VERY beginner HTPC question

Before people spend time helping you this needs to be specified in a dollar amount.

The minimum processor you would want is something like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103903
also look for a motherboard that is a 785G chipset or above
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813131595R

the rest of the components you can price out on newegg.


Others will chime in with their recommendations, my AMD suggestions are not the only approach and someone will most likely be able to give you a different/better alternative.

Well windows alone is $100 so you are looking at $200 if you want to build this yourself.

I think you are going to have to increase your budget.

Absolutely. The hardware building is actually the easy part. There are a ton of you tube video guides and online guides. I also have a link to a very good online building guide in my faq.

What you are looking to do can all be easily done (though not sure if Plex is a windows software, I'd recomend Mediabrowser). However, $300 is a very unrealistic budget, especially if you plan on ripping Blu ray as you are going to eat through HDD's quickly. I think $500 is more reasonable for the Hardware, and then a couple hundred more on software, if you don't already have it.

My recommendation is always to separate storage from playback, so if you have another PC you can setup as a basic file server, you will be better off than trying to cram too many disks in your playback machine, especially if you want to get an HTPC style case.

Why? You can easily get a case that can house multiple hard drives. Not everyone has a setup for separate storage like a wired high speed network.

I just made a mini-ITX build that can house a ssd and up to 3 hard drives. The temps are in the 40-45 C range and it is a compact unit.

I think if you are on a tight budget going with 2 PCs (a HTPC and a server) is not the best advice.

Actually, a few months ago when I was thinking of buying parts on sale over a couple of months prior to when I would have time to actually build the system someone, I think it was Assassin, gave me some good advice which I will pass on. Don't buy parts too far in advance, especially things like the CPU, PSU, RAM and motherboard. In case you are unfortunate enough to get a bad one, the return times most places tend to range from 2 weeks to a month. So, it's a good idea to wait until you are sure you will be able to sit down and assemble it within 2 weeks or so of when you start buying parts. (Also, rebates, if you have any, tend to have short fuses and you usually have to cut a bar code out of a box or package. Since they won't take them back after you've done that, it's a good idea to make sure the part works first.)

(Obviously some things like a case without PSU don't present much risk.)

I just built an HTPC, and it was the first computer I've built. Assassin even called me brave for doing my first build in a small, cramped case. Honestly, it was a cake walk. I took my time, and it didn't take more than a couple hours. There's no need to be intimidated by the build.

My take on an HTPC is that 95% of the difficulty is with software and getting the thing to do what you want it to do. You have that problem whether you buy or build (unless you happen to buy a fully configured HTPC such as from Assassin, but those are few and far between).

Actually assembling the hardware and installing the OS is a piece of cake. At that point you are at the same position as if you bought a Dell or HP (but have a better pc with the parts you actually need and want and that you better understand and is not loaded with bloatware). From that point forward your task is the same either way.

Actually assembling a PC in this day of plug-and-play and Windows standard drivers, and no interrupts, no IDE, no "master/slave" or other dip switch settings to worry about, no .bat files, etc. etc. etc. is, it seems to me, easier than it's ever been.

On the topic of budget...

I wanted everything to be under $1,000. I'm now over $1,800 Granted, this is everything I need to completely ditch Charter Cable (elaborate antenna setup in attic, rewiring of all rooms, PC parts, software, cables, etc.)

Things just sneak up on you. Like, "Aww crap, I forgot this cable, or this adapter."

As far as building the PC, it is fairly straightforward. There are a few "gotchas" though. I received all of my parts last night, and the system was completely built, and Windows 7 was completely updated all in less than 30 minutes (thanks SSD). I do have over 20 years experience building these things though. But with the amount of knowledge out there you should run into little to no problems.

I am probably in the minority on this opinion, but you can get an off lease business pc with a 2.4-ish Core 2 Duo processor that has been refurbished for $180-$300. A lot of those machines would have a desktop form factor case, which would sit in an entertainment center a bit easier.

Ive seen used Dell pcs with processors like the e6550 (2.3ghz) for under $200 on ebay. Add a video card, bluray drive, and maybe an extra hard drive and you have everything you need.

I guess the question is whether you actually consider that adequate. Admittedly, on a secondary HDTV setup I am actually using an old 3.0 ghz Pentium D Dell Optiplex. But at the same time I'm just awaiting a case to build a system to replace an E6550 system because it's too slow and outdated for use as my wife's desktop.

Would that E6550 system work for simple streaming of online content and for playing DVD and BD disks? Sure, with a new video card. That old Optiplex is perfect for Amazon VOD, ESPN3, etc. But would I use the E6550 unit as my main HTPC on which I wanted to do any recording or encoding or ripping? No, I wouldn't. I mean, it's probably the equal of or or better than an Atom, but then I wouldn't buy an Atom system either. Maybe that old E6550 system can be repurposed as a server.

