Building a cheap HTPC

[jagabo]

Unless size is a huge concern I'd stick with a case that takes a standard full size power supply.

[usually_quiet]

Unless size is a huge concern I'd stick with a case that takes a standard full size power supply.

Normally, that is the way I'd go too. but the OP wants "cheap and good" with emphasis on cheap given the stated $400 budget for the project. There wasn't much money left for a nice HTPC case and better PSU. If the OP wants a different case without a PSU and decent full-size PSU purchased separately I can suggest them. but I estimate those will add $80-$100 to the cost.

[jagabo]

If the OP wants a different case without a PSU and decent full-size PSU purchased separately I can suggest them. but I estimate those will add $80-$100 to the cost.

I'm using a mini tower that I got for $20 (new). And a decent 400 watt PSU that I got on sale for $40.

And for the OP: I'm using an Athlon II x2 255, and a cheap Biostar micro ATX motherboard with the 880G chipset (onboard Radeon HD 4250 graphics). I think I got the pair for about $60. It has no problems playing HD video (including full Blu-ray rips) from a NAS or from a HDHomerun Prime cablecard tuner. The graphics card is set to output 1080p60. So even a low end CPU works fine as an HTPC now. Though I don't use it for Blu-ray discs so I can't say for sure if it can handle that.

[usually_quiet]

If the OP wants a different case without a PSU and decent full-size PSU purchased separately I can suggest them. but I estimate those will add $80-$100 to the cost.

I'm using a mini tower that I got for $20 (new). And a decent 400 watt PSU that I got on sale for $40.

I was thinking of an HTPC case, because people often expect their HTPC to blend with their other A/V equipment, but yes a MATX tower will be cheaper

[usually_quiet]

And for the OP: I'm using an Athlon II x2 255, and a cheap Biostar micro ATX motherboard with the 88G chipset (onboard Radeon HD 4250 graphics). I think I got the pair for about $60. It has no problems playing HD video from a NAS (including full Blu-ray rips) or from a HDHomerun Prime cablecard tuner. The graphics card is set to output 1080p60. So even a low end CPU works fine as an HTPC now. Though I don't use it for Blu-ray discs so I can't say for sure if it can handle that.

It can handle Blu-Ray disc playback using HDMI or DVI-D. I have an Athlon II x2 250 and 785G motherboard and have no difficulty playing rented Blu Ray discs.

[Zetti]

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.

Hi usually_quiet and everybody,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for listing the details of each device, that's exactly what I was looking for, really appreciated, thanks a lot;

I'll look into thi$ as $oon as po$$ible;

Please keep the discussion going, I (we) appreciate different opinions;

Thanks,

Zetti

[Zetti]

And for the OP: I'm using an Athlon II x2 255, and a cheap Biostar micro ATX motherboard with the 88G chipset (onboard Radeon HD 4250 graphics). I think I got the pair for about $60. It has no problems playing HD video from a NAS (including full Blu-ray rips) or from a HDHomerun Prime cablecard tuner. The graphics card is set to output 1080p60. So even a low end CPU works fine as an HTPC now. Though I don't use it for Blu-ray discs so I can't say for sure if it can handle that.

It can handle Blu-Ray disc playback using HDMI or DVI-D. I have an Athlon II x2 250 and 785G motherboard and have no difficulty playing rented Blu Ray discs.

It'd be good to have something capable of handling upcoming 4K video, should I look for this specific feature in the MOBO + CPU combination ?

Thanks,

Zetti

[usually_quiet]

And for the OP: I'm using an Athlon II x2 255, and a cheap Biostar micro ATX motherboard with the 88G chipset (onboard Radeon HD 4250 graphics). I think I got the pair for about $60. It has no problems playing HD video from a NAS (including full Blu-ray rips) or from a HDHomerun Prime cablecard tuner. The graphics card is set to output 1080p60. So even a low end CPU works fine as an HTPC now. Though I don't use it for Blu-ray discs so I can't say for sure if it can handle that.

It can handle Blu-Ray disc playback using HDMI or DVI-D. I have an Athlon II x2 250 and 785G motherboard and have no difficulty playing rented Blu Ray discs.

It'd be good to have something capable of handling upcoming 4K video, should I look for this specific feature in the MOBO + CPU combination ?

Thanks,

Zetti

As a clarification to the quote the above, on paper, my 785G system will play 3D Blu-Ray, but I have only played 2D movies so far because I don't have a 3D display. I should also say that a neither a 785G nor an 880G system can bitstream HD audio via HDMI using on board video.

4K video as a common consumer format is a long way off. I don't know what the minimum hardware requirements for playing 4K video are, so it is hard for me to say if an Athlon II x2 plus 880G would play 4K video using its on-board graphics. If I had to guess, I'd say that such a system would not.

[Edit]Looking around a bit, it looks like smooth 4K video playback requires a discrete video card at present, a NVIDIA GTX 680 or AMD HD 7970 or better.

[jagabo]

4K video as a common consumer format is a long way off.

It doesn't really make sense in a home environment. You have to be sitting closer to the TV than the diagonal size of the of the display to see any difference over a 1080p HDTV. Ie, you have to sit within 5 feet of a 60" HDTV.

[usually_quiet]

4K video as a common consumer format is a long way off.

It doesn't really make sense in a home environment. You have to be sitting closer to the TV than the diagonal size of the of the display to see any difference over a 1080p HDTV. Ie, you have to sit within 5 feet of a 60" HDTV.

So, in other words 4K is really for commercial use, or for those who have to experience the latest, greatest, and most bleeding edge entertainment in their spacious and well-appointed home theater room, no matter what it costs.

Reading the article in a previous post, it looks like a Intel Haswell system built from the right parts in combination with the right 4K TV can play 4K video to some extent using the on-CPU GPU. I guess that is what the OP is getting at, but I don't see the point right now either. I agree that the extra expense is not worth the additional benefits it provides, because the average HTPC user won't be able to fully appreciate them.

[fritzi93]

4k is a much discussed topic on, for instance, AVS forum.

If there's ever a physical media for consumers, it will likely use HEVC (H,265). If downloaded to servers exclusively, then AVC (H.264) will do. But I think the latter (no physical media) would ensure it never becomes more than niche. If it gets any traction at all in the next few years, it will be movies. Forget about cable TV for the foreseeable future.

Then there's size versus viewing distance. I'm at 8 feet away from a 70" 1080p TV, and that's only enough to supposedly get "full benefit" of 1080p:





At any rate, you'll need a fairly powerful HTPC, both CPU and GPU. I personally wouldn't be concerned at all about 4k right now.

Nobody's mentioned it, but if you really want cheap, you could get a 2 to 4 core refurb from, say, TigerDirect for about $200 bucks that would be perfectly adequate as an HTPC only.