My First HTPC

[Fury05]

To all the Tech Wizards please help a confused man out. I started researching to find components in order to build a decent, quiet Mini ITX HTPC. I've read a few articles and blogs showing the different choices in terms of budget vs performance etc. I'm still undecided on what exactly to purchase, my main problem being Intel vs AMD.

I've looked at Wootware and Rebeltech as possible stores to purchase from. The Intel seems to be much more expensive than the AMD platforms. The following is options on components:

Motherboard:
ASRock Intel H87 - http://www.wootware.co.za/asrock-h8...150-haswell-mini-itx-desktop-motherboard.html
AMD A Series - yet to find a suitable board, open to suggestions please.

CPU:
Intel Core i3 4150 - http://www.wootware.co.za/intel-bx8...socket-22nm-dual-core-3-5ghz-desktop-cpu.html
AMD A6 6400K - http://www.wootware.co.za/amd-a6-6400k-fm2-socket-32nm-dual-core-3900mhz-desktop-cpu.html

RAM:
Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB 1600mhz - http://www.wootware.co.za/kingston-...mhz-ddr3-cl9-240-pin-1-5v-desktop-memory.html
Corsair 4GB - http://www.wootware.co.za/corsair-c...k-4gb-ddr3-1600-cl11-1-5v-desktop-memory.html

Chassis:
CFi Mini ITX - http://www.wootware.co.za/cfi-6719-black-internal-150w-power-supply-compact-book-size-mini-itx.html

What would your setup be if you were working on a budget? I want to go as cheap as possible but not too cheap as the components may then be outdated within 1 year. The HTPC will be used to watch 1080p movies and series and that's about it. The hard drive etc. is not a problem as I already have those sorted. Please offer any advice you think would help me.

EDIT: Would also like the PC functionality so would like to stick with an HTPC as opposed to a media player as I don't make use of netflix or other streaming services.

 

[AVSupply]

The HTPC will be used to watch 1080p movies and series and that's about it.

For less than the price of your CPU

http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/iptv-xbmc-box-p-640

Or how about an Android Box

http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/droidtv-media-player-with-android-422-and-xbmc-p-437

 

[Fury05]

For less than the price of your CPU

http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/iptv-xbmc-box-p-640

Or how about an Android Box

http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/droidtv-media-player-with-android-422-and-xbmc-p-437

Thanks for that. I have looked at media players as well but maybe I should have pointed out that I would also like the functionality of a basic pc in the livingroom. Internet browsing and also the odds and ends without having to move to another room. I use Plex media server and home theater on my current pc through to me TV do would like the same type of setup but with newer components as well as the small, low profile factor. I might change my mind on the media player though as it looks decent. Thanks for the advice:thumbup:

 

[AVSupply]

Thanks for that. I have looked at media players as well but maybe I should have pointed out that I would also like the functionality of a basic pc in the livingroom. Internet browsing and also the odds and ends without having to move to another room. I use Plex media server and home theater on my current pc through to me TV do would like the same type of setup but with newer components as well as the small, low profile factor. I might change my mind on the media player though as it looks decent. Thanks for the advice:thumbup:

No problem

Look at the 2nd link then, it supports internet browsing and Plex

 

[kayvee]

Intel NUC

 

[SYNERGY]

This is my build:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/616159-MINI-ITX-Media-Server-Downloader-build?highlight=

With this to control it: http://www.takealot.com/computers/zoweetek-2-4ghz-70-key-mini-keyboard-touchpad-laser-point,30663777

 

[Fury05]

Intel NUC

This would have been ideal had it not been for the price. For the components inside the device it is pricey though isn't it? Import costs would probably bring it line with the local prices which are ranging between R4000-R4500.

 

[Fury05]

This is my build:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/616159-MINI-ITX-Media-Server-Downloader-build?highlight=

With this to control it: http://www.takealot.com/computers/zoweetek-2-4ghz-70-key-mini-keyboard-touchpad-laser-point,30663777

Synergy this is almost the same as what I was thinking, I'm just wondering if it's worth spending the extra cash on an Intel setup as opposed to AMD. From what I've read the Intel seems to be far more superior.

 

[SYNERGY]

Synergy this is almost the same as what I was thinking, I'm just wondering if it's worth spending the extra cash on an Intel setup as opposed to AMD. From what I've read the Intel seems to be far more superior.

Go with Intel. It will last longer down the line. If you're only watching video's then a APU should be fine.

I use mines to download/extract store some files as well.

