Update: the components for Build 2.1 have been purchased and will all arrive by Monday evening. Thanks for all your input on building this HTPC.
Our HTPC is rather old, large and somewhat noisey. I have been given clearance to build something better, provided it costs less than $450 (excluding Windows).
This HTPC needs to handle our current USB-based tuner stick so that DVR capabilities exist. Aside from that, it also needs to handle websites that don't have Chromecast support. It should ideally be smaller, quieter, and use less power annually.
- ✓ Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX via MC = $95
- ✓ Processor: Pentium G3258 via MC = $60
- ✓ Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 mITX via MC = $45
- ✓ Storage Drive: already owned
- ✓ OS Drive: Crucial M550 128GB SSD via Amazon = $50 (purchased already on sale)
- ✓ PSU: EVGA 430W via Amazon = $40
- ✓ Memory: Crucial 4GB 1600 via Amazon = $35
Total$: ~325
Total$ w/ Tax: ~350
Notes:
- Now featuing an mITX case and motherboard! Update: switched from 110 to 130 case
- $50 for an SSD is great!
- Brian suggested onbored wifi, so let's try replacing the ASRock H87M-ITX with ASRock H97M-ITX
Wifi dongle is kind of bad, but the motherboard does not appear to support a PCIeX1 slot, and eventually, it will be using ethernet Panda 300Mbps Wifi-N USB Adapter
- G3258 CPU, MSI Z97; via Microcenter Bundle = $100
- Crucial DDR3 1600 via Amazon = $35
- Crucial 128GB SSD via Amazon = $65
- EVGA 430W PSU via Amazon = $35
- Wifi N PCIe Card = $40
Total$: ~275
Total$ w/ Tax: ~295
Notes
- ATX motherboard sort of forces case reuse since most ATX cases are not really small, alternatives are welcome though
- Fanless PSUs cost more than expected
- Wireless card for now, but eventually I can add ethernet to that part of the living room
- With $154 leftover, is there anything else that is needed?
Currently, our HTPC runs this hardware:
- AMD Athlon II X3 425
- 4GB DDR2
- GA-MA78GM-US2H
- Nvidia GeForce GT 220 at 1920x1080
- ~250GB HDD
- DVD reader
If you really want, you can see this full speccy output.
Here are some thoughts:
- Microcenter has a decent deal on a cpu+motherboard bundle; specifically, a G3258 - the Pentium anniversary edition processor
- Onboard/chip graphics would be ideal, from what I read, the G3258 should be enough for that
- If a small case that fits that motherboard above does not exist, that's fine, I suppose I could use the existing case without too much trouble.
- 120GB SSD should be enough
- The existing HDD will be used for storage
- 4GB DD3 should be enough
- CPUBoss comparisons shows that the 3258 is better than the Athlon, and on average, will take about half as much power per year, ~$22 -> ~$12
- Passmark also rates the 3258 better than the Athlon, about two times better