First Custom Build

J

jklwmn

New Member
I'm looking to custom build a desktop this year following the black friday/cyber monday sales. My budget is 700-800 USD and I'm trying to build a something that I can more or less use as an entertainment center. I'd like to be able to connect it to a 5.1 dolby sound system for music streaming as well as video streaming or playing blu-ray disks. T.V. connection would also be nice, so I'd imagine a few HDMI ports would be needed. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
I suggest you go for AMD APU with a sound card if necessary. And get a FM2+ socket mobo if possible.
By the way, have you consider build it yourself? You would have a lot more choice of component.
 
I agree with Daisy. You should just get the cheapest quad core APU and FM2+ motherboard in my opinion. Plenty of power for what you need, and then you could spend the few extra $$$ on more HDD space etc.
 
PCunicorn said:
OP says he/she is trying to build something, so I assume that means DIY, not a boutique. For $750, much better than a APU can be done ;)

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/PCunicorn/saved/1GSn
Click to expand...

I agree with the others, just because you CAN spend $750, doesn't mean its needed. A HTPC requires very very little horsepower and you tend to go for parts that are low powered, low thermals and low noise.

An APU from AMD is perfect for this.
 
If you have prepared yourself to spend $750, I would spend maybe $300-400 on the parts and then spend a few extra on making it silent and cool.
Something like:
Fractal Design Core 1000: $36
Corsair CX430M: $40
Gigabyte F2A85XM-HD3: $65
AMD A6-6400K: $75
Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 2x2GB: $52
The amount of HDD/SSD space you want: $60-120
Perhaps a CPU cooler for silence: ~$25
Even more silence, Corsair AF120 QE: $18 (to replace the stock intake fan. This one comes with a 12v->7v adapter and is more effecient)
Optical disk drive (if you need it): ~$25

Most expensive option for above: $460

Would play any video out there.
You could go for faster RAM, which you should. But I'm at work, so I can't search through Newegg to find a good deal. Just went with what I know is good. I think G.Skill usually makes cheap 2133MHz RAM, which would be good on an APU platform. It uses desktop RAM as GPU RAM, so speed = performance.

Most of these boards only have 1 HDMI connector. The one I've chosen offers great features-performance/price in my opinion. A DVI connector is the same as an HDMI, just without sound. Just FYI if it helps (You can get HDMI->DVI cables and you lose no video quality, as the video signal is exactly the same)
 
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Jiniix said:
If you have prepared yourself to spend $750, I would spend maybe $300-400 on the parts and then spend a few extra on making it silent and cool.
Something like:
Fractal Design Core 1000: $36
Corsair CX430M: $40
Gigabyte F2A85XM-HD3: $65
AMD A6-6400K: $75
Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 2x2GB: $52
The amount of HDD/SSD space you want: $60-120
Perhaps a CPU cooler for silence: ~$25
Even more silence, Corsair AF120 QE: $18 (to replace the stock intake fan. This one comes with a 12v->7v adapter and is more effecient)
Optical disk drive (if you need it): ~$25

Most expensive option for above: $460

Would play any video out there.
You could go for faster RAM, which you should. But I'm at work, so I can't search through Newegg to find a good deal. Just went with what I know is good. I think G.Skill usually makes cheap 2133MHz RAM, which would be good on an APU platform. It uses desktop RAM as GPU RAM, so speed = performance.

Most of these boards only have 1 HDMI connector. The one I've chosen offers great features-performance/price in my opinion. A DVI connector is the same as an HDMI, just without sound. Just FYI if it helps (You can get HDMI->DVI cables and you lose no video quality, as the video signal is exactly the same)
Click to expand...

This is fine. You are going to want to get 2 x 4 GB though, for a extra $30. Go with FM2+, not FM2. And get a A10. $50 more, but worth it. Kinda stupid to get a A6 on this budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131881
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113331
And go with a dedicated HTPC case.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163174
 
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Going from 1333MHz to 2400MHz should yield at least 15% more FPS, according to Tech Syndicate's tests. So definitely get the fastest RAM that you can get.
 
Check the PSU will fit as the case has a 140mm2 area and potentially the CX430m is too large at 140mm x 150mm.
 
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