Cheapest ever HTPC that's decent. Proud of myself. - Page 26

Still figuring out the budget--there's going to be a little uncertainty at work for the next couple months, so I'm not wanting to rush into anything. At the same time, we'll probably have something from our tax refund that would come in handy.

My thought is 128GB should be fine for a windows 8 HTPC and a small handful of games (kids--4 and 6 yrs old-- like to watch me play Portal-it's hilarious--even a year a go they'd be saying "don't go that way" "you're not going to get out of this one", etc) Speed shouldn't be a big factor. HTPC use will be mostly streaming rips from a separate server, streaming from the internet (websites and perhaps Netflix), *maybe* some PVR and/or OTA.

Newegg 3TB Seagate Barracuda for $120 and free shipping. Use promo code EMCYTZT2922. Expires 11:59pm PT on 2/12/2013.

Is there no way to record to NAS?

Nice to see a sense of humour on a Monday morning.

OTA is significantly hampered by our location--not sure if it's worth the effort for a handful of channels at best. I've read elsewhere that I may be able to record off our cable box (motorola 3200) via firewire; need to research further. In any case, recording may not end up in the equation.

OK--I'm mixing up my terms I guess--been out of the game too long I suppose. When I said NAS, I did mean LAN server storage specifically. My thought is to use an old 3GHz P4, unless there's some thought it'd be too slow.

Glad I can be of some amusement.

Getting a little closer on my build:

Case: nmediapc 5000b (instead on the milo)
CPU: g540
Mobo: Asrock H77M
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB DDR3 1600 RAM
Tuner: Hauppauge HVR-1800
PSU: corsair cx430
SSD: Not purchased yet
HHD: Not purchased yet, may add on later
Optical Drive: ??

I am trying to figure out what to do for my optical drive. I initially planned for a blu-ray drive. If I am correct I will need software to play blu-ray discs? Average cost of this software? I am now second guessing this option and just leaning towards a dvd drive instead. Thoughts?

Getting oh so close. The bad thing is, I am going way over my budget build plans...lol.

This is where I am at with compiling components:

Case: nmediapc 5000b (69.99 shipped)
CPU: Celeron G540 (39.68 shipped)
MOBO: ASRock H77M (59.99 shipped)
PSU: Corsair CX430 (19.99 shipped - after rebate)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (22.99 shipped)
Tuner: (2) Hauppauge HVR-1800 (19.98 shipped)
SSD: PNY XLR8 120GB (74.99 shipped - after rebate)
Optical: LG Blu-Ray UH12NS29 (44.83 shipped)
HHD: ???????????

Total so far: $352.44

Well I guess that isnt as bad as I thought. Still need a hard drive, and pay for the OS (windows 7). I didnt really plan on getting a SSD. After reading up I decided that I would be in my best effort to spring for one. Really only need probably a 60GB one, but for for just about $20 more I could get a 120GB. I also didn't plan on a Blu-Ray drive, but again $20 bucks more and a little more future proofing.

I just need to figure out what size of hard drive to get. Also, dumb question, but do I need to purchase any extra cables? I know the SSD comes with a SATA cable. I am guessing I need to pick one up for the optical drive. Will I need a bracket to install the SSD?

To answer your previous inquiry, I do plan to rip to the hard drive.

As with most things, you can't have it both ways. "Budget" means HDD, not SSD, which is really not a big deal. If you have the extra cash, fine, otherwise get a bigger/faster/better hard drive instead.

I'm looking to see if I can possibly salvage an old PC to use as an extra HTPC in a bedroom.

I have a sister who is mentally disabled, but she is able to use a computer with limitations. She had an old Netbook, but grew out of it, so last Christmas I revived an old desktop for her to use (Google+ and online videos). Her Netbook was just too underpowered to use for watching streaming videos, but the desktop has no problems.

