A $600 HTPC.

[AmericanToto]

I am trying to get my friend into the master race, and he wants a $600 console looking build with os ( if steam os is available, then that will work) he has no preferences, but AMD because he will want mantle. He doesn't need a monitor, but needs an keyboard and mouse if steam os needs it.

[theghettosponge]

Not sure about the parts but you may want to consider an nvidia graphics card due to heat output in a small case. The gtx 750 ti is on sale right now and would be a great choice for a small "console killer" build.

[ComradeHX]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: ASRock B85M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($56.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card  ($164.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Corsair 350D MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($40.98 @ Newegg) 

Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($26.85 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $579.76

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-04 17:26 EST-0500

 

I picked an unnecessarily "expensive" case because I think it looks nice.

 

Go cheap on case for a better cpu:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4360 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($148.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock B85M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($56.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card  ($164.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Rosewill FBM-02 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($24.98 @ OutletPC) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($40.98 @ Newegg) 

Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($26.85 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $593.74

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-04 17:29 EST-0500

[mosin40]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard  ($93.29 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($71.99 @ Amazon) 

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

Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 285 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card  ($214.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($44.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($54.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $624.23

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-04 17:35 EST-0500

[OpticFusion]

 or you could spend more and get a Lian Li PC-Q19.

[FearMe]

 

 or you could spend more and get a Lian Li PC-Q19.

 

 

a

[OpticFusion]

 

 

 

 

 

a

 

I edited it before and meant to say a Lian Li PC-Q19.

[SkimmyMcG]

 

 

Go cheap on case for a better cpu:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4360 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($148.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: ASRock B85M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($56.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($79.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.99 @ NCIX US) 

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card  ($164.99 @ Newegg) 

Case: Rosewill FBM-02 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($24.98 @ OutletPC) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($40.98 @ Newegg) 

Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse  ($26.85 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $593.74

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-04 17:29 EST-0500

 

I like this one, I'd change the case, though. But that's because I don't like the look of it.