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Budget HTPC

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JackJimson

Registered
Joined
Oct 22, 2011
Hi Everyone,

Last year, I planned to upgrade my brother's old PC and convert it into an HTPC.
Unfortunately, I did not realize he was still attached to that PC :bang head.
To make the long story short, he did let me have it :(

I, being the obsessive person that I am, still want an HTPC :)
I compiled a list of parts based on reviews that offer the best bang-for-buck.

CORE COMPONENTS:
69.99 MOBO: Asrock H61M H61M/U3S3
115.00 CPU: Intel i3-2100
39.98 RAM: (2x) 4GB G.Skill DDR3 1333MHz
0.00 GPU: Inno3D GTS250 (reused)
0.00 Sound: Integrated
129.99 HDD: WD Caviar Green WD10EARX 1TB
59.99 Optical: Samsung SH-B123 Blu-ray Combo Drives
44.99 PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430
# Is this enough?
35.00 Case: Cooler Master Elite 343
0.00 Monitor: Reused / TV
0.00 Speakers: Reused
0.00 Peripherals: Resued
189.99 OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
TOTAL: 684.93

ON-THE-FENCE COMPONENTS:
CPU Cooler: CoolerMaster Hyper 212 EVO
# Is this needed?
TV Tuner: TBD
IR Receiver: TBD
# Haven't really done much research yet. Been looking at Antec Multimedia Station Basic.
# But the reviews have been somewhat mixed. Any suggestions for an IR receiver and remote?

My budget is around $750.00

PLANNED SOFTWARE:
XBMC (Or [back-up] Windows Media Center)
K-Lite Codec
Latest Version of Flash

Any comments?
As with my other thread, feel free to use NewEgg for easier reference though I won't be getting it from them.

I want to keep this build as cheap as possible but not at the expense of quality.
The primary role of this rig is a media center for our TV.
Secondary roles are probably as a media encoder/ripper, file server, very light gaming rig.

I'll start the build/buying parts around May this year due to budget and time constraints.
Hopefully some parts are cheaper by then or I may update the plan to account for new releases (i.e. IvyBridge)
 
IMO, go with a mini ITX build, much smaller, quieter and a lot less invasive. You could go with an I3 2100S (TDP @ 65W) and use the Intel HD Graphics 3000 for the GPU, as for a HSF, the Thermaltake Slim X3 does a fair job for a low profile cooler. 1TB might be overkill if your JUST using it to watch movies, If you are, I would just go with a 300-500GB Hard Drive. Optical Drive is great for movies. A lot of the Mini ITX Cases have built in PSU's so you want to be careful of how much hardware you want to go with. If you want to go with a MicroATX, that's entirely up to you :thup:
 
Itx cases are great for the small footprint, but are cramped to work in. Don't use the 250 for the gpu. It isn't as good (or as up to date) as the intel hd graphics.
 
Thanks a lot for the replies.

Just want to express a few thoughts though.
Can Intel's HD Graphics 3000 really outperform an Nvidia GeForce GTS 250?
My impression is discrete cards are generally better than integrated ones.
Basing it on PassMark, only the Intel HD i7-2760QM outperforms the GTS 250.

I was thinking updating the latest graphic drivers would suffice and give good performance.
My objective was to keep the cost as low as I can. I hoped my old GTS 250 can help me to do so.
So, I'm a bit biased in using it (rather than be it lying around and gathering dust). :)

If I do go with integrated graphics, how much better will it be compared to using my GTS 250?

A few articles I've read with regard to the topic:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/intel-hd-graphics-3000-performance-review/8
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/319915-33-intel-3000-sufficient-htpc
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2215259

Another thought, if I go with integrated graphics, would AMD be better?
I was thinking a AMD A8-3850 or A8-3870 Llano 3.0GHz.

Thanks again! :)
 
The 2100 has Intel HD2000 not HD3000 graphics. You'll need to get the 2125 to get HD 3000. I've recently build a HTPC system based on the 2100 (HD2000 graphics) and find this was a sweet system. It's relatively low power which help to minimize noise. For HTPC this is more than adequate. You don't need a discrete card, just more power and more heat to dissipate. Also, since you can't OC non K Intel chips, there's no need for an aftermarket HSF.
 
If you don't want to use integrated graphics I'd go with a gt430. Much better for htpc use (the 250 isn't terrible, just old/incomplete codec support) and it is more powerful than the 250 for games too.
 
Options

I definitely don't want to thread-jack, but it sounds like you and I are building similar systems and I wanted to pitch my ideas and see if these ideas might suit your needs too.

Case: Ark Mini-ITX PI-01-SB with built in power ($39.99)
CPU: Intel Core-i3-2120 Sandy Bridge ($119)
MB: BIOSTAR TH61 ($67.99)
RAM: 8GB Team Elite DDR3 1333 ($36.99)
DVD: Samsung Blu-ray combo drive (57.99)

I have the OS (Win 7) and HDD (don't remember the brand, but 500 GB SATA 3.5")

I am really just looking to run the HULU desktop app. The BR is for some use in the future. I picked up the Lenovo wireless keyboard/mouse N5902 for $44.

It looks like our builds are similar in cost and power, but maybe some of these items will fit your needs. The case/power are my only real concern, but the case has some breathing room, so hopefully it wil cool ok, especially if it's only pulling streaming video via HULU and maybe some BR. I think you were thinking of some game, so the onboard video may not suffice. However, the onboard audio output optical to a stereo should be nice.

If you guys want me to take this to it's own thread, I will do that too.
 
@PanteraGSTK
Thanks for the suggestion.
I'll look into the GT 430 and see if I can fit it in the budget.

May I ask if you know a source which lists the video codecs per GPU?
I'm curious on other factors I need to consider when comparing GPUs, so I can have a more informed decisions in the future. My default is looking at GPU benchmarks + cost when deciding.

@Lepre-con
I don't mind :D

If you're open to the idea, you may want to consider a Llano instead of an i3. Though not as good as an i3 in terms of CPU processing power, it makes up for it in GPU performance. If I go with a Discrete-less GPU built, I'll probably go with that.

Personally, I don't like using built-in PSUs. They're usually cheaper but your system as whole don't last as long. In my case, as cost is a major concern, I'm still looking for an affordable HTPC case (one without a power supply and has good reviews). I'll probably stick with an mATX if I can't find one though.
 
@PanteraGSTK
Thanks for the suggestion.
I'll look into the GT 430 and see if I can fit it in the budget.

May I ask if you know a source which lists the video codecs per GPU?
I'm curious on other factors I need to consider when comparing GPUs, so I can have a more informed decisions in the future. My default is looking at GPU benchmarks + cost when deciding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo

The 250 you have has the same version as the 430, but there have been additions to what the GPU can process that isn't in that list. The 430 will be MUCH better at deinterlacing and things like that.
 
Go with an OEM Win 7 Home Premium and you can drop nearly $100 of the cost. Think about using the $100 for a SSD for the OS. Between UEFI bios and an SSD you HTPC will boot wicked fast!

If you have a 3.5 bay up front think about an iMon based IR receiver. I bought the basic. It plugs into the power system so you can turn the HTPC on via the remote. The iMon software works fairly well controlling XBMC.

I'm not sure where you are getting your prices from, but on Newegg you can get a 1TB WD green drive for $89 and a 2TB HD goes for about $119.
 
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