Build me an HTPC for $500 or under

2009-02-06 19:03:03

#1

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

I know it's a hard budget but it's my dad's. This what I have so far:

I need a processor. I liked the Phenom II but couldn't stretch to the budget. What would handle Blu-Ray discs and 1080p encodes well?

And will the processor's onboard graphics be enough to handle the 1080p quality? I'm skeptical about that. It has HDMI out but I'm not sure it outputs audio through HDMI as well.

edit: worried about the included PSU as well.

Last edited by haffeysucks (2009-02-06 19:08:22)

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-06 19:35:04

#2

Little BaBy JESUS: m8; +394|6413|'straya

This is my attempt. over budget. never tried building a HTPC before so this is probably all wrong. oh well im bored.

https://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z43/howdoulikemen0w/HTPC.jpg

2009-02-06 19:35:34

#3

Reddhedd: trolawlawl; +188|6709|EE Chat

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi … rder=PRICE
Choose your price/ GHz.
You need PSU too?
Edit: Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814130044

Last edited by Reddhedd (2009-02-06 19:39:06)

2009-02-06 19:40:50

#4

SpIk3y: Minister of Silly Walks; +67|6403|New Jersey

I'm sure an X2 6400+ could handle anything you throw at it. My old 5200+ could play 720p with no problems and it was decently fast at unzipping/encoding/burning movies.

$94 + free shipping -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6819103228

2009-02-06 19:46:34

#5

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

You need at least 2.5GHz AMD to reliably play 1080p.

Pick up a X2 4800+, decent cooler for a light OC, a 780G mobo, some ram and the usual stuff. Works perfectly

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-06 20:42:18

#6

GCFC: Davide Santon; +45|6193|NY/CT

https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p120/sockerboy091013/kn.jpg?t=1233981712

total - $537.52 (yes, after shipping)

you can always change around the cpu or videocard

Last edited by GCFC (2009-02-06 20:43:38)

2009-02-06 21:04:13

#7

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

max wrote:
You need at least 2.5GHz AMD to reliably play 1080p.

Pick up a X2 4800+, decent cooler for a light OC, a 780G mobo, some ram and the usual stuff. Works perfectly

PSU?

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-06 21:33:25

#8

GCFC: Davide Santon; +45|6193|NY/CT

haffeysucks wrote:
max wrote:
You need at least 2.5GHz AMD to reliably play 1080p.

Pick up a X2 4800+, decent cooler for a light OC, a 780G mobo, some ram and the usual stuff. Works perfectly
PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6811144232
this case then

its just not possible to make one under 500 if u want bluray

2009-02-07 00:45:50

#9

cospengle: Member; +140|6751|Armidale, NSW, Australia

Nub question, but do you need a good processor for a home theatre?

I would have thought you'd want an 'adequate' CPU that throws out as little heat as possible. Low-range C2D for example. Am I wrong?

I really don't see a need to OC (unless you want to F@H while you're not watching pr0n).

Last edited by cospengle (2009-02-07 00:46:14)

2009-02-07 05:29:19

#10

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

haffeysucks wrote:
max wrote:
You need at least 2.5GHz AMD to reliably play 1080p.

Pick up a X2 4800+, decent cooler for a light OC, a 780G mobo, some ram and the usual stuff. Works perfectly
PSU?

enermax Earthwatts 380W

awesome little PSU

cospengle wrote:
Nub question, but do you need a good processor for a home theatre?

I would have thought you'd want an 'adequate' CPU that throws out as little heat as possible. Low-range C2D for example. Am I wrong?

I really don't see a need to OC (unless you want to F@H while you're not watching pr0n).

Playing 1080p content does need some CPU power. The general guideline is a 2.5GHz AMD X2 or a 2.0GHz Intel C2D. If you get to those speeds @ stock or via OCing doesn't matter. Then again some extra CPU power can never hurt, some moves are terribly encoded and you will need a little more power. These days even the lowest end CPUs have no problem hitting 3GHz, so pretty much whatever you buy it'll work.

