel's one, it looks cute, made by Noctua and I think it fits perfect
Motherboard: High-End Mini-ITX, BIOS has advanced options, wifi.
Graphics Card: IGP will do fine.
OS: Windows 8 updated to 8.1

Softwares:
No idea, I just want to use this thing for video playback (only HD content). I guess MPC-HC/K-Lite will do just fine.

I would hate myself for using onboard audio (Realtek ALC1150) so I guess I will take something here:
http://www.asus.com/Sound_Cards_and_DigitaltoAnalog_Converters/

The case has only one low profile expansion slot and I don't know if the Xonar low profile are any good. But it looks like there is a full PCI expansion above the I/O so if I manage to fix/fit a Xonar Essence there it migh do the job with a soft PCI-E expansion cable.

Why don't use a graphic like 6670/740 and HDMI connection ?

Same for OS why don't go to OpenELEC ( need NV Graphic for audio )

Quote:

Because I think the IGP is enough no? (It's powerful enough i think, it has HDMI and HDMI will go directly to the TV, I don't have ampli)

Yeah Bobo told me that the ZBOX + NAS was a nice combo too and a few people suggered to use XBMC but I think I will stick to Windows at first. Also Marine likes to have EN subtitles and it will also be used to download.

Just oredered the SSHD and the keyboard.

Omg, I hope you'll be happy with the thing

Well on the paper it looks cool

Pictured here

I'm working on a notebook right now, which has a 24 Gigabyte caching SSD and the thing is just slow. The NAND flash part on SSHD's is usually 8 Gigabyte, which is even smaller than the 24 GB in this NB. I'm really curious what you have to say on the user experience.

We will see. I guess the main difference is that the caching is integrated directly in the drive and it uses another algorithm.

So far Seagate's SSHD did receive good critics and the manufacturer likes to advertise it as "SSD Performance. HDD Capacity and Reliability. Affordable Price."

I have used Seagate's Momentus XT ST95005620AS as external storage drive and the thing was fast. I was moving 15 GB movies to and from at 95 MB/s using a Patriot Gauntlet Node (USB3.0)