Building a cheap HTPC

[Zetti]

Hi all,

I am considering building a cheap-but-good HTPC, basically I just need something to work as a media player in my living room;

Please, does anyone have recommendations about MOBO, Video card, etc ?

It will be a media player only, so the HDD will be small (it will read from my NAS), and all I will need will be basically a powerful video processor;

I believe I'll need a GOOD video card with HDMI output for all video/audio formats, a "cheap" MOBO, not that much of memory, etc, etc;

Recommendations are welcome

Thanks a lot,

Zetti

[usually_quiet]

What parts do you want recommendations for, or do you want a list of parts for complete system? Will you use Windows or Linux as the OS, since Linux drivers aren't available for every possible component?

What is your budget in dollars, not including the cost of the OS? "Cheap" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone.

[Zetti]

I'll be using Windows, I am basically interested in a list of hardware components;

I don't have a defined budget, but as I said it is not a problem say to buy an expensive video card, while on the other hand the other components won't need to be "top-notch";

Thanks,

Zetti

[jagabo]

I believe I'll need a GOOD video card

No. Integrated video is good enough for playing video these days. Any of the dual core or better AMD APUs will do. Any of the dual core or better Intel CPUs with built in GPU will do.

The exception would be if you plan on trying to do a lot of realtime filtering using the GPU while playing. Then you might need better graphics. But you can always add a graphics card later if necessary. Try the built in GPUs first.

[usually_quiet]

I'll be using Windows, I am basically interested in a list of hardware components;

I don't have a defined budget, but as I said it is not a problem say to buy an expensive video card, while on the other hand the other components won't need to be "top-notch";

Thanks,

Zetti

If you have not defined a budget, forget about my help. I have done this before for members of this site, and based on past experience I'm not wasting my time looking at parts for someone who is likely to say, "Well that is really more than I wanted to spend." after I'm done.

P.S. You don't need an expensive video card for an HTPC, unless you want to use it for gaming as well. Even the GPUs integrated with some CPUs are able to bitstream HD audio to a receiver.

[Constant Gardener]

Have you considered a media player such as a WDTV? Works well with networked or USB storage. After I bought a $100 WDTV, I scrapped our aging HTPC. Haven't missed it.

[jagabo]

Yes a standalone media player can be pretty good. They're not as flexible or robust as an HTPC -- you'll always find some videos that the player can't handle but an HTPC can. We got rid of our cable PVR and now use a cablecard tuner with an HTPC instead. That's really the only reason we have an HTPC now.

[Zetti]

Have you considered a media player such as a WDTV? Works well with networked or USB storage. After I bought a $100 WDTV, I scrapped our aging HTPC. Haven't missed it.

Thanks, I have gotten this from their web site:

"FLV file extensions are supported (using a video codec of H.264 and an Audio codec of AAC only) in the latest firmware version for all of the above devices besides the WD TV HD Media Player (Gen 2)."

Please, do you know if it plays FLV files that have been downloaded from You Tube ?

Thanks,

Zetti

[Zetti]

Yes a standalone media player can be pretty good. They're not as flexible or robust as an HTPC -- you'll always find some videos that the player can't handle but an HTPC can. We got rid of our cable PVR and now use a cablecard tuner with an HTPC instead. That's really the only reason we have an HTPC now.

Yes, thanks, a $ 100 media player that handles most video formats would make it for me, otherwise I am tempted to build a "cheap-but-good" HTPC;

Thanks,

Zetti

[newpath]

To Zetti,

Ignore all of the replies to your original post. Watch craigslist for a reasonable PC to meet your needs. I recently purchased, through craigslist, a PC with an ASUS MB, 6-core AMD processor, 6 MB RAM, NVIDIA 8800 video card, and Windows 7 64-bit installed, for $140. The NVIDIA 8800 did not have HDMI output, so I switched it with an NVIDIA 9600 that I had in another machine and I have a superb HTPC system. Especially ignore those who recommend a video player solution because an HTPC will give you far greater capabilities at a fraction of the cost. With an HTPC, you will have access to Windows Media Center, XBMC Media Center, and/or Plex Media Server/Center with no additional cost to you. Pays your money, takes your choice. I'm just sayin'.

