budget HTPC build

V

vandassen

New Member
Hey to everyone

I'm trying to build a decent* htpc for about $500 or less.

I need all parts and would like a remote. how is this normally approached? do I setup windows with media center and connect to internet, and then cable with tv tuner? basically I'm hoping to replace my pvr and get internet in livingroom that's not on the wii :p

Also, how minimal can the components be to run a decent HD setup?

possible to run blurays and dvds (probably not at 5 hundie...)?

if at all possible, I'm purchasing from Canada so CAD $ if possible, thank you

Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions


*define at your on discretion hah
 
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Drenlin

Drenlin

Active Member
Do you have an operating system already? If not, there are free HTPC operating systems available if you're willing to try it...otherwise Win7 is about $110 for an OEM version. $185 for retail. (retail means you can move it to a different motherboard if needed)

Do you plan on upgrading it at any point? If so you'll want newer parts...if not, older stuff is ok to use.

Do you want to put this in a small space, like in an entertainment center? This will determine the type of case you need. You can have a normal size one that stands upright, a smaller one that lays flat, and even one that's not much bigger than a VCR.

Heck, if you use a small form factor setup you could have one that's about the size of an xbox 360.
 
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V

vandassen

New Member
I don't have an OS. I was thinking win7. does it support a good setup with remote? cheapest I can find it is $155 tigerdirect.ca... OEM's fine

where can I look for info on free htpc os?

no major upgrade needed so long as it supports the sw and HD and surround sound etc from the get-go. how old will suffice to run this, P4? or something new but super cheap? and how much ram do we think?

relatively small space, I'd say mATX but correct me if you think I should go smaller (although I don't have experience working with mini-ITX), you tell me :eek:
 
Drenlin

Drenlin

Active Member
Looked at the prices, and a mATX setup seems to be your best bet.

The best I've been able to do so far is $502, with Win7. That's before shipping and tax...I'll edit a better one in if I can find one. That's pretty good, though. Cool case.

CPU:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186151

RAM:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030

Case:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29983&vpn=M40-BK&manufacture=AeroCool

PSU:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33357&vpn=CMPSU-400CX&manufacture=CORSAIR&promoid=1210

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Blu-Ray drive: (Burns CD's and DVD's, only reads blu-ray)
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=48084&vpn=IHOS104-08&manufacture=Liteon
Click to expand...
 
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V

vandassen

New Member
Thanks for the reply, using some of those parts you suggested, I came up with this:

case http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/219169/Apex_Computer_Technology/DM_387/
44.52
psu included above (275W)
fan included above (80mm)

mobo http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186151&Tpk=Foxconn A74MX-K
46.49

cpu http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698&Tpk=AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz 1MB
35.99

ram http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...30&Tpk=WINTEC AMPX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2
40.99

hdd http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX18678(ME).aspx
56.99

os http://www.mythbuntu.org/
free

tv tuner http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...uppauge_WinTV-HVR-1600-_-15-116-033-_-Product
82.99

bluray http://ncix.com/products/?sku=45545&vpn=IHOS104-06&manufacture=Liteon
72.89
________
$381 +tax & shipping

am I missing anything? will this do what I'm thinking it will do - internet in my livingroom, HDTV and PVR, Bluray & DVD Player (will mythbuntu have a dvd player program?)
 
V

vandassen

New Member
donadoni said:
a good spec graphics card
Click to expand...

will onboard ATI Radeon 2100 with DVI not be enough for HD? i really don't know..

I read here: http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/chipsets/7-series-integrated/Pages/amd-740g-chipset.aspx
"ATI Radeon™ 2100 Graphics technology ...delivers smooth video playback of HD videos and your favorite home movies on your PC or display them on your big screen through... DVI"

Also thinking about adding a card reader for $12 and wireless mouse & keyboard for $35
 
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Flaring Afro

Flaring Afro

New Member
You need at least a HD4650. Otherwise, standard definition video will look crappy on the hd screen. You also need a dual core. As for remote, do you have a universal remote that can copy others? If so, you can get a remote on ebay for $5 that has a great ir receiver, but takes a few weeks to get in.

Also, get mediaportal with the streamedmp skin/plugin. It looks beautiful and it auto downloads a summary for every movie and tv show as well as a pic from each episode and HD wallpaper, etc.

mp1021mainmenu.png



EDIT: I read the rules again and didn't see anything about linking to an home theater forum so here's some links to help. This forum is not very friendly to people without "new" questions though so you'll have to stay on here anyways.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1092168

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1172653
 
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V

vandassen

New Member
Flaring Afro said:
You need at least a HD4650. Otherwise, standard definition video will look crappy on the hd screen. You also need a dual core. As for remote, do you have a universal remote that can copy others? If so, you can get a remote on ebay for $5 that has a great ir receiver, but takes a few weeks to get in.

Also, get mediaportal with the streamedmp skin/plugin. It looks beautiful and it auto downloads a summary for every movie and tv show as well as a pic from each episode and HD wallpaper, etc.
Click to expand...

would this low profile version do the job? I know it's a lame brand...
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027329&cid=VDC.243.272

or this one:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX26894(ME).aspx

is dual core really necessary and why? thanks for input and info :)
 
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Flaring Afro

Flaring Afro

New Member
You need a dual core to keep up with the filtering and playing 1080p. I don't know why I was just read about it on that forum lol. Anyways, the ati would be a lot better and i'd buy the 128 bit version if it's not much more because it's twice as fast I hear. You don't need any more than 512mb though on a video card for video playback (even 1080). Also, I have a powercolor 4650 128bit 512mb in my htpc and it runs well and the company is supposed to be good.
 
V

vandassen

New Member
Good to know, both the ones I was looking at were 64 bit

Can anyone add to or expand on this, whether dual core is required for 1080p?
 
Drenlin

Drenlin

Active Member
Wait...of the nVidia ION platform, which goes with the atom processor, can nearly do everything that's needed, then onboard graphics should be perfectly fine here. IT would be a good idea to upgrade to a 785G mobo though...the onboard HD4200 is much more powerful and should be plenty for this.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157179

That processor should be powerful enough. Again, if an atom platform can do most of what's needed, I see no reason why that Sempron can't. However, if you want a dual-core, this is the cheapest one available and should be perfectly fine:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688
(actually, there is a cheaper one, but this one's $2 more and much better)

Now, as for that case, you're going to need a better power supply. The included one is a noisy piece of crap, and only has one SATA connector as well, which means you'll need an adapter to use both drives. There's a reason the one I listed earlier was more expensive. Unless your case is an Antec, Thermaltake, Corsair, or maybe a Cooler Master, it's almost never a good idea to use a psu that comes as a freebie in your case.
 
V

vandassen

New Member
how bout this mobo with HDMI and 785G paired with your last posted cpu
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186181

what do you think of this tuner compared to my last posted, same price
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815293011
it has PIP and will record 2 channels but I can't tell if it has a weakness compared to the Hauppauge (and it has MCE remote, I know)

might have to get this case...
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204039
(might as well post a funny one since I couldn't find a low priced brand name like I was hoping for)

The case you posted didn't have a PS, did it?
 
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Flaring Afro

Flaring Afro

New Member
Again, you'll need at least a 4650 for good quality sd upconverting. Otherwise, you can't use vector adaptive filtering which is a world of difference.
 
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