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Planning an HTPC Build

post #1 of 7
Thread Starter 
Hey all, I have some friends who are looking to build their own HTPC, and would like to custom build it.

Here are their preferences:
-Parts Source: Newegg (Canada)
-Overclocking: No
-Price Range: $~450
-Size: Smaller or equal size to a "s" model Dell Inspiron
-Uses: Watching DVD's, streaming movies and videos, possibly burning DVDs, general entertainment
-Based on: Doesn't matter; AMD or Intel

Their display would be a 42" TV, so they don't need a monitor/display or anything.

So what would you guys recommend for these needs? I'm totally new to HTPC's, but I'd really like to help these people out. smile.gif
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post #2 of 7

Well do your frens intend to record TV shows and such? If so perhaps go with an mATX form factor with at least 1-2 PCI/PCIe slot for expansion cards ^^

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post #3 of 7
Well this took a while but you're sorted! thumb.gif

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Samsung 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($19.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Case: nMEDIAPC HTPC 2000B HTPC Case ($99.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 400W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($40.42 @ DirectCanada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $447.16
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-13 04:04 EST-0500)
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post #4 of 7
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by StayFrosty View Post

Well this took a while but you're sorted! thumb.gif
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Samsung 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($19.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Case: nMEDIAPC HTPC 2000B HTPC Case ($99.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 400W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($40.42 @ DirectCanada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.79 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $447.16
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-13 04:04 EST-0500)
Wow! Thanks so much! I'll take that build (if you don't mind) and look through everything on it, and maybe change a few things, then show them.

And yes, trog they do plan on getting a TV tuner as well for recording and watching TV.
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Number Cruncher
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i5 3570k @ 4.4 GHz (1.17V) ASUS Sabertooth Z77 EVGA GTX 670 Signature2 FTW 2 GB Kingston HyperX 6 GB 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
Intel 520 120 GB SSD Seagate Barracuda 1 TB Seagate Barracuda 1 TB ASUS DVD Burner 
Optical DriveCoolingOSMonitor
LG Blu-Ray Lightscribe Combo Burner Hyper 212 Evo Windows 7 Ultimate 20" Dell Monitor (900p) 
MonitorMonitorPowerCase
20" LG Monitor (900p) 27" Shimian 1440p Monitor Rosewill HIVE 750 Rosewill Thor V2 Black 
MouseMouse PadAudio
15 year old Microsoft Custom Minecraft Mousepad 20 year old Yamaha speakers 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 2600k MSI Z68 MA-ED55 ASUS Radeon 7850 2 GB HyperX 
Hard DriveCoolingOSPower
8 GB USB Stick Hyper 212 Plus Ubuntu 10.10 Cooler Master 750W 
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post #5 of 7
You really do not need a Trinity or Llano based system for a HTPC. You do not need much power at all. Just grab a Mobo/CPU combo like a AMD E-350. thumb.gif

Something like this mobo/CPU
http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=63363&vpn=FUSION350-A-E&manufacture=Zotac
and this case
http://www.computervalley.ca/isk300-150/761345151214/antec-isk300-150-chassis-desktop-3-x-bay-1-x-fan-150-w?siteID=8BacdVP0GFs-vqCuDFloCjCXa36Bo1qRWA
Edited by Ironman517 - 11/13/12 at 7:36am
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post #6 of 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironman517 View Post

You really do not need a Trinity or Llano based system for a HTPC. You do not need much power at all. Just grab a Mobo/CPU combo like a AMD E-350. thumb.gif

Something like this mobo/CPU
http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=63363&vpn=FUSION350-A-E&manufacture=Zotac
and this case
http://www.computervalley.ca/isk300-150/761345151214/antec-isk300-150-chassis-desktop-3-x-bay-1-x-fan-150-w?siteID=8BacdVP0GFs-vqCuDFloCjCXa36Bo1qRWA

thats great for files but netflix chokes on it
    
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post #7 of 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrl1357 View Post

thats great for files but netflix chokes on it

shouldn't, unless you are using windows.... wink.gif

I use my google TV for netflix and it is not nearly as powerful as my HTPC, Doesnt the web based netflix use silverlight? Which would cause an issue...
Edited by Ironman517 - 11/13/12 at 11:12am
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500GB WD Black 64 GB Crucial M4 Sony CD/DVD burner H40 w/ GT AP-15s 
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Windows 7 Home 64 bit Corsair CX430 APEVIA X-Plorer2 Pink 
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Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3Ghz Asus P5G41T-M LX Plus Asus Radeon HD 7750 2x4 GB 1333Mhz 
Hard DriveHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
500GB WD Black 64 GB Crucial M4 Sony CD/DVD burner H40 w/ GT AP-15s 
OSPowerCase
Windows 7 Home 64 bit Corsair CX430 APEVIA X-Plorer2 Pink 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Pentium G620 Foxconn H67S ITX Intel HD 2000 2 x 4GB 1333Mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSPower
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