$700 will easily get you a good HTPC build. Vernong hit it right on. Ironically the most expensive component in HTPC builds is the case. You could be $400 right off the bat for a nice case. If you look at the specs in my sig you'll see what I built. It has been a really solid machine and I'm very pleased with it. The 790gx is a great chipset and the HD 3300 is plenty for 1080 playback. I can even play some games on lower settings...more than that would require discrete graphics.