Help to pick parts for htpc self build

freezspirit

Ok to be fair haven't got much of a budget as a lot of my savings went on vet bills, sadly lost one cat other cat on the mend now.


So I want to get my mind off things and build a small pc for the bedroom to watch drama/movies and browse online from the bed.


Budget is £150 at a push £200 if I wait another month, this is for motherboard, processor, 4-8gb memory and if possible case/psu. I know won't be able to get graphics card at moment but could upgrade in future.


Have spare (still in their boxes) the following if needed: 120gb ssd, soundblaster audigy fx sound card (standard and low profile), Logitech wireless mouse plus dinovo mini keyboard. OS will be win 7 home edition and/or Ubuntu 64bit.


Will run from LG 37in tv or 24in Dell monitor plus about 5-6 years old.


If anyone could help that would be great as I 'm not good at making decisions when there is lots to choose from but can then given say 3 options.

Cisco001

Option 1 - won't even bother to build, just buy one...
http://www.ebuyer.com/644856-zoostorm-desktop-pc-bing-7260-8015
http://www.ebuyer.com/643320-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7260-8001

You'll need to add DVD drive yourself if you need one

Option 2
Get tablet + Chromecast (or similar)

Option 3, spend a bit more such that you can easily upgrade in future.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor (£49.57 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£33.35 @ Aria PC)
Memory: Kingston Fury Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£29.64 @ CCL Computers)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case (£28.99 @ Novatech)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £177.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-17 15:22 BST+0100

Mobo - Could also consider get a cheap Z97 mobo if you intend to upgrade to K-series CPU for overclocking in future...

StuC75

Raspberry Pi setup for less than £50...wont make any noise either...

Or what are your htpc needs that are beyond what a pi running xbmc\kodi would achieve??

Cycrow

Where are the movies that you plan to watch ?
are they on dvd/blurays, streamed from another pc/server, on a local harddrive?
Did you also want tv channels on there too?

You shouldn't need a graphics card, any onboard would be able to decode the videos fine.

if you plan to build a pc for it, i would got for a low powered cpu, like the Atom ion or amd apu which will do the job, can be run passively (silent) and use little power

The main expensive with media pcs are the cases, especially if you want them to look the part, rather than just like a pc.

andydiysaver

freezspirit wrote: »

Ok to be fair haven't got much of a budget as a lot of my savings went on vet bills, sadly lost one cat other cat on the mend now.


So I want to get my mind off things and build a small pc for the bedroom to watch drama/movies and browse online from the bed.


Budget is £150 at a push £200 if I wait another month, this is for motherboard, processor, 4-8gb memory and if possible case/psu. I know won't be able to get graphics card at moment but could upgrade in future.


Have spare (still in their boxes) the following if needed: 120gb ssd, soundblaster audigy fx sound card (standard and low profile), Logitech wireless mouse plus dinovo mini keyboard. OS will be win 7 home edition and/or Ubuntu 64bit.


Will run from LG 37in tv or 24in Dell monitor plus about 5-6 years old.


If anyone could help that would be great as I 'm not good at making decisions when there is lots to choose from but can then given say 3 options.

I'll throw my hat in as I have nine lovely cats and so always happy to help someone who is cat!


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GAMING-PC-DELL-TOWER-1TB-4GB-RAM-WINDOWS-7-COMPUTER-DESKTOP-NEW-ATI-GFX-HDMI-/121229178385?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopPCs&hash=item1c39d27611


ignore gaming - it's not really gaming by today's standards but it'll do everything you need and more - it depends on how much you like to build your own versus budget concerns - I speak from 15 years of experience and as a building enthusiast but nuts and bolts of it is today's ready mades are not that much dearer or less expensive than the components - if there was a difference, I'd still be building like 10 years ago, not doing the day job


go on ebay type desktop you'd be amazed with what you can get for £200. if you go after parts, go for AMD, generally cheaper than intel


