New HTPC Build

[johnnyTheMac]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I could get a little help picking out the components for an HTPC build. I have a budget of $350-$400, but I would like to keep it around the former of the two. Actually, the lower the better lol (my wife doesn't get that it costs for quality and convenience). I will be using it for digital movies, shows, streaming video and music. I may be looking for some budget speakers to go along with it, too. I would possibly like to have the ability to record television show, much like a DVR. I would also like to explore the possibility of a remote control of some sort, so it will be easy for my wife to use.

I think that is about it. I would surely appreciate any and all help, advice and suggestions that you can offer.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Tetsudo

[dizmo]

What kind of case do you want? Bigger, smaller, PC style, something that would be at home in a home theater, etc.

Are you running speakers from the HTPC or from an external source? I'm assuming you'd be buying PC speakers or powered, since the motherboard won't support home theater speakers.

What size HDD would you want?

[LIGISTX]

Those are all very important questions. But an even more important one, do you plan on getting a AVR (A Receiver) to take all of your HDMI/component inputs and output to your TV and and sound to some speakers? Or are you planning to plug the computer to the TV directly via HDMI and use some computer speakers? I am an intel fan, so my first response is i3, but I am sure there are cheaper AMD options that will get the job done just as well for cheaper seeing as your budget isn't too large for an HTPC.

 

I use XBMC as the media player of choice, and it has an AMAZING ipad app, a decent iphone and android app that is used to control the content and pick what you want to watch and what not. All I can really say about the rest of the components, RAM isn't a big deal at all, 2 gigs would suffice, although Windows 7+ do usually enjoy 4 gigs of RAM, but 2 will get the job done on a budget. 

[jameshumphries47]

@johnnyTheMac why don't you buy a pre built one like a emtec s800 or something, I have one of them its great

[johnnyTheMac]

What kind of case do you want? Bigger, smaller, PC style, something that would be at home in a home theater, etc.

Are you running speakers from the HTPC or from an external source? I'm assuming you'd be buying PC speakers or powered, since the motherboard won't support home theater speakers.

What size HDD would you want?

 

 

Those are all very important questions. But an even more important one, do you plan on getting a AVR (A Receiver) to take all of your HDMI/component inputs and output to your TV and and sound to some speakers? Or are you planning to plug the computer to the TV directly via HDMI and use some computer speakers? I am an intel fan, so my first response is i3, but I am sure there are cheaper AMD options that will get the job done just as well for cheaper seeing as your budget isn't too large for an HTPC.

 

I use XBMC as the media player of choice, and it has an AMAZING ipad app, a decent iphone and android app that is used to control the content and pick what you want to watch and what not. All I can really say about the rest of the components, RAM isn't a big deal at all, 2 gigs would suffice, although Windows 7+ do usually enjoy 4 gigs of RAM, but 2 will get the job done on a budget. 

Sorry, I should have stated all of those points.

 

I would like a relatively small box and it will be something that is at home in a home theater. I would be running the speakers from the HTPC, just for the TV that it will be on. There will be no cable hooked up to it. It will just be for digital and streaming movies, shows and music. I thought about it, and I put capturing in the OP, but thinking about it, it is a no go. 

 

I would like to use Intel because, I too, am an Intel fan. I want to use the integrated graphics of the newer CPUs. I will be viewing and streaming 1080p. I have WIndows 8.1 for the OS. 

 

Thanks!

[dizmo]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU:  AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($46.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-F2A55M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:  Kingston HyperX 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($44.74 @ Amazon)
Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($56.78 @ Amazon)
Case:  Silverstone GD05B HTPC Case  ($103.76 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply:  SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Total: $337.24

 

AMD.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU:  Intel Celeron G530 2.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($49.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-H61M-S1 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:  A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($32.99 @ Newegg)
Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($56.78 @ Amazon)
Case:  Silverstone GD05B HTPC Case  ($103.76 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply:  SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Total: $321.49

 

Intel.

