New build for HTPC and console replacement

[Piggy]

I've been considering building a new computer to use as an HTPC, but also want to be able to play games on it (this will be replacing my PS4), I don't want a steam machine, so don't say that. I have this build mocked up, but I obviously want a different processor but that was just a low cost placeholder. I want it to be in the Hadron Air, so mITX, and it has to be able to run GTA V at 40-60fps @1080p. Lowest cost is best, could care less about AMD/Intel/nVidia because I am just using this for gaming, so I don't need fancy shmancy graphics cards or CPUs, just capable of running GTA V with a few mods installed. Price range is around $750 but I will be purchasing these parts on black friday/cyber monday. Any help on this build would be much appreciated. 

[Monkey Dust]

Well there aren't any worthwhile mITX AMD boards so that settles the AMD vs Intel debate, any i5 would work well. If you possibly can, I'd push the budget to a 970 rather than 960 as it is a good bit faster for not much extra money.

[Piggy]

If I went to a smaller mATX case, what AMD processor would you go for?

[MrSpeed]

i hope you like it

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($176.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($110.86 @ Mwave)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($47.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 380 4GB PCS+ Video Card  ($223.98 @ Newegg)
Case: EVGA Hadron Mini ITX Tower Case w/500W Power Supply  ($132.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $735.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-13 16:52 EDT-0400

[Starelementpoke]

Scratch that, tell me why you decided to use the psu the case comes with?

[Starelementpoke]

Well there aren't any worthwhile mITX AMD boards so that settles the AMD vs Intel debate, any i5 would work well. If you possibly can, I'd push the budget to a 970 rather than 960 as it is a good bit faster for not much extra money.

He won't be able to fit the 970 without having to modify the case.

[Nena Trinity]

Most HTPCs cant have any big GPU or in some cases no GPU at all so try A10-7870K?

 

Consoles has A10-6800K last time I checked so...

[Starelementpoke]

AMD:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rMvM7P
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rMvM7P/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($18.75 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard  ($89.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($95.24 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($46.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R7 370 4GB Video Card  ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Case: EVGA Hadron Mini ITX Tower Case w/500W Power Supply  ($132.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $680.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-13 17:20 EDT-0400

 

This is most likely what you'd be getting for an AMD build. Its less about raw power(which you can get by a cpu overclock if need be) and getting a bit more bells and whistles in exchange, while being pretty cheap, and having money left over for whatever else you'll need. It comes with the X4 860k, which isn't a bad quad core cpu. It comes with the brand new R9 270 R9 370, one in AMD's brand new line of gpus. You get an ssd for speedy boot up times, and for your game to load fast. There are cons like with everything in the world. My confidence about this running gta 1080 40-60 fps is a little 50/50, but I honestly can't see why. If you turn off the AA, and dial back the details a bit, you should be fine. Another down side is that at mITX, there are no AMD quad channel boards, so you might be a little limited with options ram upgrades, but it shouldn't be too bad. My final warning is the psu. PSUs that come with cases don't exactly have a good reputation, and with this build using about more than half of the psu's max voltage, I have no clue what its longivity will be, nor if it'll be that quiet or be that efficent, meaning your power bill might go up, but lets hope for the best.

 

Intel:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7n6wvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/7n6wvK/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($184.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H97I AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory  ($42.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($38.50 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 380 4GB SOC Video Card  ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Case: EVGA Hadron Mini ITX Tower Case w/500W Power Supply  ($132.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $749.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-13 17:41 EDT-0400

 

The good things about this build is simple. You should have 0 problems on trying to run GTA at 1080p 40-60 fps on this. Although, you give up a good bit of bells and whistles fior this. Addtionally, this build draws more power than the other, so the remark about the psu I made in the other build list stays. Addtionally, this build is a good deal more pricey. Feel free to change out the gpus in each to one you'll want, but the questionability of the psu would most likly still come into question. Hope this helps! 

[Starelementpoke]

Most HTPCs cant have any big GPU or in some cases no GPU at all so try A10-7870K?

 

Consoles has A10-6800K last time I checked so...

HTPC can have big gpus. They usually don't becase they're not ment to play anyhting more heavy than pacman or watch youtube. And the consles don;t have the 6800k. Whoever feed you that marlarky is bullshiting you. Consles have a speacially designed 8 core apu by amd. Besides, the only reason the consle run those games at any res. or frame rate is because the develepors have to spend more time optimizting the game, so that it'll even run on the consle. Addtionally, the PC version is far more demanding. You try putting it on the consle, and it'll just fart shit back at you.

[Piggy]

Scratch that, tell me why you decided to use the psu the case comes with?

Thanks for the help with the parts lists, I want to use that PSU because it's actually a high quality one, if I can remember correctly the Tek Syndicate review on them said it was rated 80+ gold, making it efficient.

[Starelementpoke]

Thanks for the help with the parts lists, I want to use that PSU because it's actually a high quality one, if I can remember correctly the Tek Syndicate review on them said it was rated 80+ gold, making it efficient.

I hope your right, cause if not your power bill ain't going to agree with your wallet. You sure it was that, and he wasn't just subbing in a diffrent one?

[Piggy]

Pretty sure it does, at the bottom of EVGA's Product Page on it, it says it has an 80+gold 500w PSU

[Monkey Dust]

He won't be able to fit the 970 without having to modify the case.

 You can get mITX 970s that are a good bit shorter than regular ones.