What do I do. (build question)

[Drunkard #1]

I'm running a 2100T in a Coolermaster Elite 100 case, so no space for a GPU, but I am running a picoPSU, so that big, noisy stock piece of **** PSU isn't there any more.

I'm having issues running H.265 at 1080p, and some YouTube 1080p60 videos. This is a HTPC, so...

I figure these are my options.

I've got a H170 board available, which means a new chip (I'm thinking 6100T) and RAM. - about $200
Is it possible to plug something into the USB?
Can I jippo something with a GFX card, a piece of aluminium as a back-plane where the PSU was, and a PCI extender off eBay?
Should I just get a NUC?

 

[garyc]

I have an HTPC with an i3 from the generation previous to your one (Westmere). This plays H.265 1080p fine (onboard video > HDMI, Ubuntu 14.04, Kodi). The main reason that I am about to upgrade it is that the graphics is falling behind in OpenGL support. You could try looking at issues related to drivers and setup.

My upgrade is going to be one of the options that you mentioned - using an H170 board.

 

[Drunkard #1]

I have an HTPC with an i3 from the generation previous to your one (Westmere). This plays H.265 1080p fine (onboard video > HDMI, Ubuntu 14.04, Kodi). The main reason that I am about to upgrade it is that the graphics is falling behind in OpenGL support. You could try looking at issues related to drivers and setup.

My upgrade is going to be one of the options that you mentioned - using an H170 board.

Mmmm. Maybe you're right, but this is my only Windows 7 machine still running. I'll check to see whether the drivers have updated themselves.

 

[ponder]

I've got a H170 board available, which means a new chip (I'm thinking 6100T) and RAM. - about $200

You could probably get a skylake i5 + ram for less on carbonite.