HTPC Build Ideas

[Hikaru12]

Alright so I'm planning on building a HTPC to stream Blurays and DVD's to my new TV that I just got for my room. I also want it to replace my PS3 for gaming (since I don't want to go out and spend money on a subpar PS4).

 

Here's what I'm thinking:
-Intel 3570 CPU (non K edition, it was a left over from a build)
-Asus 660TI
-P8Z77-I Mini ITX (to match the desktop Mobo which is the premium edition) - might replace this for another board since I can't overclock the chip anyway and I just want Bluetooth and WiFi which can be expanded with a card -
-Antec Neo Eco 500W PSU (quiet but non-modular)

-16GB Sniper RAM (I'm going to transfer this from my main build and pop in some Vengeance RAM in that one)

-Kingston SV300 SSD (120GB)

-500GB WD drive

-Windows 7 Ultimate with XMBC installed on top
-BitFenix Prodigy or CoolerMaster 120 Case
 

I'm looking on spending around $500-$700. Thoughts?
 

[M-ursu]

Get a APU and save some money.

[piplupgao]

Get a APU and save some money.

Why, he already has a 3570

[M-ursu]

Why, he already has a 3570

Then he can use igpu.

[TheMail]

TBH, I think you would be better off using the CPU and GPU for something else (or even selling them if you dont need em), since both of those components are total overkill for something to stream Bluray's and dvd's.

Hell, even the RAM is overkill

[Canoas]

Is that going to be your primary gaming machine or will it be complementing your main rig?

 

Either way don't get a 660ti, a 760 is better and it costs the same, and you don't need 16GB ram, get 8 tops.

[ciprian97pop]

Alright so I'm planning on building a HTPC to stream Blurays and DVD's to my new TV that I just got for my room. I also want it to replace my PS3 for gaming (since I don't want to go out and spend money on a subpar PS4).

 

Here's what I'm thinking:

-Intel 3570 CPU (non K edition, it was a left over from a build)

-Asus 660TI

-P8Z77-I Mini ITX (to match the desktop Mobo which is the premium edition) - might replace this for another board since I can't overclock the chip anyway and I just want Bluetooth and WiFi which can be expanded with a card -

-Antec Neo Eco 500W PSU (quiet but non-modular)

-16GB Sniper RAM (I'm going to transfer this from my main build and pop in some Vengeance RAM in that one)

-Kingston SV300 SSD (120GB)

-500GB WD drive

-Windows 7 Ultimate with XMBC installed on top

-BitFenix Prodigy or CoolerMaster 120 Case

 

I'm looking on spending around $500-$700. Thoughts?

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($103.97 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($177.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card  ($189.99 @ Newegg) 

Case:  Silverstone SST-FT03B-MINI (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($129.50 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply:  Silverstone 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified SFX12V Power Supply  ($59.98 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $661.43

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-14 14:58 EDT-0400)

any thoughts?

[ciprian97pop]

Then he can use igpu.

33830022.jpg

 

 

TBH, I think you would be better off using the CPU and GPU for something else (or even selling them if you dont need em), since both of those components are total overkill for something to stream Bluray's and dvd's.

Hell, even the RAM is overkill

 

 

Is that going to be your primary gaming machine or will it be complementing your main rig?

 

Either way don't get a 660ti, a 760 is better and it costs the same, and you don't need 16GB ram, get 8 tops.

He wants this build to replace his PS3 for gaming

[TheMail]

edit, nvm

[TheMail]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($103.97 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($177.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card  ($189.99 @ Newegg) 

Case:  Silverstone SST-FT03B-MINI (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($129.50 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply:  Silverstone 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified SFX12V Power Supply  ($59.98 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $661.43

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-14 14:58 EDT-0400)

any thoughts?

 

 

+1, Silverstone's HTPC cases are godly

[Canoas]

Also, if it's going to store movies/series then I would trade the ssd for a bigger storage drive.

[Hikaru12]

Is that going to be your primary gaming machine or will it be complementing your main rig?

 

Either way don't get a 660ti, a 760 is better and it costs the same, and you don't need 16GB ram, get 8 tops.

 

This will be complimenting my main rig. However, I'd much rather prefer playing most of my games on the big screen so I need to have sufficient gaming horsepower. I'll also be streaming most of the movies from a home server.

[Canoas]

This will be complimenting my main rig. However, I'd much rather prefer playing most of my games on the big screen so I need to have sufficient gaming horsepower.

 

Why don't you just get something that lets you stream from your pc to your tv?

[Hikaru12]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

 

CPU:  Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  (Purchased For $0.00) 

Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($103.97 @ Amazon) 

Storage:  Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($177.99 @ Amazon) 

Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card  ($189.99 @ Newegg) 

Case:  Silverstone SST-FT03B-MINI (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case  ($129.50 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply:  Silverstone 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified SFX12V Power Supply  ($59.98 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $661.43

(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-14 14:58 EDT-0400)

any thoughts?

 

 

I like this build but I don't particularly care for that case. I think the vid card might be a little more than I need but it's priced great and it has 3GB RAM. Hmm...

 

 

 

Why don't you just get something that lets you stream from your pc to your tv?

I want something small and I want to bypass my PC completely. If I were to go that route it would save me money because I have Windows 8 on the desktop.

 

[ciprian97pop]

I like this build but I don't particularly care for that case. I think the vid card might be a little more than I need but it's priced great and it has 3GB RAM. Hmm...

 

 

 

I want something small and I want to bypass my PC completely. If I were to go that route it would save me money because I have Windows 8 on the desktop.

 

also, get a liquid cooler if it fits in your buget. In this case, anything from corsair will do(H50-H80)

[Hikaru12]

also, get a liquid cooler if it fits in your buget. In this case, anything from corsair will do(H50-H80)

 

Is the stock cooler not good enough since the chip won't be overclocked? Would I be able to fit a prefilled liquid cooler in that Prodigy case? It's not that I don't really have anything against the SilverStone but I just think that case looks too tall.

[ciprian97pop]

Is the stock cooler not good enough since the chip won't be overclocked? Would I be able to fit a prefilled liquid cooler in that Prodigy case? It's not that I don't really have anything against the SilverStone but I just think that case looks too tall.

if you still want to use a prodigy, I would still get an aftermarket cooler. something small from noctua

even if you can't overclock the cpu, it will keep it cooler and it will last longer

[Hikaru12]

Thanks for the suggestions.