As a rule of thumb for me, always Intel CPU, and AMD GPU.

The motherboard I chose is about R300 cheaper as well.

Make sure you update the Motherboard BIOS as I had endless trouble with HDMI Audio until I updated.

 

[Fury05]

I see the chipset on the board is B85 which is a 'business' chipset. It lacks Intel RST and a few other features. Are all those extras necessary? I'm totally clueless when it comes the finer details on boards and processors. I know enough to put them together and fix it of something goes wrong but other than that I turn to MyBroadband

Was looking at the H87 because I read about it being great for a media setup.

 

[SYNERGY]

I see the chipset on the board is B85 which is a 'business' chipset. It lacks Intel RST and a few other features. Are all those extras necessary? I'm totally clueless when it comes the finer details on boards and processors. I know enough to put them together and fix it of something goes wrong but other than that I turn to MyBroadband

Actually It does have Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Even thou it has some Business Management features, if you wanted to add a GPU and Game, it would be perfectly fine.

Review between Your option and mines: http://us.hardware.info/reviews/514...n-core-processors-asrock-b85m-itx-en-h87m-itx

And no, you will hardly use any of those features for a HTPC.

The Smart Connect Technology is nifty thou, included in both. Wakes the PC up from time to time to update certain programs likes Emails in Outlook etc. Don't know how much real world use there is thou.

 

[Fury05]

Actually It does have Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Even thou it has some Business Management features, if you wanted to add a GPU and Game, it would be perfectly fine.

Review between Your option and mines: http://us.hardware.info/reviews/514...n-core-processors-asrock-b85m-itx-en-h87m-itx

And no, you will hardly use any of those features for a HTPC.

The Smart Connect Technology is nifty thou, included in both. Wakes the PC up from time to time to update certain programs likes Emails in Outlook etc. Don't know how much real world use there is thou.

This is exactly why I started this thread. This is the type of info I was looking for. Didn't know that it was basically the same board. I don't think I'll need the extra USB ports but at the rate my usenet downloads are going at the moment I might need another external drive lol. I'm also going to use this as a front-end PC so sickbeard and sabnzbd will be running in the background which is why I prefer it to a media player.

 

[Chingha]

I don't get this, I cannot get away from the fact that from around R3k you can use a HP Microserver, it will do everything you are after using a R350 graphics card.

 

[Fury05]

I don't get this, I cannot get away from the fact that from around R3k you can use a HP Microserver, it will do everything you are after using a R350 graphics card.

Chingha any links for me to look at?

 

[Crowley]

Synergy this is almost the same as what I was thinking, I'm just wondering if it's worth spending the extra cash on an Intel setup as opposed to AMD. From what I've read the Intel seems to be far more superior.

For HTPC there is nothing wrong with AMD. You aren't going to be overclocking the system to get better marks in PCMark or Passmark.

 

[Fury05]

For HTPC there is nothing wrong with AMD. You aren't going to be overclocking the system to get better marks in PCMark or Passmark.

Got any ideas on a CPU and board?

 

[AVSupply]

This is exactly why I started this thread. This is the type of info I was looking for. Didn't know that it was basically the same board. I don't think I'll need the extra USB ports but at the rate my usenet downloads are going at the moment I might need another external drive lol. I'm also going to use this as a front-end PC so sickbeard and sabnzbd will be running in the background which is why I prefer it to a media player.

Is the HTPC going to be an all-in-one media player, file server, dl server and internet computer/PC?

 

[Fury05]

Is the HTPC going to be an all-in-one media player, file server, dl server and internet computer/PC?

The more I think about it the more I'm leaning toward that. I was going to run another PC in a different room as a download server but now considering mh budget I might chnage my mind now and just run one. Any suggestions which would work better?

 

[Chingha]

There are 382 pages of happiness here:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/333460-HP-ProLiant-MicroServer

A lot of people use OPENELEC on a USB stick, there is a port for it inside the machine but if you want to run general PC duties XBMC will run on just about anything

http://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/44361185/HP+ProLiant+G7+N54L+1P+2GB-U+SATA+250GB+150W+PS+MicroServer/

one of those with one of these:

http://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/18394288/EVGA+NVIDIA+GeForce+GT210/

and off you go

 

[AVSupply]

The more I think about it the more I'm leaning toward that. I was going to run another PC in a different room as a download server but now considering mh budget I might chnage my mind now and just run one. Any suggestions which would work better?

I suggest you keep them seperate. What are you using now to watch your HD content, and can it be converted to a storage / dl server?