ITX HTPC - Ultra low power consumption build! - Or should I use an Android PC/Device??

[Askew]

Hey y'all, calling all ITX HTPC owners and those who have good knowledge of power useage in typical HTPC systems.

 

I want to build an HTPC, as small as possible that will be standalone, nothing is going to be feeding it files over the network, it will stream from the net of course but not from my network.

 

The goal is to make it cheap, as small as possible (mini ITX) but the no1 overalling thing is I want the power consumption of the machine to be as low as physically possible, the reason is that this PC is going to be used in situations where limited power is available from a vehicle and no generator is to be available at night.

 

All I want it to do is be quick enough to decode reasonably high bitrate blu-ray rips, play audio, and stream from Netflix ect with perhaps a bit of browsing, no gaming or anything else will ever happen on it.

 

Any suggestions welcomed, I don't have any brand preference to chip manufacturer, but if there's no integrated GPU I can get a low end discrete GPU like passive GT610/R5 230 to deal with the video output.

 

Location UK

Don't need display/peripherals/OS I have all that.

Budget as low as possible, maybe £150-250 as a guide, I don't mind buying used parts and I'll spend more if I need to.

 

I have also considered that it might be worth using some kind of Android device, but I'm not sure what..

[SAV1OUR]

oh come on @Askew you should know we need a budget and location  

[Askew]

oh come on @Askew you should know we need a budget and location  

 

Done, yes I should have put that I ask people that question all the time then don't do it myself....

[The Crazed Child]

Purchase a Pico PSU and an external brick. It has 1 24 pin, 1 4 pin CPU connector, 1 SATA power and 1 Molex that can be adapted to a SATA power plug.

[Askew]

Purchase a Pico PSU and an external brick. It has 1 24 pin, 1 4 pin CPU connector, 1 SATA power and 1 Molex that can be adapted to a SATA power plug.

 

Wow, had not seen that before, noted.

[SAV1OUR]

Done, yes I should have put that I ask people that question all the time then don't do it myself....

 over but hows this? prodigy htpc you can save money by grabbing a old drive somewhere 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  (£76.79 @ Aria PC) 

Motherboard:  Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  (£49.38 @ Amazon UK) 

Memory:  Corsair XMS3 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  (£49.67 @ Amazon UK) 

Storage:  Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (£45.19 @ Amazon UK) 

Video Card:  Asus GeForce GT 610 1GB Video Card  (£27.58 @ Dabs) 

Case:  BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  (£69.95 @ Aria PC) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£35.65 @ Amazon UK) 

Total: £354.21

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-28 09:23 BST+0100)

[Askew]

 

 over but hows this? prodigy htpc you can save money by grabbing a old drive somewhere 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  (£76.79 @ Aria PC) 

Motherboard:  Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  (£49.38 @ Amazon UK) 

Memory:  Corsair XMS3 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  (£49.67 @ Amazon UK) 

Storage:  Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (£45.19 @ Amazon UK) 

Video Card:  Asus GeForce GT 610 1GB Video Card  (£27.58 @ Dabs) 

Case:  BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case  (£69.95 @ Aria PC) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  (£35.65 @ Amazon UK) 

Total: £354.21

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-28 09:23 BST+0100)

 

 

Hmm, I have always wanted to build something in a Prodigy, but I'm not sure if I'm over-speccing, that's my problem with this whole thing, I can find components I just lack the know how to decide how much power is needed to perform those tasks.

 

For all I know building an HTPC could be really dumb and there's some perfect Android PC for a quarter of the cost that can do it all, IDK this really isn't my thing normally, I'm used to being able to plug in a PC to unlimited power not have to worry about power so much and I've never build a PC for just media. :wacko:

[SAV1OUR]

Hmm, I have always wanted to build something in a Prodigy, but I'm not sure if I'm over-speccing, that's my problem with this whole thing, I can find components I just lack the know how to decide how much power is needed to perform those tasks.

 

For all I know building an HTPC could be really dumb and there's some perfect Android PC for a quarter of the cost that can do it all, IDK this really isn't my thing normally, I'm used to being able to plug in a PC to unlimited power not have to worry about power so much and I've never build a PC for just media. :wacko:

well what resolution is the tv? (im guessing you will be using) tvs are normally what break a htpc but thankfully something like a 750 is the solution allowing for low profile high resolution output 

[Askew]

well what resolution is the tv? (im guessing you will be using) tvs are normally what break a htpc but thankfully something like a 750 is the solution allowing for low profile high resolution output 

 

1080p.

[SAV1OUR]

1080p.

then a 610 will be able to handle it, hell the on board from the i3 could if you want to save even more money but the 610 will look nicer because its a dedicated gpu 

[Askew]

then a 610 will be able to handle it, hell the on board from the i3 could if you want to save even more money but the 610 will look nicer because its a dedicated gpu 

 

Yeah it's also real cheap

Thanks for the partpicker I'll have a play around with it and look at some of the parts more closely and see what's up, it does look like a nice little system though and I have always wanted a prodigy, and the case will have space to put something like a WD green in there.