[Zetti]

To Zetti,

Ignore all of the replies to your original post. Watch craigslist for a reasonable PC to meet your needs. I recently purchased, through craigslist, a PC with an ASUS MB, 6-core AMD processor, 6 MB RAM, NVIDIA 8800 video card, and Windows 7 64-bit installed, for $140. The NVIDIA 8800 did not have HDMI output, so I switched it with an NVIDIA 9600 that I had in another machine and I have a superb HTPC system. Especially ignore those who recommend a video player solution because an HTPC will give you far greater capabilities at a fraction of the cost. With an HTPC, you will have access to Windows Media Center, XBMC Media Center, and/or Plex Media Server/Center with no additional cost to you. Pays your money, takes your choice. I'm just sayin'.

Thanks, I am considering all options,

Zetti

[redwudz]

My present HTPC uses a three core AMD A6-3500 APU running at 2.1Ghz with a Gigabyte GA-A75M-D2H motherboard. It runs very cool, so also runs quiet, something important for a HTPC. It easily plays Blu-rays from a BD ROM drive and also MKVs and just about any sort of HD video. I output through HDMI for my projector and SP/DIF for my audio out to my audio surround amplifier. I use a 150GB 10K RPM WD HDD for boot. The second HDD is a 1.5TB HDD, also WD.

The APU and the MB and RAM were about $180US. The MB is a Micro-ATX, so fits easily into a small case. A desktop type case can fit in with regular HIFI devices. I use a radio mouse and KB for controlling the HTPC. I always found the Media Center remotes to be awkward.

I also have a WDTV Live, which works very well. But it won't play Blu-Rays, so I tend to use the HTPC more often.

[jagabo]

Also, many Blu-ray players can play videos files off network shares. Playback problems are more common with those though.

[Zetti]

My present HTPC uses a three core AMD A6-3500 APU running at 2.1Ghz with a Gigabyte GA-A75M-D2H motherboard. It runs very cool, so also runs quiet, something important for a HTPC. It easily plays Blu-rays from a BD ROM drive and also MKVs and just about any sort of HD video. I output through HDMI for my projector and SP/DIF for my audio out to my audio surround amplifier. I use a 150GB 10K RPM WD HDD for boot. The second HDD is a 1.5TB HDD, also WD.

The APU and the MB and RAM were about $180US. The MB is a Micro-ATX, so fits easily into a small case. A desktop type case can fit in with regular HIFI devices. I use a radio mouse and KB for controlling the HTPC. I always found the Media Center remotes to be awkward.

I also have a WDTV Live, which works very well. But it won't play Blu-Rays, so I tend to use the HTPC more often.

Thanks a lot for the detailed info, I'll check the prices;

Please, does your WDTV play FLV videos downloaded from yout ube ?

Cheers,

Zetti

[Gramps]

For downloaded YouTube videos, it depends if the video was encoded with H.264 or not. If the video was encoded with VP6 or something, then the WDTV won't play it.

However, the WDTV does have a YouTube app built in that lets you connect to Youtube, browse, search, and access your favorites and playlists. Through the app, the videos all play just fine.

I have a WDTV and I find the built in apps very nice as they also include NetFlix among others. Most HTPCs don't let you access Netflix. No PC that I had to piece together sitting in the living room for my wife to complain about. Anything that the WDTV can't handle, I can still play them through the WDTV via the Serviio server sitting in my office over my home network.

[usually_quiet]

Most HTPCs don't let you access Netflix.

They will if they are based on a recent dual core or better desktop CPU not a wimpy nettop Atom or Zacate CPU.

[Gramps]

It isn't a matter of computer power in accessing Netflix. It depends on if the HTPC software supports it and to what degree.

[jagabo]

It isn't a matter of computer power in accessing Netflix. It depends on if the HTPC software supports it and to what degree.

Just start a web browser. On a Windows PC anyway.

[Gramps]

It isn't a matter of computer power in accessing Netflix. It depends on if the HTPC software supports it and to what degree.

Just start a web browser. On a Windows PC anyway.

That's true, but I don't think you would get the maximum resolution, would you?

I was referring to truer HTPC apps like XBMC, Plex, and Windows Media Center. XBMC and Plex both have problems in that NetFlix is no longer making the APIs available that let those apps plugins function properly. The XBMCFlix plugin used to work, but not anymore. The Plex Media Center NetFlix plugin is reportedly having issues too. I believe the one in WMC works still.

That's why I prefer a standalone media player like the WDTV. It just works without all the hassle of cobbling and tweaking things. I also have a Raspberry Pi with XBMC and it is very cool, but it still requires a bit of playing with to have things work right. I know many techies enjoy the challenge of getting things to work properly, and I used to, but why bother if you can buy a device for less money than a PC, is one quarter the size that avoids all the fiddling.

