Another day, another media PC

[flibberdipper]

The urge to make one of these for a later date has struck. Small(ish), sexy(ish), and 4K capable. But... Need to know a few things.

 

1. Will I need a video card to do 4k video at or better than 30 FPS? If I do, needs to be quiet (but not passive), and not make a ton of heat. GTX 750/750Ti, maybe?
2. What kind of cooler can I shove in here that is cheap and will keep things frosty?
3. Should I get a bigger hard drive (assume there will be typical 1080p movies on there, and quite a few of them)?
4. Should I get more RAM (futureproofing)?

And yes, I went overkill on the motherboard and case, but the case is nice looking, fairly easy to work with, has good storage options, and will help with airflow a bit, and the motherboard has everything I need with nothing I don't.

 

And here's the build.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($68.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer  ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($96.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $589.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-07 22:12 EDT-0400

[AlwaysFSX]

Get an i3 instead of a Pentium and GPU. It can run 4k easy and should cost less overall.

[soaringchicken]

Wow I thought you meant 4k games for a second :0. But yeah i3 should do it fine even for 4k video.But I wouldn't buy an asrock mobo. Get something like an asus or gigabyte one. :3

[SAV1OUR]

hows this for a gpu? passive and powerful 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-112150440g

 

[CatCloud]

No Afro in this build?

[cesrai]

Why not the G3258 or the X4 750K, also @SAV1OUR said the R7 250

[cesrai]

Get an i3 instead of a Pentium and GPU. It can run 4k easy and should cost less overall.

But if he will get a GPU then why will an i3 be better than the Pentium.

[flibberdipper]

hows this for a gpu? passive and powerful 

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-112150440g

 

Ew, no passive. I hate passive cards.

 

Get an i3 instead of a Pentium and GPU. It can run 4k easy and should cost less overall.

What if I got some kind of cheap GPU to throw in? Would it still be cheaper to get just the i3?

Why not the G3258 or the X4 750K, also @SAV1OUR said the R7 250

This one is just a slight amount slower, so...

 

Wow I thought you meant 4k games for a second :0. But yeah i3 should do it fine even for 4k video.But I wouldn't buy an asrock mobo. Get something like an asus or gigabyte one. :3

I had thought about that mobo thing. But look at what I replied to the froggie's comment.

[cesrai]

Ew, no passive. I hate passive cards.

 

What if I got some kind of cheap GPU to throw in? Would it still be cheaper to get just the i3?

This one is just a slight amount slower, so...

 

I had thought about that mobo thing. But look at what I replied to the froggie's comment.

But you can OC the Pentium G3258 with the stock cooler in the future.

 

Also @tmcclelland455 you don't need a expensive motherboard to OC the Pentium.

[cesrai]

Hi you can get the R7 260X it's a cool card it's cheaper than the 750Ti, but I think you should get the R7 260x or the 750 non Ti.

 

here you go a video by Austin I think it will help you

 

 

or this video by linus

 

 

if you got the 750 non Ti don't get fooled buy the 2GB versions get the 1 GB it will be so great for your needs and now I think the 750 maybe cheaper than the R7 260X,

I hope this will help you.

[natelliot123]

get apu, no need to buy separate gpu just to watch movies

[flibberdipper]

But you can OC the Pentium G3258 with the stock cooler in the future.

 

Also @tmcclelland455 you don't need a expensive motherboard to OC the Pentium.

I know both of those things.

 

And here's the new part list.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($59.99 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card: PNY GeForce GT 730 1GB Video Card  ($64.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($68.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 

Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer  ($43.00 @ Amazon) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($96.99 @ Best Buy) 

Total: $639.91

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-08 09:52 EDT-0400

[flibberdipper]

get apu, no need to buy separate gpu just to watch movies

I rather hate APUs. You make up for not buying a GPU with buying more RAM with higher clock speeds. I did this before this build.

