For a HTPC I would go for AMD. GA-MA78GM-S2H and X2 4850e seems to be very popular. Hmm, I originally didn't go for that because it used so much more power than M2A-VM and then I forgot it but yes, that is a viable alternative even if I need to buy those components from different shop(s) than other...

I have at the moment an old Fujitsu-Siemens in my bedroom working as a HTPC. It's only used for playing movies from DVD or NAS and I have only one reason to change it, NOISE. I had decided specs for new computer once already, it was pretty much what this site used in its M2A-VM HDMI review, but then...

How does this drive compare to WD1200BEVS?