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-07 06:01:03

#11

Jenspm: penis; +1,716|6996|St. Andrews / Oslo

Take a look at the Antec NSK2400, it's supposed to be very good.

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/26774/flickricon.png

2009-02-07 06:19:38

#12

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

Just a normal mid-tower works best IMO

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-07 06:52:45

#13

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

max wrote:
Just a normal mid-tower works best IMO

yeah i was thinking about that. that HTPC case had almost no room at all for aftermarket cooling. i'll just get some cheapo mid-tower and hide it somewhere.

as for cooling, will a F7P fit in this?

and do you know how that foxconn 780G overclocks?

Jenspm wrote:
Take a look at the Antec NSK2400, it's supposed to be very good.

too expensive/silver

max wrote:
enermax Earthwatts 380W

awesome little PSU

the Antec Earthwatts 380W?

Last edited by haffeysucks (2009-02-07 06:59:42)

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-07 07:46:41

#14

Ace.O.Lamb: Got Lamb?; +56|6538|Outside your Back window

what the fucks a HTPC?!

2009-02-07 07:56:27

#15

jaymz9350: Member; +54|6841

Ace.O.Lamb wrote:
what the fucks a HTPC?!

Home Theater Personal Computer.

2009-02-07 07:57:04

#16

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

F7P will fit

No idea about the foxconn. My Asus M3A-H OCed pretty welll

sorry, yeah meant antec, not enermax

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-07 11:36:11

#17

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

max wrote:
F7P will fit

No idea about the foxconn. My Asus M3A-H OCed pretty welll

sorry, yeah meant antec, not enermax

between the Foxconn, this Gigabyte, and this ASUS, what would you pick?

edit: i decided to go with the X2 4850e instead of the X2 5000. only a dollar more and it should run even cooler with the 45W TDP.

leaning towards the gigabyte as well.

Last edited by haffeysucks (2009-02-07 11:54:35)

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-07 12:36:28

#18

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

There is something you should remember. The F7P fits inside case, but it's only for socket 775. The F64P will fit AMD

I prefer Asus, but either should work well

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-07 12:39:07

#19

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

max wrote:
There is something you should remember. The F7P fits inside case, but it's only for socket 775. The F64P will fit AMD

I prefer Asus, but either should work well

Doh.

i'm used to the ASUS BIOS. i think i'll stick with that then, eh?

do you really think the 4850e will get hot enough under overclocking to warrant a F64P? i expect it to OC rather easily.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-07 12:49:27

#20

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

Well I'd certainly get an aftermarket heatsink. The stock heatsink is hot and loud. The F64P is cheap and good.

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-07 12:52:41

#21

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

max wrote:
Well I'd certainly get an aftermarket heatsink. The stock heatsink is hot and loud. The F64P is cheap and good.

my old 4200+ stock heatsink was quiet and cooled well.

i'm getting the F64P anyway, for $20 it's really a bargain. i guess i'm all set then. will you look this over for me?

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-07 12:57:04

#22

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6831|NYC / Hamburg

Looks good

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-02-07 12:57:50

#23

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

max wrote:
Looks good

hooray, i'm so excited.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-02-07 13:15:31

#24

Jenspm: penis; +1,716|6996|St. Andrews / Oslo

I dunno about the Asus blu-ray drive (meh, I'm sceptic about anything I haven't heard of).

And have fun finding software you're happy with Try MediaPortal.

2009-02-07 20:25:28

#25

Brasso: member; +1,549|6894

Jenspm wrote:
I dunno about the Asus blu-ray drive (meh, I'm sceptic about anything I haven't heard of).

And have fun finding software you're happy with Try MediaPortal.

yeah i don't know what OS to install...the glaring choice would be XP Media Center Edition but I know nearly nothing about it. any recommendations?

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

BF2S Forums Build me an HTPC for $500 or under

max wrote:

haffeysucks wrote:

max wrote:

haffeysucks wrote:

max wrote:

cospengle wrote:

max wrote:

Jenspm wrote:

max wrote:

Ace.O.Lamb wrote:

max wrote:

max wrote:

max wrote:

max wrote:

Jenspm wrote:

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