Building a HTPC

JasonPDK

JasonPDK

Member
Hi all,
I recently decided to build a proper HTPC. My budget is around €250 - €300 ($280), but I'd like to keep the cost down as much as possible.
I came across Lifehacker's guide and I'm just wondering, can I do better than this?
I already have a hard drive, DVD drive, and OS.

All the best,
 
If the HTPC is for gaming, you can not use that build. This would be much better:
MSI FM2-A75MA-E35
AMD A8-5600K
Silverstone ML03B
Antec VP 450
G.Skill Ares 2 x 4 gb 1866 MHz (amd's apus GPUs work better with faster ram)
Much better then the lifehacker build, and would even play games okay.
 
You really don't need much power to play back full HD bluray movies. I would get a motherboard with a hdmi connector already on it and save a bit not buying a graphics card.

Heres just an example:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/MSI-760GM-E5...0?pt=UK_Motherboards_CPUs&hash=item3a7c9f8a88

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Envizage-201...ting_DesktopComponents_RL&hash=item53f4f5c962

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Coolermaster...omputing_PowerSupplies_EH&hash=item5653d464ff

If you can find a cheaper, branded power suppy, i would go for it. You really dont need much power. I can't be certain on what i suggest, as im not sure of shipping costs, but i dont see any reason why it should cost you more than 200 euros.
 
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The OP wants a HTPC, so the case is not going to work. Plus its a crappy case anyways. The PSU is garbage, very bad choice.
 
lol, there no law that a normal case can't be used for a HTPC, usually they seem to be cheaper anyway and do the same job. In my opinion, a case is a case and in this build anyway and will have no effect on the parts inside. The PSU is ok, hes going to be using soooooooooooo little power.
 
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Doesnt matter. For just a little more OP can get a high quality PSU and not that garbage. The case is also garbage and bigger them the OP wants i assume. The case matters if you dont want the power button falling off the 3rd time you push it.
 
Really it all depends on the individual item and if you can, watch reviews before you buy anything. I bought a very cheap case 7 years ago which is still in use, its given me no problems. I've also bought a NZXT phantom, which was very expensive and the fan controller broke after 2 days. It was an example, if you can buy a better psu for just a little more, like corsair, go for it :)
 
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Yes, but I assume he meant keep the cost down without reccomening crappy parts. If he really wants to keep the cost down, drop the ram to 4 gb. You will regret it though.
 
I think all those parts are reasonable, they aren't crappy just because they are cheaper and adding another 2gb, if he feels he needs it, is hardly the end of the world.
 
Likewise, if you find a bad review. Scrap that, you can find a bad review on anything, no matter how good you think it is.
 
PCunicorn said:
No, I mean find a single good review on both items.
Click to expand...

Well if i did find one, you would probably think that i just left the review myself, so no point. Anyway, it was just an example of the sort of thing he could get if he wanted to save money. I wasnt saying that the should go get that exact case, i did state it was just an example.
 
PCunicorn said:
If the HTPC is for gaming, you can not use that build. This would be much better:
MSI FM2-A75MA-E35
AMD A8-5600K
Silverstone ML03B
Antec VP 450
G.Skill Ares 2 x 4 gb 1866 MHz (amd's apus GPUs work better with faster ram)
Much better then the lifehacker build, and would even play games okay.
Click to expand...

That does look very nice, but it shoves the price up to about €450 including postage. :( I won't be doing any gaming on the HTPC (maybe Minecraft once in a while). I really like the case you've suggested, much neater!
Also, the motherboard actually works out slightly cheaper than the ASRock. It looks quite good!
I think for the processor I would be more likely to go with this. 2.7 GHz I know, but I think it will suffice for what I need.

As for the PSU, what's so bad about the Coolermaster one @Shlouski suggested?

Also, as for RAM, would 1333Mhz do fine?

P.S, @Shlouski thanks for posting links to ebay.ie! Noticed that! :)
 
Thats a FM1 (old) apu, that most likely wouldnt play minecraft at 1080p, and wouldnt work with the motherboard i reccomended. Try and at least get a AMD A6 FM2, and reduce the ram to 4 gb (2 x 2gb, not 1 x 4gb), and make sure its 1866 mhz. Remember to get a PSU from antec, or corsair. The reason why is its a very cheap PSU, using very low quality components. It could fry, and take your components out with it. You are going to want at least 1600 mhz ram, perferably 1866. This is due to the GPU builr into the APU using your rams speed, so the faster the ram, the better the GPU. I will post links soon.
 
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scan.co.uk is a reputable store that ships to ireland, and is much better then ebay.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-...-36ghz-amd-radeon-hd-7560d-760mhz-100w-retail AMD A8-5600K

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/giga...-ii-3gb-s-raid-pcie-20-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-matx Gigabyte GA-F2A55M-DS2 (Good board, picked it because the MSI wasn't avialable)

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-...-14900-(1866)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-10-9-2 Corsair 8 GB (2x4GB) 1866 MHz

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/silv...-htpc-case-with-usb-30-w-o-psu-(can-take-atx) Silverstone ML03B

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w...bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-fan-atx-v231-psu XFX 450W (a good PSU unlike the cooler master)

Total: 285
 
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Ehh Scan is OK but there are better shops: most notably Novatech (which is where I buy everything from) and Overclockers. Not sure if either of those would ship to Ireland though (I have a feeling Novatech might).

Your link to the case isn't working though, PCU.
 
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