$500+ SteamOS/HTPC Build

[JMTHEFOX]

I have planned to build for $500+ Steam Machine for heavy Linux gaming and Kodi use. The reason for this is that I am new to Linux and I am very interested in SteamOS since I have some Linux games on Steam. Also, I want to build this since my mom has a TV hanging on her wall in her room. She is gonna have someone put it in my room later. I thought the TV is perfect for this build.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($62.89 @ OutletPC) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($43.99 @ NCIX US) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($51.88 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 950 2GB Superclocked+ ACX 2.0 Video Card  ($159.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: Silverstone ML07B HTPC Case  ($66.98 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Silverstone 450W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Keyboard: Logitech K400 Wireless Slim Keyboard w/Touchpad  ($25.69 @ Amazon) 

Total: $583.30

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-05 18:17 EST-0500

 

As always, feedback and opinions are always welcome.

[alexhelvetica]

Get this GPU instead

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100374itxocl

Also get the EVGA G2 or GS instead.

[JMTHEFOX]

Get this GPU instead

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100374itxocl

Also get the EVGA G2 or GS instead.

The EVGA GS/G2 is incompatible with the case.

 

 

Also, I read that games on Linux struggle on AMD cards.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2934504/why-you-should-avoid-amd-and-get-a-steam-machine-with-nvidias-geforce-graphics.html

[Streetguru]

 

I have planned to build for $500+ Steam Machine for heavy Linux gaming and Kodi use. The reason for this is that I am new to Linux and I am very interested in SteamOS since I have some Linux

It's still not very possible to game directly on linux, you'd want to do something like a GPU passthrough to a windows virtual machine, or stream the game from your main PC also get a 380 over a 950, it's certainly worth the extra 30 dollars or so

[JMTHEFOX]

It's still not very possible to game directly on linux, you'd want to do something like a GPU passthrough to a windows virtual machine, or stream the game from your main PC also get a 380 over a 950, it's certainly worth the extra 30 dollars or so

For the R380, I chose the MSI one.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.89 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($62.89 @ OutletPC) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($43.99 @ NCIX US) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($51.88 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 2GB Video Card  ($176.98 @ Newegg) 

Case: Silverstone ML07B HTPC Case  ($66.98 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Silverstone 450W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 

Keyboard: Logitech K400 Wireless Slim Keyboard w/Touchpad  ($25.69 @ Amazon) 

Total: $600.29

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-05 19:24 EST-0500

[JMTHEFOX]

Massive bump. Now with an Intel Core i5, a Cooler Master case, an ASUS Strix Radeon 4GB, and ADATA ram!

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($62.99 @ Directron) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($37.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($49.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card  ($204.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($51.98 @ Newegg) 

Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN823N 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($13.77 @ Amazon) 

Keyboard: Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Mini Keyboard w/Touchpad  ($24.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $656.67

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-18 19:07 EST-0500

 

As always, feedback and suggestions are strongly welcome.

[Streetguru]

 

Massive bump. Now with an Intel Core i5, a Cooler Master case, an ASUS Strix Radeon 4GB, and ADATA ram!

Don't use a USB wifi adapter for heavy traffic

 

This board comes with a mini PCI-e wifi card, go for that, it doesn't cost much more than that board, and there's a few more boards as well that have that built in

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h97mitxac