HTPC Decisions

sgloux3470 · January 16, 2015

Alright so this build won't happen anytime soon (and by the time it does I'll probably have all new components to choose from) but I wanted to get some input from you guys.

I was thinking of building a networked mineral oil HTPC I could use as a bit of a living room showpiece and a way to use stream games and other content from my PC. One of the things I'm not yet decided on however is whether or not I should go with an APU, an i3 with an iGPU or the cheapest CPU I can find and a passively cooled dGPU like Sapphire's 250. http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1226&pid=2130&lid=1

I'm not sure how the prices stack up between an i3 + motherboard with a display port output (future proofing) versus a g3220 + r7 250 + motherboard compare. Moreover, I'm not sure how graphics performance may affect streaming capabilities. I think the system would probably look cooler with the r7 250 offering a cohesive fin look with some sort of air cooler heatsink on the CPU, and I got to admit that skews the decision a bit for me. But by the time I end up building it, there may be something better to put in there. (I'd also like to keep it mini-ITX if possible, to keep the costs down on mineral oil and make it easier to transport.) Another concern is whether or not I could completely passively cool it. I'd like to keep it as a little box without having to hook up a radiator, and the best way to do that while keeping it small is to limit the sources of heat. (Chances are I could get away with just circulating the water with a pump, or a small 120mm radiator on the back.)

So I guess personally I'm leaning to the g3220 + r7 250 for aesthetics, but I'm mostly just curious if dGPU vs iGPU makes a difference for HTPC game/video streaming.

007agentHP · January 16, 2015

i recommend 5960X and gtx titan z sli....................... /sarcasm

i would go with the g3258 and the r7 250, as it is the best . (then overclock the SH*T out of the Pentium)

second option would be amd a10 7850k

third would be the i3

Najuno · January 16, 2015

I´ve got in my HTPC an i5 4430 with an Asus H81 mATX board with a GTX750Ti. That was ok in the first place and usually is for just a true HTPC. I didn´t cheap out on parts so I made sure that I run dual channel 2x4 GB G.Skill DDR31600 CL9-9-9-9 and a Kingston 120GB SSD. I know, that for a HTPC, that´s a bit overkill but I actually enjoy having a decent performance off that machine when I need it. I added a good WiFi adapter in PCIe there and the built fits very good into my hifi stuff in my living room.

It is a bit bigger than most HTPCs but that´s not an issue from me personally, though mITX or even NUC is really sexy, but I couldn´t fit the hardware I wanted to have, because later down the road I´ll add a much more potent GPU in there.

sgloux3470 · January 16, 2015

I´ve got in my HTPC an i5 4430 with an Asus H81 mATX board with a GTX750Ti. That was ok in the first place and usually is for just a true HTPC. I didn´t cheap out on parts so I made sure that I run dual channel 2x4 GB G.Skill DDR31600 CL9-9-9-9 and a Kingston 120GB SSD. I know, that for a HTPC, that´s a bit overkill but I actually enjoy having a decent performance off that machine when I need it. I added a good WiFi adapter in PCIe there and the built fits very good into my hifi stuff in my living room.

It is a bit bigger than most HTPCs but that´s not an issue from me personally, though mITX or even NUC is really sexy, but I couldn´t fit the hardware I wanted to have, because later down the road I´ll add a much more potent GPU in there.

There is something to be said for buying decent components, since they won't likely ever be swapped out due to the hassle with the mineral oil.

Najuno · January 16, 2015

There is something to be said for buying decent components, since they won't likely ever be swapped out due to the hassle with the mineral oil.

Personally I´ve had mineral oil PCs on my mind for quite some time but the fact, that if you have to do some maintenance, it gets really messy and you also need (maybe not for an APU with a overall low TDP rig) a radiator for the heat exchange made it a bit unattractive for me. Buying quality components in the first place is something that I´ll always vote for.

I´d never cheap out on a mainboard, CPU or PSU. There are some nice kits out on the market where you get the tank and mounts and all you need to make a nice good working built .