HTPC build

[Sreno1]

I have recently made this HTPC build and am wondering what can I downgrade to get the price around $250? I know the G4400 is overkill for a HTPC but I wasn't sure if the celeron G3900 would be good enough. Also I am looking for a cheaper ITX motherboard as $65 is the cheapest I could find on the 1551 socket. Possibly an older CPU will have cheaper MOBO, reducing price?

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/vnB2kT

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Memory: Crucial 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($19.99 @ Directron) 
Storage: Samsung 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($51.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: Silverstone ML05B HTPC Case  ($40.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Certified SFX Power Supply  ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit  ($30.00) 
Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Combo MK270 Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($18.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $324.93

[Electronics Wizardy]

Run a copy of linux on it.

 

Get a celeron.

 

Or buy a NUC or the simmilar versions.

[Energycore]

You can save a couple bucks by going LGA 1150, at no performance loss.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Celeron G1840 2.8GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($19.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: PNY CS1311 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($39.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Silverstone ML05B HTPC Case  ($40.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Certified SFX Power Supply  ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Combo MK270 Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($18.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $261.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-10-19 23:48 EDT-0400

[paddy-stone]

10 hours ago, Sreno1 said:

I have recently made this HTPC build and am wondering what can I downgrade to get the price around $250? I know the G4400 is overkill for a HTPC but I wasn't sure if the celeron G3900 would be good enough. Also I am looking for a cheaper ITX motherboard as $65 is the cheapest I could find on the 1551 socket. Possibly an older CPU will have cheaper MOBO, reducing price?

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/list/vnB2kT

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Memory: Crucial 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($19.99 @ Directron) 
Storage: Samsung 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($51.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Case: Silverstone ML05B HTPC Case  ($40.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Certified SFX Power Supply  ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit  ($30.00) 
Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Combo MK270 Wireless Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($18.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Total: $324.93

Can I just asj what the purpose would be of this build ie media playback only?

 

If it's just for media playback and light web surfing and you don't mind android, just get a half decent android box for approx $79 or even less. There are some really good 4k and x265 HEVC capable boxes out there, I have had a few of them myself and they are perfectly fine for that usage case.

[Sreno1]

2 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

Can I just asj what the purpose would be of this build ie media playback only?

 

If it's just for media playback and light web surfing and you don't mind android, just get a half decent android box for approx $79 or even less. There are some really good 4k and x265 HEVC capable boxes out there, I have had a few of them myself and they are perfectly fine for that usage case.

I want to use it as a storage device as well as general purpose browsing, netflix, and hulu.

[paddy-stone]

1 minute ago, Sreno1 said:

I want to use it as a storage device as well as general purpose browsing, netflix, and hulu.

Ahh I see, no worries, was just concerned you were goign to be paying way too much just for using for medai etc... if it's also for storage then android may not be suitable, depending on the amount of storage etc.

[Sreno1]

@paddy-stone

 

@Energycore

 

Is this prebuilt good enough for a HTPC? And if not what upgrades would make it good enough?

 

 

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01982717

[paddy-stone]

5 hours ago, Sreno1 said:

@paddy-stone

 

@Energycore

 

Is this prebuilt good enough for a HTPC? And if not what upgrades would make it good enough?

 

 

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01982717

IMHO I think it's a piece of crap.

 

You mentioned using the HTPC as a storage drive too right? what exactly do you mean by that:-

 

a) centralised storage like a NAS, so backups of computers/files.

 

b) Storage of media that is streamed to other devices.

 

c) just storage for media that is played on it.

 

or a combination?

[Energycore]

8 hours ago, Sreno1 said:

@paddy-stone

 

@Energycore

 

Is this prebuilt good enough for a HTPC? And if not what upgrades would make it good enough?

 

 

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01982717

I wouldn't get that, it's not going to be very snappy.

 

If you're gonna get a prebuilt for a HTPC, get this one

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883285275

 

Add to that a 120GB SSD and you're good

[Sreno1]

7 minutes ago, Energycore said:

I wouldn't get that, it's not going to be very snappy.

 

If you're gonna get a prebuilt for a HTPC, get this one

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883285275

 

Add to that a 120GB SSD and you're good

I already have the prebuilt (I bought it with a 900p monitor for $50).

[Sreno1]

3 hours ago, paddy-stone said:

IMHO I think it's a piece of crap.

 

You mentioned using the HTPC as a storage drive too right? what exactly do you mean by that:-

 

a) centralised storage like a NAS, so backups of computers/files.

 

b) Storage of media that is streamed to other devices.

 

c) just storage for media that is played on it.

 

or a combination?

NAS would be ideal but it is primarily for video streaming.

[Energycore]

Just now, Sreno1 said:

I already have the prebuilt (I bought it with a 900p monitor for $50).

Ah, then try and get a used Phenom II x4 for it and an SSD.

[Stagea]

On 10/20/2016 at 9:47 PM, Sreno1 said:

I already have the prebuilt (I bought it with a 900p monitor for $50).

You may want HDMI on that. If you're planning to do UHD playback, then a basic RX 460 may be worth a look (and maybe a processor upgrade). 

[DragonTamer1]

On 10/24/2016 at 4:28 PM, Stagea said:

You may want HDMI on that. If you're planning to do UHD playback, then a basic RX 460 may be worth a look (and maybe a processor upgrade). 

Agreed. If simple 1080p playback is needed you can buy a cheap GPU and drop it in. I've got an HD 6450 in my prebuilt/HTPC that just barely cuts it at 1080p (60FPS @ 1080p is out of the question). Maybe something a little bigger than what I've got. If you are going for UHD then a 460 would probably be a good buy.

[ThePartyLeader]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4Zc2WX

 

$236 before shipping with an HDMI out.

 

You get what you pay for.

 

Could get $206 if you use linux instead of windows and $166 if you use a cardboard box or a slab of wood instead of a case.