[natelliot123]

I rather hate APUs. You make up for not buying a GPU with buying more RAM with higher clock speeds. I did this before this build.

why do u hate it?

its perfect for ur situation

higher memories are just 10-20$ costlier than normal ones, why add 150$ gpu just to watch 4k movies. u add gpu to play games.

instead i would get that 3tb 100$ seagate hdd

[cesrai]

Why not get a Gigabyte Brix or Intel NUC or Zotac Mini PCs + hybrid drive + OS

 

example: *bad one very poor example*

 

Gigabyte Mini PC Barebone Intel Core i5-4570R 3.2GHz Iris Pro Graphic 5200 : 470$

 

Seagate Desktop 1 TB Solid State Hybrid Drive : 78$

 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($96.99 @ Best Buy)

 

~645$

[cesrai]

Why not get a Gigabyte Brix or Intel NUC or Zotac Mini PCs + hybrid drive + OS

 

example: *bad one very poor example*

 

Gigabyte Mini PC Barebone Intel Core i5-4570R 3.2GHz Iris Pro Graphic 5200 : 470$

Seagate Desktop 1 TB Solid State Hybrid Drive : 78$

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($96.99 @ Best Buy) 

~645$

[cesrai]

I rather hate APUs. You make up for not buying a GPU with buying more RAM with higher clock speeds. I did this before this build.

But you aren't going to be gaming right?

[cesrai]

why do u hate it?

its perfect for ur situation

higher memories are just 10-20$ costlier than normal ones, why add 150$ gpu just to watch 4k movies. u add gpu to play games.

instead i would get that 3tb 100$ seagate hdd

I think raid 1 two 1 TB HDD's is better.

[AlwaysFSX]

What if I got some kind of cheap GPU to throw in? Would it still be cheaper to get just the i3?

The one thing I can guarantee is that unlike a cheap gpu, an i3 can run 4k smoothly.

But if he will get a GPU then why will an i3 be better than the Pentium.

*facedesk* Don't get a gpu.

[flibberdipper]

why do u hate it?

its perfect for ur situation

higher memories are just 10-20$ costlier than normal ones, why add 150$ gpu just to watch 4k movies. u add gpu to play games.

instead i would get that 3tb 100$ seagate hdd

CPU is weak, and I would have to get an aftermarket cooler so I didn't have to deal with a hairdrier.

 

But you aren't going to be gaming right?

Maybe a little bit (Super Crate Box, Plants vs Zombies), but Steam In-Home Streaming will probably happen.

 

The one thing I can guarantee is that unlike a cheap gpu, an i3 can run 4k smoothly.

*facedesk* Don't get a gpu.

So... Like this?

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Amazon)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($19.99 @ Best Buy)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Kingston Fury Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Amazon)

Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($68.99 @ NCIX US)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ Amazon)

Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer  ($43.00 @ Amazon)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($96.99 @ Best Buy)

Total: $634.91

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-08 13:14 EDT-0400

[cesrai]

CPU is weak, and I would have to get an aftermarket cooler so I didn't have to deal with a hairdrier.

 

Maybe a little bit (Super Crate Box, Plants vs Zombies), but Steam In-Home Streaming will probably happen.

 

So... Like this? Only thing I don't like is the mobo, so I might see about a different one.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Kingston Fury Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($36.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Intel 520 Series Cherryville 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($53.99 @ Amazon)

Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($68.99 @ NCIX US)

Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ Amazon)

Optical Drive: Pioneer BDC-207DBK Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer  ($43.00 @ Amazon)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($96.99 @ Best Buy)

Total: $624.92

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-08 13:05 EDT-0400

Why not a hybrid drive it will be a little bit cheaper and no need for 80+ gold 80+ bronze is good enough unless you are paying too much for electricity.

[flibberdipper]

Why not a hybrid drive it will be a little bit cheaper and no need for 80+ gold 80+ bronze is good enough unless you are paying too much for electricity.

Oh, jeez. Didn't even notice it was the CS430M,  not the CX430M. And it will only be used for movies, so the speed boost wouldn't be that noticeable. I'll fix that PSU issue right now though.

[cesrai]

Oh, jeez. Didn't even notice it was the CS430M,  not the CX430M. And it will only be used for movies, so the speed boost wouldn't be that noticeable. I'll fix that PSU issue right now though.

Yeah just reply to me please make your 15000 post a reply to me please

[flibberdipper]

Yeah just reply to me please make your 15000 post a reply to me please

First off, *CS450M.

 

Second, too late.

[cesrai]

First off, *CS450M.

 

Second, too late.

don't care will add to my signature your 15002 post was a reply to me and I'm the first to congratulate you right?