HTPC Build

[andrx47]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. -- HTPC that connects to my TV via HDMI. Must be able to play Blurays with MadVR plugin, stream movies via streaming services, play Emulated games (PS2, N64, but nothing more demanding), play PC games at reasonable settings (like BF4 at low/medium settings at 1080p would be plenty powerful). Would like it to be reasonably low power and quiet. Everything must fit in a mATX case.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread -- $350, $400 max.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. -- USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU. -- NA

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc. -- Intel CPU. Mobo and GPU can be whatever

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. -- 430w PSU with 4pin 12V ATX connector, Antec Fusion Case (mATX is a must), 3TB WD Red HDD, 128GB SSD, Bluray burner, G.Skill Trident X DDR3 2400 RAM.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. -- If I do OC (probably wont), it will be without any voltage increases.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using? 1080P Panasonic Plasma HDTV

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? --Would like to purchase parts on February 10th at the latest

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software? -- No


Thanks to all for your help!

 

[Charlie98]

Would like to purchase parts on January 10th at the latest

So, basically you just need a CPU, mobo and GPU? How about an OS?

 

[andrx47]

And when I say January 10th, I mean February 10th! Thanks for the catch! You are also correct that I do just need a CPU, GPU and Mobo. Already have the OS (Windows 8.1).

 

[andrx47]

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[wayliff]

There's a Home Theater PC forum. You may get more answers there.
http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=61

Ask one of the mods to please move this thread.

 

[Essence_of_War]

GPU - GTX 760 for $200 shipped, AR, until Feb 6th. MIGHT be overkill, but it's a VERY good deal. You can always step back a notch if you'd like.

Intel i3 for ~ $400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI H87M-E35 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $198.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-01 10:40 EST-0500)

Or AMD Athlon x4 760k for ~$350
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 760K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $144.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-01 10:46 EST-0500)

AMD build leaves you enough budget for an optional slim-line cooler like the
Scythe Shuriken which should be quieter and cooler than AMD's stock if you'd like to OC it.

 

[Charlie98]

If the OP is going to game, especially with BF4, etc, he should stick with Intel. $400 is pretty tight... the problem is, a HTPC requires very little in order of CPU power... a simple Pentium is almost overkill, but gaming requires horsepower, certainly GPU, and with BF4... CPU.

The other problem is his 430W PSU... the GTX760 wants a 500W. I don't even know if he could get by with a 660...

 

[Essence_of_War]

I don't think it actually needs a 500W, it says that on the box, but I think the actual system power load (as long as it's not over volted!) should be in the neighborhood of ~300W.

OTOH, if OP wanted to OC on the AMD chip, or OC the GPU, picking up something like a Powercolor HD7850 for $120 (!!!), AR would give you more power headroom and save him ~80 USD.

 

[andrx47]

Thanks for your help all. What do you guys think of the AMD 260X?

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for your help all. What do you guys think of the AMD 260X?

It's OK for the price range. Based on the price/performance, I'd rather have the 7850 that Essence pointed out.

 

[mfenn]

GPU - GTX 760 for $200 shipped, AR, until Feb 6th. MIGHT be overkill, but it's a VERY good deal. You can always step back a notch if you'd like.

Intel i3 for ~ $400
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI H87M-E35 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($78.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $198.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-01 10:40 EST-0500)

MadVR is pretty intense with everything turned up, so I'd probably err towards the i3 over the 760K. The GTX 760 is good if BF4 is a priority, otherwise the 7850 would be totally fine.

 

[piasabird]

Well you could use a somewhat minimalistic motherboard like a B85 Chipset from Gigabyte. Howerver, it comes with fewer USB ports and only 4 SATA ports. However, that might be enough when you add front USB3. There might be some better options. It just depends what you feel you need to spend and how many things you need to plug in like USB Microphone, Camera, Mouse, Keyboard, wireless, speakers, Headphones, etc. Maybe look at the total and decide how much you want to spend on which item.

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Intel...85+motherboard
$85
CPU i5 $190? vs i3 4330 $129
GPU ? $ 120? spend up to the limit.

Maybe look for a Combo Deal.

Sometimes at toms hardware they build gaming computers with a more minimalistic processor like a 3 gig i3 and then spend more money on the video card. I purchased the i3 4330 because it was 3.5gig speed and had 4 Meg Cache and the 4600 HD Video and it was on sale for $129 at the time. For light gaming this might be ok.

 

[andrx47]

If this system is primarily going to be used for XBMC, 1080P video playback (would like 3D, MadVR isn't a must), with mostly emulated games (playstation / N64), should I put more money into the CPU or GPU?

 

[andrx47]

NOTE: Not sure if this helps or not, but I originally was going with the Kaveri APU, but I could not get the drivers to work properly for the life of me, and in the end it became more hassle than it was worth. Newegg was gracious enough to let me return it and the motherboard it would have been used with. This is why I am looking for parts again.

 

[Essence_of_War]

NOTE: Not sure if this helps or not, but I originally was going with the Kaveri APU, but I could not get the drivers to work properly for the life of me, and in the end it became more hassle than it was worth. Newegg was gracious enough to let me return it and the motherboard it would have been used with. This is why I am looking for parts again.

It might change some recommendations if your priority was the smallest of form factors, but if you're happy with mATX, on your budget, you might as well get the discrete video card and take advantage of how much better it will perform in gaming at 1920x1080 than Kaveri, another APU, or the i3's igpu.

 

[mfenn]

Well you could use a somewhat minimalistic motherboard like a B85 Chipset from Gigabyte. Howerver, it comes with fewer USB ports and only 4 SATA ports. However, that might be enough when you add front USB3. There might be some better options. It just depends what you feel you need to spend and how many things you need to plug in like USB Microphone, Camera, Mouse, Keyboard, wireless, speakers, Headphones, etc. Maybe look at the total and decide how much you want to spend on which item.

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Intel...85+motherboard
$85

Sure, you could get a B85 board, but why bother when an H87 like the MSI that Essence pointed out costs less?

If this system is primarily going to be used for XBMC, 1080P video playback (would like 3D, MadVR isn't a must), with mostly emulated games (playstation / N64), should I put more money into the CPU or GPU?

MadVR is the only thing that'd make video playback event remotely intensive. Normal Blu-ray quality h.264 is a piece of cake for any modern processor.

How much money to put into the GPU depends on how much you want to play modern PC games. Emulated games don't use the GPU much at all.

 

[andrx47]

Thanks a lot of the responses. Sounds like I should go with a better CPU and spend a little less on the GPU. Thanks to everyone for your help!

 

[Essence_of_War]

I think you can have your i3 cake and eat a decent GPU too, though.

Here's another option, a PowerColor 7870 for $150 shipped, AR

You can get the i3, pick up the 7870, which should perform very well in the stuff you listed, and still be under budget.