Building nettop that compares to Aspire Revo 3610 in price/performance?

[ryangarfield]

Just wondering if anybody could help me in selectng parts that would allow me to build a nettop computer that is comparable to the Acer Aspire Revo 3610 in both price and performance as I am having trouble finding one of them. Would be fine with going a little larger on the case in order to fit everything or make it cheaper. THanks!

[Bullworth]

I don't know of if you can make it cheaper. You can certainly make a better one, albeit, probably larger since the Acer Revo uses all proprietary parts.
The reason I am doubtful if you can make it cheaper is because if building from scratch you need to buy the case, power supply (if not included), motherboard, RAM, Hard Drive, and probably some other things I am forgetting.

Keep in mind that Intel Atom CPUs are soldered directly to the mobo so you are stuck with what you buy.

All these can add up to the same or more of the cost of a mass-produced machine. I know ASRock makes a pretty good machine for around the same price.

If I were to build one from scratch I would use a mobo based on the nVidia ION chipset since for video purposes it supports DXVA whereas for Intel's chipsets are still somewhat lacking in this area.

Before I go too far what purpose will this machine have? The more details the better we can help you out.

[ryangarfield]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. This will be mostly used as an HTPC with some Internet browsing, Youtube, Hulu if possible, stuff like that. The addition of an optical drive (Blu-Ray) might be nice but maybe as an add-on later? I've never built a computer from scratch before, but am up for the challenge so long as its pretty straight forward lol.
Cheers!

[Bullworth]

This is a pretty good mobo for your purposes. Has HDMI and also has Toslink/Coax Digital audio out. I hope you don't have a Phillips LCD because they have problems with the nVidia HDMI audio drivers, so nVidia just disabled audio to any Phillips TV.
Lucky that Adobe released the 10.x Flash Player to optimize playback of the sites you mentioned with the ION chipset.

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500027 $184.99
Case w/300w PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108065 $59.99
4G DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122 $84.99

1TB HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136313 $159.99
or
640GB HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218 $69.99

LG Blu-Ray Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106326 $69.99

You might also want to check this completed one from ASRock. No reviews there but I have read some reviews and many people love it as an HTPC.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856158012&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_m...ock-_-56158012

This isn't the most optimal system but just something I think I would be happy with. I know I currently have an Acer Revo 1600 as my HTPC and and pretty happy with it. Plays all media including 1080P video thanks to DXVA. I have used the case above to build a friend a regular slim PC and while it was a challenge it looks and works fine.

Let me, or anyone else who jumps on, any other questions or concerns you might have. What OS are you planning on using and what front-end? If you're using a 32-bit OS then you can reduce the RAM to 2GB.
I am currently using MediaPortal with XP Pro and have the frontend as the kernel, works like a charm for me. Starting to toy around with XBMC, GB-PVR and other front ends to see what the advantages/disadvantages might be. Keep in mind that if you plan on using this as a PVR you will find out options quite limited for low-profile capture cards.

[Bwizzy]

What a coincidence!! I just built a comparable HTPC for a neighbor. Here are the parts I got for it:
CPU $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103242
HDD $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145287
RAM $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030
Mobo $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324&cm_re=micro_atx_amd_mo...-324-_-Product
PSU $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159087&cm_re=modular_power_su...-087-_-Product
Case $55
I put this together with little to no problems. He load windows on it and had me install XBMC which Bullworth just referred to. WIth the motherboard he has, he can upgrade his CPU anytime he likes. Click through the links and check it out.

[Bullworth]

Nice choices. Much cheaper than mine

Where is the link for the case?

[Bwizzy]

Oh snap, I forgot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121027

[Bullworth]

This heatsink is perfect for the case and much quieter than the stock HSF the processor would come with.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185097