[usually_quiet]

It isn't a matter of computer power in accessing Netflix. It depends on if the HTPC software supports it and to what degree.

Just start a web browser. On a Windows PC anyway.

...or access Netflix with Windows 7's Media Center or with the Netflix App for Windows 8.

Computer power does have a lot to do with it because Netflix presently uses Silverlight 5, which the CPU has to decrypt when a using a computer to watch a movie. Intel Atom CPUs and AMD E-series APUS don't have enough computing power to do that job quickly enough to provide smooth playback for HD Netflix movies.

[DarrellS]

Other things to consider are what video card you have, what TV you have and how far the TV is from your PC. You may only need to buy a couple of cables. A lot of people refuse to use anything longer than 15 feet but cable up to 45' is certified to pass HDMI compliance tests. Some places sell HDMI cables 50' or longer. This website has gotten 480p without loss at 175'. 720p and 1080i at 150' and 1080p at 125'. This was with good quality cable. lower quality cable can carry today's 1080p at 50' but tomorrow's 1080p may not work on that 50' cable without a booster.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/how-long-can-hdmi-run.htm

USB cable is certified at 16ft without a repeater or powered USB hub. You could use a cordless keyboard and mouse to control the PC from the living room if it isn't too far from the TV.

Just some options if you don't have a lot of money to spend. I had my Hauppauge 1212 connected to my PC with a 6' USB cable and a 15' USB cable (which was the longest I could find) without signal loss.

My friend spent thousands of dollars to get video and audio to and from his PC because he didn't want to run unsitely cables (he's an electrician so he could've ran them under the house or outside). He could've saved a whole lot of money had he built a HTPC and even more if he had run the cables like I suggested. He already had a good capture card and a good video card.

[Zetti]

Folks,

Please, is this a good choice for a basic HTPC ?

http://www.amazon.ca/H87M-PLUS-CSM-Asus-Intel-M-Atx/dp/B00CRJU0KC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_...I3H4FTS6MKZH5E

Thanks,

Zetti

[jagabo]

It should be fine. So you're going with one of the new Haswell CPUs?

[budz]

Haswell CPU for a htpc is a bit overkill.....just my opinion....you can get away with using a cheaper cpu like AMD....you didn't state a budge you had in mind....

[Zetti]

Hi all,

Thanks for replying, well I am not familiar with new CPU's, any recommendation please ?

I need a HTPC to be "kind of" future proof, but certainly not the ultimate standard. I am planning on spending say $ 400;

The reason I looked at this MOBO is that the video/audio cards are built in, so I won't have to buy separate ones;

Thanks,

Zetti

[jagabo]

The reason I looked at this MOBO is that the video/audio cards are built in, so I won't have to buy separate ones;

They're built into the CPU, not the motherboard. Many Ivy Bridge CPUs include a less powerful GPU. But fine for video playback on an HTPC.

Haswell vs. Ivy Bridge HTPC: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7007/intels-haswell-an-htpc-perspective

[Zetti]

The reason I looked at this MOBO is that the video/audio cards are built in, so I won't have to buy separate ones;

They're built into the CPU, not the motherboard. Many Ivy Bridge CPUs include a less powerful GPU. But fine for video playback on an HTPC.

Haswell vs. Ivy Bridge HTPC: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7007/intels-haswell-an-htpc-perspective

Thanks, it looks like a 4th gen i5 would make it, but I must keep an eye on the budget....

[jagabo]

A lot of people use an i3 in their HTPC.

Note that you have to have the right motherboard to use the onboard GPU.

[Constant Gardener]

If I was building an HTTP, I'd use an FM2 chip - one of the 65watt variants - good graphics, and certainly adequate speedwise. Add 8 GB memory, a hard drive or two, and a Blu-Ray reader, and I'd be set. I'd add the hi-def version of AnyDVD to be able to play, or rip, anything. Not sure about an OS. Windows 8 is a bit odd.

[usually_quiet]

Now that I have a budget to work with, here is a list of parts for a decent AMD system that comes close to $400.

CPU http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282
MOB http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157334
RAM http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
HDD http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
CASE w/PSU http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121100

If the PSU included with the HEC case above dies, the PSU below works as a replacement part according to reviews at newegg.ca: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151090

If you need a HTPC case that accepts full-height cards, those are more expensive. An different case and more powerful PSU would be a good idea if you want the option to install a video card for gaming. I did not include an optical drive because I didn't know if you wanted one, or what kind.