HTPC Build.

[Terbinator]

I'm thinking putting a HTPC together for my Mum and her squeeze for Christmas.

In terms of HTPC, that will be it's sole reason, along with the browsing in the living room if they want. Rather surprisingly, i'm at a loss hardware wise.

I *think* a Trinity A4 would be ample, but will it be fine when it comes to adding some shader effects in MPC-HC and so on? Does it do 24Hz fine? There's a HTPC perspective article on Trinity up on AT which i'm going to read through now, so hopefully i'll get an answer.

The other hardware stuff i'm stuck on is KB/M. Ideally, i imagine i'll be looking at something small, wireless and with a track pad or similar - but i have no idea what to look for.

Case wise it must be small-ish, look good and most importantly silent. This is where those Intel boards with the integrated power circuitry would be great, but it means you get the poop GPU And they're (reasonably, i guess) expensive.

My last question is the OS. Do i stick with Windows as they all know how to use it. I imagine 8 will be quite easy to use with a trackpad for sole HTPC purposes. The other options is XBMC i suppose, but i don't want them to be put off by the UI and never use it.

So yeah, any ideas welcome.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The A6-5400K has an IGP only around 10% slower than that found in the A8 3850. This motherboard has wireless and BT built-in too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-f...-hdmi-mini-itx

What case depends on what sort of budget you have. This would do the trick although I am not sure how it will fit into a living room:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...4x25-hdd-usb-3

Here are some BT keybaords:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/rii-t...it-keys-and-la

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/keyso...resenter-combo

There are these wireless ones too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-...oards-cordless

This one uses a trackball:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/enerm...aluminum-black

[b0redom]

I use an oldish MacMini and Plex. It's got the advantage of having a built in IR receiver (so it works with my Harmony One), being small and silent. It's probably not the cheapest way of doing it though.

I use this keyboard though and it's pretty bombproof - and I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old hammering it every day:

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/1069...FcbLtAodE3kAsQ

[Terbinator]

I should mention i have a 5.25" Blu-Ray drive in my PC that i'd be willing to sacrifice towards the build.