good luck


Andy

andydiysaver

sorry should have read the hobby bit - try this


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-QUIET-ACE-BLACK-EDITION-500W-ATX-PSU-MOLEX-SATA-PFC-120mm-FAN-/110787039283?pt=UK_Computing_PowerSupplies_EH&hash=item19cb6c1033
PSU 17.75
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kingston-HyperX-Genesis-4-GB-DIMM-240-pin-DDR3-PC-RAM-Memory-1600MHz-CL9-Non-ECC-/361080894076?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_MemoryRAM_JN&hash=item541219327c
RAM 32.51
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Asus-A88XM-A-AMD-Socket-FM2-SATA-III-USB-3-PCI-E-Micro-mATX-Motherboard-/321436138057?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopMotherboards_CPUs_CA&hash=item4ad7163a49
MOBO 44.95
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMD-X2-340-Dual-Core-3-2GHz-FM2-1MB-Cache-65W-TDP-CPU-Processor-/380909419955?pt=UK_Computing_CPUs_Processors&hash=item58aff87db3
PROCESSSOR 21.89
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMD-X2-340-Dual-Core-3-2GHz-FM2-1MB-Cache-65W-TDP-CPU-Processor-/380909419955?pt=UK_Computing_CPUs_Processors&hash=item58aff87db3

TOWER CASE
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/501-mATX-BLACK-PC-TOWER-COMPUTER-CASE-FRONT-USB-HD-AUDIO-MIC-/111373565537?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopComponents_RL&hash=item19ee61be61

spannerzone

Lazy option, buy Dell desktop for £206 fully built with Win8.1 (actually ok once you get used to it or install classic shell) and you could always bung in your SSD to make it quieter and faster.

Link to deal

Personally I'd only build a desktop now if I wanted some very specific parts, the days of upgrading every 6 months is over as a PC from 4 years ago is still powerful enough for the average user and so buying prebuilt that have limited upgradability isn't an issue to most people these days.

andydiysaver

I said that too as it is true enough and only a small fraction of enthusiasts like me still build all time but OP said they wanted hobby , which is why I reposted

System

Hi

If you try self build and there is a problem, how would you convince the Mobo maker its them and not the CPU producer or RAM provider etc etc.

So perhaps look at the Raspberry Pi as suggested, or really bold and use Mythbuntu (http://parker1.co.uk/mythtv_ubuntu.php) on something cheap that was suggested (Dell desktop for £206 fully built).

Obviously Myth will work on quite low spec hardware and it will be a challenging distraction.

freezspirit

Sorry been away from pc so will try an answer some of your questions.


I do have 2 Rasberry Pi model B, got them when they came out in 2012. One is still boxed up the other (motherboard dated 2011) I remember playing about with but had problems connecting to internet or using usb storage devices. I might give it another go.


A couple of months ago my budget was around £1400 but with vet bills it dramatically reduced.


My movies/tv dramas are on 3.5" sata hard drives plus I watch a lot online. I've been a fan of Asian tv dramas for years now so if it has English subs I watch it. (Have a hearing impairment so doesn't really matter what language as long as its a comedy)


I think I need to replace my router as the wifi signal has reduced. I used to be able to use my phone and tab2 in my bedroom now it won't pick up. Even trying my phone a meter away from router is a weak signal. PlusNet Thomson 585 before everyone asks No cable or fibre in area at most I get 3mb as I live in a rural village on a old phone exchange that they won't upgrade.


I was bought up on Dell pc but found it difficult to upgrade maybe I have been unlucky.


Will have a look at options you all have suggested.

S0litaire

here;s my suggestion for around the £100 mark:

Zotac E201800 "intergrated" dual core passive cooled CPU + Onboard AMD Radion HD 7340 graphics

http://www.zotac.com/products/mainboards/integrated-amd-cpu/zotac-e2-1800/product/zotac-e2-1800/detail/e2-1800-itx-wifi-a-series.html

You can then add on a Half decent graphics card at a later date.

I've an earlier slower version "E-350", For a HTPC it's good if you're plugging things direct to Smart TV or another streaming device like chromecast, Boxee Box, games console or a R-Pi for TV playback.

As for storage i've a:
Root OS are on a 600Gb ssd running Ubuntu + Plex Media Server
User data and temp folders are on a 1Tb 2.5" Laptop drive
Movies are on a 3Tb 3.5" drive.

It's virtually silent apart form the 3Tb drive which can be heard clanking away if the room is VERY quiet.

It's in a old ITX Tower (was originally in a small mITX case but could not fit a 3.5 Desktop drive in that, so moved it to the slightly larger tower.