Advice regarding HTPC design

Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

  1. Greenfire
    Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #1

    Advice regarding HTPC design


    Hey all,

    After screwing around with a raspberry pi for a few weeks (read: wasting time), I've decided to take the easier route out and build a windows-based box. I was wondering if you guys might have some advice, as I've never built an htpc box before.

    Looking for:
    - setup capable of 1080p playback
    - quiet
    - compact, horizontal case
    - no gaming/encoding required, but n64 emulator should not be a problem
    - 4 hard drives (more will make the case bigger)

    Have:
    - 4 hard drives
    - win 7 license

    Suggested build:
    Processor - Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I33225 - $144.99

    Motherboard - Newegg.com - ASRock H61M-GE LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $64.99

    RAM - Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00 - $42.99

    PSU - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $44.99

    Case -SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front door and plastic front panel, 0.8mm SECC body Grandia Series GD06B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - $112.99

    Total - ~$410 + Shipping
    Edit: pedroc1999 is helping me out with this now, feel free to weigh in on anything. limit is ~$400

    Thanks
    -green
    Last edited by Greenfire; 27 Dec 2012 at 23:44. Reason: updated case
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Pedroc1999
    Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #2

    I am happy to help you pick parts but first... I need to know a real budget not just unlimited
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Greenfire
    Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Much appreciated. $400ish, though that's a moving target. That's not including hard drives which I already have. I also already have a Windows license.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. Pedroc1999
    Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #4

    OK,

    So for processor I recommend the i3 3225 because of its hyperthreading and Intel HD4000 Graphics, Also very Energy Effecient http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116774

    Motherboard : h61 Chipset http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...16813157236H61 Chipset

    More to come
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Pedroc1999
    Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #5

    Case - Newegg.com - nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Acrylic / Steel HTPC 6000B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Greenfire
    Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Nah no need for a cd/bluray drive. I have a desktop which can handle those if need be.

    Looks promising so far, its also important for me that this thing be quiet. My current desktop hums like a power saw.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. Pedroc1999
    Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #7

    Ram - Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS8G3D1609DS1S00
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. Pedroc1999
    Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #8

    PSU - Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. Pedroc1999
    Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       New #9

    Does it need wifi card?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  13. Greenfire
    Posts : 58
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    I have a wifi dongle, should be enough
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 
Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
ADVICE PLEASE? What to replace my HTPC with? (Does anyone make what I describe??!!) I have a 70" Sharp Aquos, an Assassin HTPC, HDHomeRun 3ch Tuner, COX HD chip, and Onkyo TXNR-509 Surround Sound Receiver. I've enjoyed the set-up immensely EXCEPT for the Windows 7 aspects and overall complexity of...
Advice with HTPC build
in PC Custom Builds and Overclocking

Hey all, Looks like my desktop is undeniably dead - so it's time to kick the HTPC project in motion. I'm looking for a compact, energy-efficient design that can hold 5 hard drives, preferably intel cpu, for a budget of around $400. It's also important to me for the case to be quiet but I never...
Basically I know virtually NOTHING about video cards. Last time I got one it refused to work in my computer (an Old Dell). Basically I want to be able to decode 1080p (and do re-encoding, not necessarily 1080p) without my computer bogging down. And I want to stream to my Xbox with subtitles,...
I've been wanting to build up a media center PC for a while now and a buddy just gave me a GeForce 8800 GTS video card. It's got two DVI ports and is PCIe 16x (I think). So I'm looking for advice: Is this card adequite? Can someone recommend a mobo and processor (cheap but reliable) And...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:47.
Find Us