Building an HTPC

C

Cloud

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My brother recently upgraded his PC and left a motherboard, cpu and RAM for me to play with ;)

The CPU is an AMD X2 3000+ and it has 2 sticks of Corsair DDR2 RAM

I thought I could perhaps put together a nice little HTPC for the living room. What I need is:

1) PSU (thinking a silent one would do the trick, but don't want to spend too much money on this)
2) HTPC case, something flat preferably
3) Entry level display card with HDMI out
3) Harddrive, although I was thinking I could run XBMC off a 16gb flash drive, the content is stored on another PC with a 2TB hdd
4) Sound card with optical out

I could operate the machine with my Android phone using XBMC remote, so I wouldn't need a keyboard strictly speaking.

Is this doable on a tight buget?
 
Do a rough costing. Seems like you've listed everything you would need. You don't need a hard drive. And a 4 gig flash will do.
 
Just wondering where to start looking for these parts. Any online vendors do HTPC cases?
 
nadimm said:
Do a rough costing. Seems like you've listed everything you would need. You don't need a hard drive. And a 4 gig flash will do.
Click to expand...

Will XBMC cache the movie / series covers straight to the flash drive? What about vid card drivers etc. o.O
 
Cloud said:
Just wondering where to start looking for these parts. Any online vendors do HTPC cases?
Click to expand...

There are some examples of cases at <http://www.prophecy.co.za>. Look at the "HTPC" and "Desktop and Cube" sections under "Computer Cases". You may want to run the system initially in an ordinary spare case until you sort out the hardware mix, just to avoid buying the wrong configuration.

As for the rest, it will depend on whether you want HD or not. If you will only be playing SD then almost any hardware will do the job.
 
garyc said:
There are some examples of cases at <http://www.prophecy.co.za>. Look at the "HTPC" and "Desktop and Cube" sections under "Computer Cases". You may want to run the system initially in an ordinary spare case until you sort out the hardware mix, just to avoid buying the wrong configuration.

As for the rest, it will depend on whether you want HD or not. If you will only be playing SD then almost any hardware will do the job.
Click to expand...

Yup, good idea thanks. It will be 720p mostly.
 
Cloud said:
My brother recently upgraded his PC and left a motherboard, cpu and RAM for me to play with ;)

The CPU is an AMD X2 3000+ and it has 2 sticks of Corsair DDR2 RAM

I thought I could perhaps put together a nice little HTPC for the living room. What I need is:

1) PSU (thinking a silent one would do the trick, but don't want to spend too much money on this)
2) HTPC case, something flat preferably
3) Entry level display card with HDMI out
3) Harddrive, although I was thinking I could run XBMC off a 16gb flash drive, the content is stored on another PC with a 2TB hdd
4) Sound card with optical out

I could operate the machine with my Android phone using XBMC remote, so I wouldn't need a keyboard strictly speaking.

Is this doable on a tight buget?
Click to expand...

What size is the Motherboard? If it's a full size ATX forget it. Nice looking HTPC cases cost quite a bit.

What you could do is buy a HP microserver (the N40l processor in there is actually twice as fast as that old 3000+) and a GT520 for around R1765 from esquire.
It comes with 2GB's of Ram and a 250GB Hdd and has space for 4 other Hdd's.

It may not be the sexiest HTPC but it works pretty well for the price. For optical out (if you must have it) you'd have to buy a cheap usb sound card probably around R200
 
yeah proper HTPC cases cost quite a few bucks...

I wouldn't say a HP ProLiant is the way to go - you have almost everything and will be running strickly off a USB Drive.
Rather spend that money on a shexy HTPC Case that has an included remote.

If you wanted to store all your data in the device itself, the HP would be the way to go - but it seems you don't mind having your PC running whenever you use the HTPC.

whatever you do, try OpenELEC eden first (Generic build) and then go for a nice skin like ReFocus, or Aeon Nox if your HTPC can handle it.
 
Cloud said:
Just wondering where to start looking for these parts. Any online vendors do HTPC cases?
Click to expand...

Maybe give DC3 Distribution a call: 021 914 7833 - (8:30am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday) Ruan usually helps me.

On their pricelist:
COOLERMASTER ELITE 100, mini ITX CHASSIS with VESA MOUNTING KIT, 150WATT FLEX ATX PSU, BLACK

According to Coolermaster website you can use a micro-ATX board in it as well:
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6623

Only crappy thing though is the price - about R600 ex VAT
 
Flidiot said:
Maybe give DC3 Distribution a call: 021 914 7833 - (8:30am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday) Ruan usually helps me.

On their pricelist:
COOLERMASTER ELITE 100, mini ITX CHASSIS with VESA MOUNTING KIT, 150WATT FLEX ATX PSU, BLACK

According to Coolermaster website you can use a micro-ATX board in it as well:
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6623

Only crappy thing though is the price - about R600 ex VAT
Click to expand...

Haha, I actually know Ruan personally, used to stay opposite the road from him.

Will chat with him bout it, thanks.

Sent from ICS Beta on my HTC Desire
 
Cloud said:
Haha, I actually know Ruan personally, used to stay opposite the road from him.

Will chat with him bout it, thanks.

Sent from ICS Beta on my HTC Desire
Click to expand...

With some luck maybe he can give you good pricing as well :P
 
Flidiot said:
Maybe give DC3 Distribution a call: 021 914 7833 - (8:30am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday) Ruan usually helps me.

On their pricelist:
COOLERMASTER ELITE 100, mini ITX CHASSIS with VESA MOUNTING KIT, 150WATT FLEX ATX PSU, BLACK

According to Coolermaster website you can use a micro-ATX board in it as well:
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6623

Only crappy thing though is the price - about R600 ex VAT
Click to expand...

Cloud said:
Haha, I actually know Ruan personally, used to stay opposite the road from him.

Will chat with him bout it, thanks.

Sent from ICS Beta on my HTC Desire
Click to expand...

Flidiot said:
With some luck maybe he can give you good pricing as well :P
Click to expand...
Maybe check what size board you have first
 
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