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Help with budget HTPC build

post #1 of 16
8/10/12 at 5:15pm
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Looking to build a low-cost HTPC. I do not require it to do 3D, or gaming, nor do I require a ODD. I just plan on watching media and streaming media. I have done a little bit of research and these are the components I have selected so far (I am in Canada so all links are for Canadian online retailers in CAD):

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core G850 Processor LGA1155 2.9GHZ 3MB Retail Box

MOBO: Gigabyte H77M-D3H mATX LGA1155 H77 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 HDMI CrossFireX SATA3 USB3.0

RAM: Corsair CMV4GX3M2A1333C9 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1333 CL9 Dual Channel Memory Kit

CASE: Silverstone Milo ML03B Black mATX HTPC Case 1X5.25 2X3.5INT USB3 Supports 4 80MM Case Fan

PSU: Antec 450W Power Supply (VP450)

SSD: Crucial m4 64GB SATA Solid State Drive (CT064M4SSD2)

CASE FANS: Silenx Effizio Thermistor 80mm Quiet Fan 1700RPM 32CFM 15DBA Fluid Dynamic Bearings 3/4PIN x4

Remote: Rosewill RRC-126 Windows 7 Certified Media Center Infrared Remote Control

OS: Either Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 8

I have selected Intel only because I do not know anything about AMD, it was easier for me to search for an select an Intel CPU and Mobo. If someone has a better cost effect method that is AMD please let me know smile.gif

I have chosen a SSD for OS and programs, the HDD will be for media storage. Any help on making this better suited for my needs and cheaper will be greatly appreciated, currently this set up would cost approx. $550 CAD not including OS cost.

I have also created a thread here regarding questions I have about which media server software to use
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post #2 of 16
8/10/12 at 5:24pm
AMD A6-3500 APU$85.33 CAD

ASRock A75M-HVS mATX FM1After Mail In Rebate: $72.99 CAD

Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL9 $26.57

Personally i would consider this route

Should save roughly $25 CAD and perform better on GPU tasks, slightly worse on single threaded, and better on multi threaded apps.
Edited by LuckySe7ens - 8/10/12 at 5:45pm
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post #3 of 16
8/10/12 at 5:26pm
I agree with LuckySe7ens. AMD's APU's are perfectly suited for a HTPC where you need more graphical grunt than raw number crunching power.
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post #4 of 16
8/10/12 at 5:44pm
Just don't overlook ram speed. ddr3 1600 cl9 is the minimum i would consider for an APU. Luckily its the same price as the 1333 cl9 you selected thumb.gif
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post #5 of 16
8/10/12 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LuckySe7ens View Post

AMD A6-3500 APU$85.33 CAD
ASRock A75M-HVS mATX FM1After Mail In Rebate: $72.99 CAD
Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL$26.57
Personally i would consider this route
Should save roughly $25 CAD and perform better on GPU tasks, slightly worse on single threaded, and better on multi threaded apps.

Thanks biggrin.gif appreciated it. Would the stock HSF with the AMD A6-350 APU suffice? or is there a cheap option to replace it in a mATX case?
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post #6 of 16
8/10/12 at 5:51pm
Also, since your saving a few bucks, you really should invest in a PSU with higher efficiency, and modular cables.

PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 400W ATX Modular Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze 120MM Fan This would be a good choice IMHO for $15 CAD AMIR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arkitekt View Post

Thanks biggrin.gif appreciated it. Would the stock HSF with the AMD A6-350 APU suffice? or is there a cheap option to replace it in a mATX case?

Well afaik the stock cooler is fine for this sort of application.

For low profile and cheap you want something like this: Scythe Shuriken REV.B 3 Heatpipe CPU Heatsink $32 CAD

Coolermaster GeminII M4 Direct Contact 4 Heatpipe Heatsink FM1 AM3+ AM3 LGA2011/1366/1156 120MM Fan $37.09 CAD
Edited by LuckySe7ens - 8/10/12 at 6:04pm
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post #7 of 16
8/10/12 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LuckySe7ens View Post

Also, since your saving a few bucks, you really should invest in a PSU with higher efficiency, and modular cables.
PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 400W ATX Modular Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze 120MM Fan This would be a good choice IMHO for $15 CAD AMIR.

The Silverstone Milo case has a restriction for PSU's to be no more than 140mm deep, I believe that PSU is deeper than 140mm.

Is there any real difference (regarding what I would be using my HTPC for) between the AMD A6-3500 you posted and this AMD A4-330?
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post #8 of 16
8/10/12 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arkitekt View Post

The Silverstone Milo case has a restriction for PSU's to be no more than 140mm deep, I believe that PSU is deeper than 140mm.
Is there any real difference (regarding what I would be using my HTPC for) between the AMD A6-3500 you posted and this AMD A4-330?

The a4 is a dual core

the a6 is a tri core

The a4 graphically is roughly equivalent to an hd 3000 (i3 graphics) which are still better than the g850 and the a6 is about an 8600 gts roughly according to passmark will that make any difference for you? Doubtful if you don't plan to game at all.


Disclaimer: I have not actually built an htpc with an APU, just regurgitating what I have read over and over again, since I've been toying with making one. tongue.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arkitekt View Post

The Silverstone Milo case has a restriction for PSU's to be no more than 140mm deep, I believe that PSU is deeper than 140mm.
Is there any real difference (regarding what I would be using my HTPC for) between the AMD A6-3500 you posted and this AMD A4-330?

Aw darn.

Antec Earthwatts Green Series 380W
Not modular, but i have one running an overclocked quad am3 setup and I never hear this fan.

the 430 watt is cheaper currently
Edited by LuckySe7ens - 8/10/12 at 6:25pm
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post #9 of 16
8/10/12 at 8:26pm
Thread Starter 
I don't plan on gaming on the HTPC at all, just playing and streaming media. If the A4 will do what I need for a cheaper price then I will go with that, will the ASRock A75M still be a suitable motherboard? or should I step down to the ASRock A55M-HVS mATX FM1 AMD A55 FCH DDR3 1PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 1PCI SATA2 HDMI D-Sub USB2.0? The only big difference is that the A55 doesn't have SATA3, only SATA2. Would the SATA3 on the A75 be better than just having SATA2 HDD and SSD?

The Scythe heatsink doesn't look like it is for Socket FM1? The Coolermaster looks nice, I am wondering if it would cover any of the RAM slots on the mATX board (not a big issue right now as I will only be using 2 sticks, but who knows in the future)

If the Antec Earthwatts 430 is still on sale when I order my parts then I will get it, it is only $10 more for what I presume is a quieter PSU.
Edited by Arkitekt - 8/10/12 at 8:32pm
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post #10 of 16
8/10/12 at 9:34pm
Thread Starter 
Also, was doing some reading on the ASRock A75M-HVS and it looks like it has a nasty little problem of defaulting video output to the PCI-E slot, instead of the onboard VGA/HDMI, requiring a standalone video card for setup frown.gif

Whatever mobo I go with, if possible I would like it to have at least 2 internal usb 3.0 connections so that i can hook up the USB ports on the front of the case.
Edited by Arkitekt - 8/10/12 at 9:56pm
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