HTPC Build. Mini-ITX?

[Kdar]

Well. I am thinking about a little different direction for my HTPC build.
My previous post: http://www.techist.com/forums/f75/htpc-plan-buy-hardware-week-225745/ (I decided to create new post, since this is a little different).

Now I am thinking if I should go with Mini-ITX with Atom CPU or EXXX CPU

Here is what I have so far: (My biggest question is about CPU/Motherboard)

Option 1)Motherboard/CPU/Video Combo
ZOTAC IONITX-F-E Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz, dual-core) NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard
(Have Onboard Video Chipset NVIDIA GeForce 9400 and Wifi) - So probably will play 1080p just fine and able to connect me to my net-work.
Newegg.com - ZOTAC IONITX-F-E Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz, dual-core) NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo - Motherboard / CPU / VGA Combo

Option 2)Motherboard/Video Combo and CPU
ZOTAC GF9300-G-E LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboa (build-in GeForce 9300)
Newegg.com - ZOTAC GF9300-G-E LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
and some Intel CPU.. maybe like E5300?

Which of the two would you pick? Atom way or E5300 way?
Give me some other ideas.

(Those below I kind of know what to get)
HardDrive
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EARS 1TB 5400 RPM
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EARS 1TB 5400 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Case
APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W
Newegg.com - APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply - Computer Cases
or
Foxconn RS233 Black+Light Silver Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 150W
Newegg.com - Foxconn RS233 Black+Light Silver Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 150W Power Supply - Computer Cases

Memory
Have memory

Optical Drive
Will get something. Not very important.

 

[orihS ‪‪‪Shiro]

I'd get the e5300 build because atoms suck for gaming.

 

[Kdar]

well, I am building HTPC with XBMC running on Linux. I am not planning to do any gaming at all.

Just watching movies, listen to music. I have few movies in HD (1080p). I also want to watch online TV (like Hulu, Fancast, Veoh, Youtube.. etc). Watch local channels (I will ditch comcast)
And thats pretty much all I plan to do with it.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I would go with the Atom+Ion build, low power consumption coupled with a good igp makes it perfect for HTPCs.

I'm not sure which case would be the better since there don't seem to be any mini itx cases with PSUs from reputable brands.

 

[Kdar]

But probably Atom+Ion build could work with PSU that is 150W?

 

[Kdar]

But probably Atom+Ion build could work with PSU that is 150W?

Also.. I have another question.

What do you think I should do about Tuner for viewing local channels?
Get some USB tuner like this:
Newegg.com - KWORLD ATSC TV Stick UB435-Q USB 2.0 Interface - TV Tuners & Video Devices
Instead of this:
Newegg.com - Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1250 Hybrid TV Tuner /Video Recorder 1196 PCI-Express x1 Interface - TV Tuners & Video Devices

(to save PCIE slot)

Or anyone have some other ideas about tuners (to watch few local channels).
PS. I am not planning to have comcast.

*****I am not sure why it made another post.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

150w should be more than enough power assuming the psu is decent quality.

I would definitely go with an internal tuner although I'm not sure what model is best for use in linux.

 

[Kdar]

yes. Probably internal would be better, but some of those boards do not have PCIE slot, especially those with 90W external PSU.

 

[Kdar]

I have another question. For HTPC in general.

Should I get big hard drive? or better something smaller and stream my movies from some server at my house?

Or buy big hard drive for now, and later use it in server?