Since we have a couple of HDHR Primes in our home network, I decided to load Windows 8 on her PC and installed WMC (before MS started charging for it). It was working fine for her as long as she only recorded standard def programs, but we got her an HD monitor and so switched her recordings to the HD channels. It can squeek by when used this way, but problems arise when she has it recording one or two programs at the same time WHILE ALSO trying to watch a recording. I assume the computer is too under powered. What's been happening lately is the computer slows down to the point where it becomes all but un-responsive. It takes forever to execute a command.This is complicated by the fact that Win8 often seems to perform many tasks in the background (I assume houskeeping), further slowing the computer.

The specs:

•Socket (SKT) 775 with a Pentium 4 3Ghz.
•Motherboard manufacturer's name: ECS RC410-M
•Memory - 2 Slots DDR2 Dimms , 400/533mhz , 2gigs
60 Gig system drive, 160 Gig record drive.

I may change the system drive to an SSD if I find a really good deal on one, but I can't add any more ram.
Is there maybe a better CPU I can add? I'm hoping to keep the cost as low as possible so that maybe we can just get her a new, low end PC next Christmas. Otherwise, I may just look into building her something since we already purchased Win8, if I can keep the cost low enough.

The board can take a dual core, but the only place I've looked so far has one for $99. I'm not sure if it's worth it. If I remember, several pages back someone posted an entire system they built for around $300.

Edit: I just checked geeks.com. They have a Intel Pentium D 925 3.0GHz 800MHz 2x2MB Socket 775 Dual-Core CPU for $12. Might be worth risking to see if it improves the performence enough to live with it for a while.
Anyone ever order from geeks.com?
Edited by leebo - 3/1/13 at 5:11pm

I don't know how well the Pentium 4 would fare, but I have a single core AM3 (Sempron 140) paired with 4GB DDR2 and a GeForce 210 in my secondary HTPC. It handles everything fine - even while an extender is simultaneously connected. The P4 is lesser though so it's not apples to apples; but it can be done.

Well, the board wont take more than 2 Gigs of ram.
The cpu on geeks.com says "refurbished". What's to refurbish? I assume it means it was returned and checked?

What OS is your single core running?

I had 2GB in there originally - it was painfully slow tbh. The extra 2GB helped a lot more than I thought it would (I know you can't add more, just telling you my experience).

Correct

Win 7 x64

Speaking from complete ignorance but being able to look up the specs:

how about adding a graphics card?

If you're replying to my questions, I did do that. Not a great card, but much better than the built in graphics.
If I don't hear any negative comments about the Pentium D or geeks.com, I may try that. They also have a P 945 3.4Ghz for $29.

Does anyone know off hand if I can use the current fan with a Pentium D? I suppose if it doesn't shut down that would mean the fan is ok.

Hard to say. The old Prescotts were 84watt chips while the Pentum D chips are 95watts. As they're all socket 775 it will fit, but the one you have might have a skinnier heatsink than the default one that is supposed to come with the Pentium Ds. It wouldn't do as good of a job, or even might not suffice.

What GPU did you get, and does your board support maybe a Core 2 chip? What's the model of the board?

Hard to find details on this MB. It's from an old HP Compaq. But based on the little I have found (from a suggested cpu's list from the company I purchased the replacement MB from, and here http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/342831-28-upgrade-rc410-motherboard ) the D seems to be the highest cpu it can take.
I have to go back and look at the GPU, but from memory it's an AMD something (ha) with either 512 megs or one gig RAM.

Boy, I must have been tired. It currently has an ATI Radeon HD 4300. I just noticed Win 8 installed drivers from MS. I'll have to look for current ones from AMD.

Sent from my Nexus 7

I would def go with the Pentium D seeing as you're limited to 2GB RAM. Keep an eye on the temps though and purchase a new heatsink w/ fan if needed.

While I agree, any new PC is going to have to wait several months probably.
Anyway, in the meantime, I remembered I have yet another old PC with a Pentium D lying around. I rarely turn it on anymore. I'm going to swap out the CPU and let her use it for a few days and see if there is a significant improvement. If not, at least I won't throw any money down the drain.

I like to keep an eye on this thread to keep up with low cost options for HTPC's.