 

You might want to consider a sound card, I'm not sure how well the on board audio will hold up.

You'd need to buy powered speakers as well, and likely use a series of splitters and adapters.

You can use the same cheaper RAM in the AMD build, the APU just likes higher frequencies for better performance and I'm used to picking it.

[johnnyTheMac]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU:  AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($46.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-F2A55M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($44.99 @ Newegg)

Memory:  Kingston HyperX 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($44.74 @ Amazon)

Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($56.78 @ Amazon)

Case:  Silverstone GD05B HTPC Case  ($103.76 @ TigerDirect)

Power Supply:  SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Mwave)

Total: $337.24

 

AMD.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU:  Intel Celeron G530 2.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($49.98 @ Amazon)

Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-H61M-S1 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($37.99 @ Newegg)

Memory:  A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($32.99 @ Newegg)

Storage:  Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($56.78 @ Amazon)

Case:  Silverstone GD05B HTPC Case  ($103.76 @ TigerDirect)

Power Supply:  SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($39.99 @ Mwave)

Total: $321.49

 

Intel.

 

You might want to consider a sound card, I'm not sure how well the on board audio will hold up.

You'd need to buy powered speakers as well, and likely use a series of splitters and adapters.

You can use the same cheaper RAM in the AMD build, the APU just likes higher frequencies for better performance and I'm used to picking it.

Thank you so much for your help! I think that I have to go the Intel route. However, I am interested in the AMD build, too. I use an AMD rig at work and an Intel at home. I like the Intel. I have a cheap-o 480 watt PSU at home, and I Crucial RAM, but I have to see what it is. Perhaps, I can knock a couple of more dollars off of the price.

 

Will these processors let me watch HD videos?

 

Thanks!

[dizmo]

Thank you so much for your help! I think that I have to go the Intel route. However, I am interested in the AMD build, too. I use an AMD rig at work and an Intel at home. I like the Intel. I have a cheap-o 480 watt PSU at home, and I Crucial RAM, but I have to see what it is. Perhaps, I can knock a couple of more dollars off of the price.

 

Will these processors let me watch HD videos?

 

Thanks!

Yup they both have integrated graphics. It doesn't really take any muscle at all to push 1080p movies out.

The case is rather subjective but that's the one I like most looks wise.

Honestly I'd go with the Intel build too.

[johnnyTheMac]

Yup they both have integrated graphics. It doesn't really take any muscle at all to push 1080p movies out.

The case is rather subjective but that's the one I like most looks wise.

Honestly I'd go with the Intel build too.

Thanks for the suggestions and help!

 

I am going to take a look into those components and build it up! 

 

Thanks

[LIGISTX]

Both of the builds look good to me

[johnnyTheMac]

After looking through my surplus pile lol, I think that I have an idea.

 

Here is what I would need to buy:

 

Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced - Mini-ITX Computer Case with USB 3.0 and Long Graphics Card Support
Intel Core i3-4130 3.4 3 FCLGA 1150 Processor BX80646I34130
Gigabyte Intel H81 Mini ITX DDR3 1600 LGA 1150 Motherboard GA-H81N
Crucial 2GB Ram CT25664BA1339 240-pin DIMM DDR3 (I have a stick of the same at home now)

Stuff that I have already:

480 watt PSU
Crucial 2GB Ram CT25664BA1339 240-pin DIMM DDR3
125 GB Kingston SSD
1 TB USB 3.0 External HDD

 

This only comes out to just under $300. Now, I need to find some good sounding, budget savvy 2.1 speakers. Any suggestions? 

 

That should do the trick, right? 

[LIGISTX]

Yea looks good to me! Honestly, I would even go with the single stick of RAM, see if it is fast enough as a HTPC, if you need more buy the extra stick later. And speakers, well I have heard great reviews of the Corsair speakers, but I think those are close to 200 bucks. I also like Logitech, but I am not too good with budget 2.1 systems. Sorry man. Hopefully someone else will chime in.