[DrNip]

After 3 weeks of delay I can finally say the o' ladies HTPC is complete. This build was the hardest build I have ever encountered. The hardest in that it tested my patience beyond all believe. I have never received so many DOA and non working hardware. Here is a list of hardware RMAed:

2 - EVGA Micro Mobo's. 1st would not post and the 2nd would not run RAID no matter what I did. Ended up going with a MSI mobo and is running like a champ.
2 - Western Digital Green Edition 500 GB HDD's. One was DOA and also realized they were only 5400RPM so RMAed them both.
1 - Western Digital Black Edition 500 GB HDD. I replaced the Green Edition HDD's with the Black Edition just for one of them to have write error after write error and so forth.
1 - 4GB GeIL Black Edition RAM - RAM sucked a fat one. Wouldn't even factory cas specs at 1333 even though it was rated at 1600. Error after error on Memtest.

So 6, count them, 6 RMA's just on this little HTPC. None of the RMA's could have been at the same time either to save me on shipping and time. So during all the RMA's I sat around too long and started upgraded parts of it. I ended up upgrading:

CPU - Started out with a Core i3 950 and ended up with a Core I5 655k
CPU Cooler - Started out with a Cooler Master and ended up with a Scythe
HDD - Started out with a Western Digital Black Edition RAID 0 and ended up with a Mushkin Enchanced Callisto Deluxe RAID 0

The budget on this build at 1st was around $600 at 1st but as usual I'm an addict and can't stick to the master plan. I know I went well over $1,000 on this but it is worth it. Enough of the chit chat and time for the goods.

Hardware

RAM - A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
GPU - XFX HD-545X-ZAF2 Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 1GB
CPU Cooler - Scythe Big Shuriken SCBSK-1000 120mm CPU Cooler
CPU - Intel Core i5-655K Clarkdale 3.2GHz
Mobo - MSI P55M-GD41 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX
SSD RAID 0 Setup- Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL60GB-DX 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive
SSD 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Converter - SilverStone SDP08 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Bay Converter
HHD Backup- Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB
PSU - Antec NeoPower 380W
DVD Burner - LITE-ON DVD Writer LightScribe
Case - LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B Micro ATX Media Center
Bluetooth USB - AZiO USB 2.0 Micro Bluetooth Adapter
Keyboard - Sony Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard
Mouse - VAIO Bluetooth Laser Mouse
OS - Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit OS

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I will try to get some benches in today and post them up. Also pics above are with the GeIL RAM I RMAed so nevermind them.

Thinking of getting 4 of these Muhkin SSD's for my rig as they rock!