Ok, I'm trying to build a micro-atx media server and I need some help. It doesn't need to be capable of playing games. I have a pretty good idea for the hardware, but I'd like others opinions. The priorities for the box are as follows.

1. Low Power (it will be on near 24hr/day)
2. Quite
3. HDMI Output
4. Internet TV/Netflix capable
5. Surround Sound/Digital out to my A/V system
6. Cheap
7. Small
8. Expandable for possible Blu-Ray ussage in the future or more harddrives

Here is the hardware I've chosen so far

I chose the Foxconn due to having a powerful integrated graphics card which should be more than enough for HDMI output. It is AM3 Ready, but I don't know what that means, so does that mean I can't use the Sempron 140? I could switch to the Athelon 64 LE-1640 which seems to be the same only 64nm and AM2 socket instead.

Also, the Foxconn supports HDMI/Audio out combined, but one newegg review said it isn't supported in linux, but I do have some spare copies of XP, however I'd use Linux if it has some good Internet TV programs to make using the device easier.

I think 1GB of ram should be enough memory and I've never had a problem with cheapo memory.

I think the fan may be overkill, but I'm looking for something super quite. I could even go fanless, but I don't know if a heatsink large enough would fit in the case.

As for the power supply, I'm looking for something that is highly efficient, and the one I have selected is surely more power than I really need (at least I think so), but I'm not sure if I can move down to a lower one.

Also, I need some info on IR adapters as I don't know what to get. I could create my own IR/Serial adapter and write a simple program to convert commands into keyboard presses, but I'm all for being lazy and just getting something already made for this.

Finally, any input on programs to easily control a media server would be great. I also don't know if Linux works with netflix and other sites as I've never tried.

Try this instead of the mobo/CPU you have there, or wait for the new Athlon IIs AMD just released to become more available, in which there is a triple core or low power variant. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273663

You don't need the heatsink, the stock one that comes with the CPU is in most cases sufficient, and I know personally that the one that comes with that specific CPU does its job well and is quite silent as well.

For HDDs, I wouldn't bother with a RAID setup, and just go for one Caviar Black instead - they perform better than the Caviar Blues, and with 500 GB, it's only 3$ more anyhow: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

It could just be the codecs/program I'm using, but I've always found that playing back HD videos uses a fuckton of memory, so you might wanna opt for a bit more... memory's dirt cheap anyhow.

I also noticed this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.277848

Great deal, though the case may be a tad larger than what you want.

What is the benefit of Caviar Black over Caviar Blue? I really don't have a clue what is different about them.

I want to host all my home videos on it, and I don't want to lose them. I wanted to go with RAID 1 for full-time backup I figure if 1 disk goes down I can just swap it out with a new one and no losses.

Caviar Blacks have 32 MB cache, as opposed to 16 in Blues, and also, their warranty is two years longer.

You may also want to look at Caviar Greens, though, if power is a concern, since they're supposed to use the least power of all of WD's HDDs.

I agree with all of those part choices.

The processor should work with the chipset. Basically the newer AMD parts work in AM2+ or AM3 sockets, AM2+ being DDR2 RAM and AM3 being DDR3.

If decoding will be at all CPU intensive I would look at one of AMD's low-power dual-, tri- or quad- cores. They all have a 45W rating but clearly more cores will use more power.

If I buy a processor that is too powerful for what I need can I underclock it to save energy and heat? I know how to build a PC, but I've never messed with overclocking or anything like that.

Yes. There's almost no risk (CPUs, in general, don't fail) but be aware that you aren't covered by the warranty on that part anymore if you do. All you do is adjust the multiplier in the BIOS downwards. Also, all CPUs downclock to very low speeds anyway when not being used. Recent AMD ones could go as low as 800MHz. It should use a half to two-thirds of load power in this state.

I would undervolt rather than underclock however. You have to go down in very, very small increments of voltage but it will still have the same performance and will be down another 10-20% in power consumption.

Ask on a more specialised forum like techreport.com for specifics.

yea, I know this isn't the greatest area for PC specifics, but I didn't feel like signing up for another forum. I generally know what I'm doing, I just wanted other people's input as I haven't built a PC in over 3 years.

ok, another quick question.

Do I really need a 7200RPM HDD if all I am doing is serving media to a few PC's throughout the house? I'll have HD content from the disk, but I doubt I'll ever do much more than stream music to another PC and watch HD Video at the same time.

HDDs are dirt cheap, so I'd just go for a 7200rpm one anyhow. The savings would be negligible, really.

You could get a Caviar Green (or whatever the Seagate equivalent is), however, which dynamically adjusts the speed from 5400 or something to 7200 depending on how heavily it's being used, in order to save power.