Cheap HTPC build?

[fuzzbutt99]

I'm looking to build a HTPC on a budget with a small form factor. I thought about buying a Roku, but I need to be able to record shows as well.

My main use for the HTPC will just be streaming movies from Netflix and recording shows off an antenna. No gaming, 3d, or encoding. I have hauppauge 2250 which should fit in a small form factor case with an extra PCI-e port.

Would it be cheaper to just buy a kit that would work with Netflix (silverlight), instead of trying to piece one together?

I would also be open to using previous generation boards/chip if it meant I could save some money. I just need the chip to be fast enough to run silverlight.I'm also thinking of just using regular SATA drive and not SSD for the OS.

Looking at AMD Llano chips as a good alternative?

 

[Dangman]

You can build a cheap HTPC these days for not that much:
$128 - Intel Pentium G630 CPU + MSI H61M-E23 Intel H61 mATX Motherboard
$20 - G.Skill F3-10666CL9S-2GBNT 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$75 - Western Digital WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$41 - Antec Earthwatts Green EA380D 380W PSU
$95 - Silverstone GD05B mATX HTPC Case
-----
Total: $359 shipped

 

[Durvelle27]

You can build a cheap HTPC these days for not that much:
$128 - Intel Pentium G630 CPU + MSI H61M-E23 Intel H61 mATX Motherboard
$20 - G.Skill F3-10666CL9S-2GBNT 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$75 - Western Digital WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$41 - Antec Earthwatts Green EA380D 380W PSU
$95 - Silverstone GD05B mATX HTPC Case
-----
Total: $359 shipped

weres the gpu

 

[munkle]

weres the gpu

on the cpu.

 

[lazy7689]

or you can save a bit by going mini ITX and something like an antec isk 300-150. It's about 90 and includes a 150w psu. CPU/Mobo should still cost roughly the same but you save 41 on the psu.

Keep in mind that it only takes slimline optical drives and 2.5" hard drives/ssd. On the hard drive front, cost is/can be around the same but performance may suffer.