HTPC/media server build - i3 or E-350?

[caspar86]

I'm looking to build a HTPC that I can leave on most of the time, or wake up over the LAN if I need it, so it needs to be quiet and have low power consumption. I've been thinking about two possible builds, which I will post below. They have to tick the following boxes:

- Play HD video and music straight from the HDD and stream it over the network
- Stream HD video directly from the likes of Revision3, iPlayer, YouTube, and so on...
- Always on server so I can store files I want to access when I'm not at home or stream video/music
- Rip DVD/Bluray (willing to forfeit this)


The two builds I have been considering (minus the PSU and optical drive) are as follows:

1) E-350 BUILD - Approx. £325

ZOTAC FUSION350-A-E OR Asus E35M1-I DELUXE AMD
(2x2GB) PC3-8500 DDR3-1066MHz
2TB Western Digital WD20EARX 3.5"
Lian Li PC-Q11B


2) i3 BUILD - Approx. £365

Asus P8H67-I
Intel Core i3 2100 3.1GHz
8GB (2x4GB) Corsair DDR3 XMS3, PC3-10600 (1333)
2TB Western Digital WD20EARX 3.5"
Lian Li PC-Q11B


Would there be any advantage going for the E-350 build over the i3? There doesn't seem to be much of a price difference between the two and the i3 obviously kicks out better benchmarks, so I am almost certain I am going to go for that. Is there any way I could squeeze a little bit more out the system in the same sort of price range? Cheers in advance for any advice