Hey all, I'm back :p I think the last time I posted in here was when I built my first PC almost 2 years ago. Since then I've been loving every minute of Dolphin
I can show you guys some videos of my Skyward Sword HD playthrough, if you'd like to see how well I got it running.
However, I want to start on another build, this time a true HTPC. My last build ended up evolving into a full fledged tower, as my smaller budget build ended up going to my little brother. I want a bigger challenge this time around, so I'm going for something I can take to anyone's house and blow them away with a full-fledged media center that can also emulate Wii and PS2 games.
With that being said, here's the planned hardware for my build:
Mobo:
Either
GIGABYTE GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 (50$, Used from a friend and confirmed to not have the boot loop issues. Good for OC'ing my processor to at least 4.5GHz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128503
or
ASUS P8Z77-M PRO (More expensive, but I'm a sucker for ASUS. What is it with POST errors on the newer M-Atx boards though?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131833
The main goals for the Mobo are surround sound and possible OC'ing support. My case supports Micro Atx boards so if anyone has a better suggestion for that, please let me know.
Processor:
Either i5-2500k (experience using this processor, love it to death) or the i7-3570k (less wattage, also might get better performance with OC'ing than the i5. Any thoughts? It's only 10$ more)
Main goals for the processor are, of course, to handle most, if not all the compatible Wii and GC games at full speed. I might be able to OC them to get there, but I was wondering how they'd run stock, as I'm trying to keep a quiet noise level for the HTPC. I haven't used the newest iterations of Dolphin, so if there's been any new stuff I need to look out for let me know.
Storage:
Corsair Force SSD 240GB (For XBMC, Programs, and a few games. Dolphin will be on the SSD, the games probably won't.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233208
and
Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM 3TB HDD (Obviously, for the space. Games will be stored here - does anyone have experience with this? How are the noise levels?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844
Main goals are space, speed, and quiet drives.
Blu-Ray drive:
ASUS Black (I wanted to see about getting the famed drives that could read Wii discs, but that's a bit complicated for an all-in-one HTPC. So I went for this one, 3D capable and all. I doubt it has any bearing on Dolphin though :p It's for movies, really)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
Graphics Card:
Either
EVGA GTX560Ti (Used from a friend, for cheap! Also an EVGA fanboy because they run so quiet, at least from what I've experienced)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
or
EVGA GTX660Ti (Dat performance. Also free borderlands 2 at the moment, so tempting...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130810
What would be the max stable resolution I could get out of the 560Ti? I want to save a bit of money so if I can get stable 2-3x resolution, or at least 1080p and some Anti-Aliasing to make it look good on my TV, then I'll go with that. I can also OC both if necessary to get there, but I think the 660Ti should be able to handle dolphin, right?
RAM:
G-SKILL ARES 8GB DDR3 1866 (8GB should be enough, no? Never had any problems with my current PC which only has 8, but at a lower clock speed.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550
Cooling / Case will be determined later as noise / space / hardware dictates.
Any advice / comments? Thanks in advance guys.

However, I want to start on another build, this time a true HTPC. My last build ended up evolving into a full fledged tower, as my smaller budget build ended up going to my little brother. I want a bigger challenge this time around, so I'm going for something I can take to anyone's house and blow them away with a full-fledged media center that can also emulate Wii and PS2 games.
With that being said, here's the planned hardware for my build:
Mobo:
Either
GIGABYTE GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 (50$, Used from a friend and confirmed to not have the boot loop issues. Good for OC'ing my processor to at least 4.5GHz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128503
or
ASUS P8Z77-M PRO (More expensive, but I'm a sucker for ASUS. What is it with POST errors on the newer M-Atx boards though?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131833
The main goals for the Mobo are surround sound and possible OC'ing support. My case supports Micro Atx boards so if anyone has a better suggestion for that, please let me know.
Processor:
Either i5-2500k (experience using this processor, love it to death) or the i7-3570k (less wattage, also might get better performance with OC'ing than the i5. Any thoughts? It's only 10$ more)
Main goals for the processor are, of course, to handle most, if not all the compatible Wii and GC games at full speed. I might be able to OC them to get there, but I was wondering how they'd run stock, as I'm trying to keep a quiet noise level for the HTPC. I haven't used the newest iterations of Dolphin, so if there's been any new stuff I need to look out for let me know.
Storage:
Corsair Force SSD 240GB (For XBMC, Programs, and a few games. Dolphin will be on the SSD, the games probably won't.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233208
and
Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM 3TB HDD (Obviously, for the space. Games will be stored here - does anyone have experience with this? How are the noise levels?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844
Main goals are space, speed, and quiet drives.
Blu-Ray drive:
ASUS Black (I wanted to see about getting the famed drives that could read Wii discs, but that's a bit complicated for an all-in-one HTPC. So I went for this one, 3D capable and all. I doubt it has any bearing on Dolphin though :p It's for movies, really)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
Graphics Card:
Either
EVGA GTX560Ti (Used from a friend, for cheap! Also an EVGA fanboy because they run so quiet, at least from what I've experienced)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
or
EVGA GTX660Ti (Dat performance. Also free borderlands 2 at the moment, so tempting...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130810
What would be the max stable resolution I could get out of the 560Ti? I want to save a bit of money so if I can get stable 2-3x resolution, or at least 1080p and some Anti-Aliasing to make it look good on my TV, then I'll go with that. I can also OC both if necessary to get there, but I think the 660Ti should be able to handle dolphin, right?
RAM:
G-SKILL ARES 8GB DDR3 1866 (8GB should be enough, no? Never had any problems with my current PC which only has 8, but at a lower clock speed.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550
Cooling / Case will be determined later as noise / space / hardware dictates.
Any advice / comments? Thanks in advance guys.