[s3ns3]

get an i3 4150 and a board with hdmi.no dedicated gpu needed.the power consumption will always be under 50w

 

[ShadowCaptain]

49 watts, TINY case, I actually have one of these running on some asus atom board that cost me £50, runs 1080p movies just fine

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor  (£37.80 @ Aria PC) 

Motherboard:  Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  (£49.38 @ Amazon UK) 

Memory:  Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  (£27.32 @ Amazon UK) 

Storage:  Western Digital AV 320GB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  (£23.99 @ Aria PC) 

Case:  Antec ISK 300-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply  (£69.94 @ Amazon UK) 

Total: £208.43

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-28 09:40 BST+0100)

 

 

OR

 

i3 NUC £150  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-BOXDC3217BY-Barebone-Mini-PC-Intel-HD/dp/B0093LINT2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1401266565&sr=8-5&keywords=intel+nuc

 

Celeron NUC £99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-DN2820FYKH-Barebone-Graphics-Bluetooth/dp/B00I60Z8Q2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401266602&sr=8-3&keywords=intel+nuc

 

[Askew]

49 watts, TINY case, I actually have one of these running on some asus atom board that cost me £50, runs 1080p movies just fine

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor (£37.80 @ Aria PC)

Motherboard: Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard (£49.38 @ Amazon UK)

Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£27.32 @ Amazon UK)

Storage: Western Digital AV 320GB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive (£23.99 @ Aria PC)

Case: Antec ISK 300-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply (£69.94 @ Amazon UK)

Total: £208.43

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-28 09:40 BST+0100)

OR

i3 NUC £150 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-BOXDC3217BY-Barebone-Mini-PC-Intel-HD/dp/B0093LINT2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1401266565&sr=8-5&keywords=intel+nuc

Celeron NUC £99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-DN2820FYKH-Barebone-Graphics-Bluetooth/dp/B00I60Z8Q2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401266602&sr=8-3&keywords=intel+nuc

Awesome post thanks a lot!

I like the look of the little antec shell and if it has a juice box inside also that's even sweeter, I'm seriously considering building that system.

The celeron NUC is a nice price and a clean integrated solution but I'm concerned in case it is too weak for the job..

[ShadowCaptain]

Awesome post thanks a lot!

I like the look of the little antec shell and if it has a juice box inside also that's even sweeter, I'm seriously considering building that system.

The celeron NUC is a nice price and a clean integrated solution but I'm concerned in case it is too weak for the job..

 

Maybe, the i3 one is quite decent, honestly judging how my g3220 handles things the celeron is probably ok too.

 

But I have that antec case, its a tough little SOB,. also you can fit a single slot low profile GPU if needed, I have a 5450 that my friend gave me for free because he couldn't be bothered charging me

[Askew]

Maybe, the i3 one is quite decent, honestly judging how my g3220 handles things the celeron is probably ok too.

But I have that antec case, its a tough little SOB,. also you can fit a single slot low profile GPU if needed, I have a 5450 that my friend gave me for free because he couldn't be bothered charging me

I will probably get the GT 610 from Nvidia or the little R5 card from AMD.

Nice job on the free 5450!

What do you run on the little system, windows or Linux?

I will run XBMC and a browser, but the thing is Netflix streaming on PC requires Microsoft Silverlight, not sure if I could use that on a Linux system so I might use windows 7 as I have a spare key.

[ShadowCaptain]

I will probably get the GT 610 from Nvidia or the little R5 card from AMD.

Nice job on the free 5450!

What do you run on the little system, windows or Linux?

I will run XBMC and a browser, but the thing is Netflix streaming on PC requires Microsoft Silverlight, not sure if I could use that on a Linux system so I might use windows 7 as I have a spare key.

 

I just run windows, don't particularly like linux, i had a windows 7 licence so I just installed that. Great for Steam IHS too!!

[Askew]

I just run windows, don't particularly like linux, i had a windows 7 licence so I just installed that. Great for Steam IHS too!!

Shiver me timbers I'd forgotten about IHS that would be cool to try out, I doubt I would use it much but why not check it out.

[MEC-777]

Here's another option: 

 

Very capable low-power quad-core + SSD

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor  (£38.39 @ Aria PC) 

Motherboard:  MSI AM1I Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard  (£22.00 @ Ebuyer) 

Memory:  Kingston Blu 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  (£27.44 @ Amazon UK) 

Storage:  Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (£50.15 @ Amazon UK) 

Case:  Antec ISK 300-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply  (£69.94 @ Amazon UK) 

Total: £207.92

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-28 16:36 BST+0100)

[Askew]

 

Here's another option: 

 

Very capable low-power quad-core + SSD

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor  (£38.39 @ Aria PC) 

Motherboard:  MSI AM1I Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard  (£22.00 @ Ebuyer) 

Memory:  Kingston Blu 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  (£27.44 @ Amazon UK) 

Storage:  Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (£50.15 @ Amazon UK) 

Case:  Antec ISK 300-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply  (£69.94 @ Amazon UK) 

Total: £207.92

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-28 16:36 BST+0100)

 

 

Very nice, you think that APU is up to playing HD video ok?

[MEC-777]

Very nice, you think that APU is up to playing HD video ok?

Definitely more than OK. It's AMD's new "AM1" platform. There are lots of reviews and tests on many reputable sites if you want more info about them. 

[Askew]

Definitely more than OK. It's AMD's new "AM1" platform. There are lots of reviews and tests on many reputable sites if you want more info about them. 

 

Cool, thanks a lot for posting.