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[benn600]

I'm looking to build the lowest priced and smallest home theater pc I can.  There would be a chance, then, that if it was cheap enough and satisfactory, it may not be difficult to build/buy another.  The goal is to get the lowest priced, smallest HTPC that can handle HD content for the future.  I'm not sure yet about if it would need video in (TV, for example).  I heard that MC may have a streaming TV feature over the network eventually and if this were the case, the tuner could be in the server and the HTPC could get TV from the network.

I've looked at Shuttle and found the $600 tiny one, but believe it or not, that still is a bit pricey.  I may have to build it myself, which is fine.  The overall goal is low price with HD content...hmm.  Is it possible?  I'd say DVI output and I'll use DVI -> HDMI converters where necessary.

[benn600]

So I've got it all figured out.  I'll list everything I am preliminarily choosing below but the primary components of question are the motherboard and processor:

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127023

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

I chose this motherboard because I have a Fata1ity board now in my server and it seems to be a very nice board.  I think it even has optical audio out but I have the audio completely disabled because I don't need it.

But the point here is that I would like to use the onboard HDMI (with DVI converters where necessary) plus the optical audio.  I wonder if the HDMI cable includes the optical audio?  Anyway, it is great that this has both because in our theater, for instance, optical is the only way to go.  On a simpler system, analog stereo audio is all that will be needed.

Does anyone have any idea as to if this could support HD video?  I like the digital video and audio out so that shouldn't be much of an issue.  The biggest concern is if the onboard video is powerful enough.  I have chosen a low-profile case because I want it as small as can be.  Plus, this case I found was cheaper than the larger, similar, Antec cases.  I don't plan on needing any add-on cards, either.  That's why low-profile doesn't scare me.  The goal is to get satisfacotry audio and video from the motherboard.  Buying standalone cards would easily add $100 to the motherboard and the least expensive, reasonable motherboard is $50...so I'm already above this $115 motherboard.  I have purchased the remote (Keyspan) for this setup already at $32 with free shipping (buy.com).

So tell me what you think!  Here's the rest of the components:
Memory (only one stick of the two, so half price)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134046

Hard Drive (I really want SATA otherwise I would use 40GB IDE drives I have laying around)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075

Case (Looks like a good one!  I've purchased at least 3 Antec cases over the years and have always been very pleased)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129013&Tpk=MINUET%2b300