Recommended FreeviewHD HTPC Build - April 2013

Total Cost Individual parts is $650 incl P&P

It's possible to get the cost down to approximately $500-550 if you shop around for the lowest prices/specials

Hard drive can be changed to SSD or SSD + larger storage.

Memory can be changed to 2x2GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600/1866 or 2x4GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600/1866

Motherboard and Case could be changed to uATX if wanting a smaller form factor HTPC

Online Computer stores

These three stores offer a good selection of HTPC hardware, free delivery, good prices and have an excellent returns poicy

Ascent

Computer Lounge

Playtech

It is also worth looking at these stores

Paradigm PCs

Dragon PC

Comparing prices in NZ

www.pricespy.co.nz

Freeview HD requires a GPU that can decode 1080i video

Any current generation graphics card can decode 1080i (eg. AMD HD6XXX/HD7XXX or Nvidia 5XX/6XX or above)

GPU - AMD HD6450 @ PriceSpy

GPU - AMD HD7750 @ PriceSpy

GPU - Nividia 5XX/6XX @ PriceSpy

If using onboard graphics then I recommend Intel i3-3225 (Intel Graphics HD4000) or AMD AX-5XXX Trinity CPU

CPU - Intel i3-3225 @ PriceSpy

CPU - AMD AX-5XXX @ PriceSpy

Check the video section of the htpc hardware wiki for more info

Which TV tuner to buy?

Mediaportal is compatible with all of the hauppague tuners and they are readily available in New Zealand.  The most commonly used tuners with mediaportal in New Zealand are the HVR2200 / HVR4400.  Mediaportal should theoretically work with any tuner that uses a BDA driver.

List of Hauuppague TV Tuners @ Pricespy website

Hauppague Freeview HD (Digital Terrestrial DVB-T) Tuners

Ministick HD - 1x DVB-T / USB

HVR900HD - 1x DVB-T / Not suitable for analog as only has software analog encoder / USB

HVR1110 - 1x DVB-T / Not suitable for analog as only has software analog encoder / PCI

HVR1200 - 1x DVB-T / Not suitable for analog as only has software analog encoder / PCI-E

HVR1300 - 1xDVB-T / Analog / PCI

HVR1700 - 1x DVB-T / Analog / PCI-E

HVR1900 - 1x DVB-T / Analog / USB

HVR2200 - 2x DVB-T / Analog / PCI-E *

HVR2210 - 2x DVB-T / Analog / IR Remote / PCI-E *

HVR4400 - 2x DVB-T / 2x DVB-S+S2 / Analog / PCI-E *

Nova-T Stick - 1x DVB-T / Optional IR Remote / USB

* Recommended

Hauppague Freeview Sattelite  (DVB-S/DVB-S2) Tuners

HVR4400 - 2x DVB-T / 2x DVB-S+S2 / Analog / PCI-E

Nova-S Stick - 1x DVB-S / USB

Nova-S Plus PCI - 1x DVB-S+S2 / Not suitable for analog as only has software analog encoder / PCI

Silicon HDHomeRun

This is a network attached dual DVB-T tv tuner that works with mediaportal.  There are a few variants so please check which variants are supported within mediaportal.  The advantage of a network attached tuner is that you can share the tuner directly between multiple computer, this isn't necessary with mediaportal because of tv server, however if you switched to Windows Mediacentre then this feature would be useful.

http://www.silicondust.com/

https://nicegear.co.nz/dvb-cards/silicondust-hdhomerun/

Silicon HDHomeRun Alternative

"The Kaiser Baas Network TV Tuner, formerly HD HomeRun, is a TV tuner for computers, with Ethernet attached. The Network TV Tuner connects to your home router, enabling you to watch and record TV from any computer on your home network. Compatible with: Windows Media Center, Elgato EyeTV, MythTV, SageTV, MediaPortal, GB-PVR, VLC and TSReader"

http://www.kaiserbaas.com/tv-radio-category/network-tv-tuner

Other HTPC Hardware

Check the HTPC Hardware forum and HTPC Hardware Wiki for more information

Good nz based forums to ask for hardware advice are the GamePlanet Forums and GeekZone Forums