HTPC Build

Michael McChesney · May 13, 2020

Budget (including currency): $422.23

Country: USA

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: HTPC, maybe light gaming

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc):

I built my first system last summer. I definitely over did it, installing amongst other things an 9900K cpu. I was wondering what the least expensive PC I could build would be. I would like an HTPC for my bedroom and figured it hardly needs to be a powerhouse. I was seriously looking at an Athlon 3000G, but then I figured a Ryzen 3 3200G for $37 more just made more sense. When I was deciding what motherboard to go with last year, I was advised here not to go for integrated wifi because it was significantly cheaper to just add a wireless card. That's what I did, but there was one issue. The board I went with only had 1 USB 2.0 header, but the wireless card wanted to be connected to it as did the front panel. As a result, I had to add an internal USB hub. I saw some AMD boards for around $50. But this time I went with the integrated wifi buying the Gigabyte B450M DS3H WIFI Micro ATX for $89.99. I went with T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory for $59.99, and a Western Digital Blue 500 GB M.2 SSD. I feel pretty good about them. But I am worried about the Rosewill FBM-X2 MicroATX Mini Tower Case with an included 400W PSU for $64.99. I am concerned about PSU, but I did really like the case. However, I couldn't find the case for sale anywhere by itself, only with the PSU. So I decided to chance it. With tax and shipping it was $422.23. My CPU and SSD were delivered a little while ago and the rest should be here by Friday. I'll report back after it's assembled. I will still need Windows 10. The cost of a Windows license is the reason it is often more economical to buy a pre-built. Last year I spent $119 for a license from MS. I'd rather not spend quite so much if I can help it. Are there any downsides to buying a license key from ebay? Other than the risk to my immortal soul?

Funny story about ebay. I haven't bought anything from there in quite a long time. I was looking at the site the other day and was logged in by my google account. But then I get a message that my account was suspended "for questionable activity" in 2009. I emailed there customer service. Turns out the account with my gmail was opened in 2009, but suspended because registration was never completed. But I never opened it. I've had gmail for over 20 years, but when I last used ebay, I had a CompuServe email (I obviously no longer have access to). Someone must have tried to create an account, but accidentally used my email address. Ebay deleted the suspended account, so I am free to create a new one.

Edited May 13, 2020 by Michael McChesney
It posted before I wrote anything