I already had a Windows 7 upgrade pack laying around and only spent $30 on a 5450 GPU in order to repurpose that old Optiplex. $30 to continue to use a system that otherwise would be collecting dust in the basement is great. But it already had an adequate hard disk and 3gb of RAM. On the other hand, I'm not sure it's worthwhile to spend $200 on an obsolete PC and then invest another $200 in RAM, BD drive, video card, hard disk and Windows 7. $400 is close to what you could start building a new, more capable system.

On the other hand, if you just want a streaming/surfing box to connect to your TV, you can pick up a refurbished small form factor Pentium D Optiplex for only about $100 at Micro Center.

Great advice.

Video card with 3D: $50
Hard Drive: $50
Bluray Drive: $60

Not a whole lot cheaper for relatively antiquated parts.

The other thing to consider is how much aggravation you are causing by trying to save a little bit of money. For me, if it's slow, or loud or doesn't play things smoothly, then what's the point?

You'll be very hard pressed to do it right for less than $500+OS honestly.

As I understand it though, you can put Plex on an Apple TV 2, which is $99. Then you wouldn't need anything with any real power to act as your media server.

Yup. I went through the same thing and fell in the trap. I bought an ATV2 and put XBMC on it. It wasn't adequate, so I built an HTPC... and then another.

If you're willing to go to $500, and you're lucky enough to have Microcenter within driving distance, you'll find good deals on CPU and MB and can easily do it.

Is it really that much slower than new stuff? I can't keep any of the new model and series numbers of anything straight so I don't even bother.

Mine records several hd channels at once and works well with an extender. Is compressing video really where you see the big jump in performance? Thats something I really dont spend much time doing. What exactly is the benefit of sandy bridge, other than not needing a video card?

It's a ton faster than my 2.4 P4 and Atom N270 netbook.

for me, I started with my requirements.

-i wanted the cheapest one I could find that fit my needs. preferably in black.

-size wise, it had to fit on my tv stand

-it needed an exposed usb port on the front for an rf remote dongle

-it needed an external 3.5 bay for my ir receiver

-it needed an external 5.25 bay for my bluray drive

-i wanted to fit at least 4 hard drives into it

-a slim/low height case was out due to my pci tv tuner

I already had all the parts to put into mine, I was just moving it from a tower into a desktop style case. If I were buying parts I'd have to make sure things like the memory, power supply, cpu fan, video card, etc physically fit inside the case and fit with each other around the motherboard.

Aside from encoding, which is light years better (compare several hours for a DVD on a core2duo to under 10 minutes with an i5), the new Sandy Bridge processors play your 1080p videos without breaking a sweat, and so without spinning up the fans to jet-engine volume levels.

My neighbor has a 2.4 P4 and it really struggles with the heavy themes in XBMC and is very loud playing bluray rips.

It really is a big difference.

Don't choose a case and then figure out what will fit; figure out what you want to include, and where you're going to put it, and then find an appropriate case.

Do you want a really small mini ITX size system? That will limit your options and expandibility.

I think the most flexible size with the most choices for HTPC uses is a micro ATX motherboard and case. But even then, you need to consider what you're going to put in it. How many drives do you want to use? Are you planning any full height expansion cards?

For example, I would have used a Silverstone LC13, but it was a little too tall for the place on the shelf where I intended to put it. My next choice would have been a Silverstone ML03, but it won't take full height cards like my Hauppage Colossus. So I used a Silverstone GD04, which I like a lot, fit perfectely, looks good, and easily held all the hardware I wanted to include.

Silverstone is a good place to look for a variety of choices and to give you a good idea of the options. They're well made and moderately priced. Then look at other brands to see what else is out there.

BTW, Micro Center is absolutely the best for CPU prices, but it's certainly not the best for HTPC cases, PSUs, etc. Its parts dept is really focused on two things - basic expansion and replacement parts for standard desktops, and gaming systems. HTPCs are not a emphasis.

Microcenter will also match Newegg's prices. Might as well print out your Newegg shopping cart and bring it to Microcenter. Sometimes you can come out far ahead. I got some $69.99 RAM matched for $43. In addition Microcenter had a $20 rebate that Newegg didn't so I'll end up at $23.

If you go to Micro Center, you can upgrade to a i3-2100 for $99.95, get that same mobo for $99.95 after rebate, and get $40 off when you buy them together, which means you be upgrading the CPU while spending $18 less.

I'd suggest getting either the Antec Earthwatts 380w for $39.99 at Micro Center after rebate. Or better still get a Seasonic like a SeaSonic SS-350ET Bronze for less than $50 including shipping from Newegg.

You could also save a $10 rebate by substituting the Hitachi Coolspin 5K3000 2tb drive. You can get the same deal at Newegg or Micro Center.