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BestConfigs: Home Theater PC

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jpishgar

jpishgar

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Jan 5, 2010
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It's that time again! Time to update the Tom's Hardware BestConfigs! Once again, we are opening the field to user recommendations to get the best consensus for the absolute best of the best in each category. Post the best configuration you can put together for the following build category and our editorial team will pick 5 of the best to be put up to a public vote right here in the Systems forum. The top-ranking build will go on to become one of Tom's Hardware BestConfigs and you'll get the credit for having put together a brilliant build with a special credit in the feature article.

Post your entries to this thread for the category of:
Home Theater PC

Stay within $700 (without shipping) and no need to include OS, monitor, mouse/keyboard. To keep things fair and level the playing field, we ask that you restrict your product links to Newegg or Amazon. Please be sure to format your list of components as follows:

Joe's Hulu/Netflixstravaganza Rig
Processor: Component Name and Component Price
Motherboard: Component Name and Component Price
RAM: Component Name and Component Price
Graphics Card: Component Name and Component Price
Hard Drive: Component Name and Component Price
Case: Component Name and Component Price
Power Supply: Component Name and Component Price
Cooling: Component Name and Component Price
DVD Burner: Component Name and Component Price

See below for quick-copy/paste text of the BBcode.

[cpp]
Joe's Hulu/Netflixstravaganza Rig
Processor: Component Name and Component Price
Motherboard: Component Name and Component Price
RAM: Component Name and Component Price
Graphics Card: Component Name and Component Price
Hard Drive: Component Name and Component Price
Case: Component Name and Component Price
Power Supply: Component Name and Component Price
Cooling: Component Name and Component Price
DVD Burner: Component Name and Component Price
[/cpp]

We encourage users to use PCPartPicker's System Build for speedy construction. Do not post a link to your build, but rather please be sure to export as BBCode for a quick copy/paste as a response here, so users can easily see your component selections.

Good luck, and may the best builds win!
 
Vision HTPC

CPU: AMD A10-6700 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($148.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X-ITX Mini ITX FM2 Motherboard ($105.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($71.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($72.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone SST-GD05B-USB3.0 (Black) HTPC Case ($99.59 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $628.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-06 11:48 EDT-0400)

 
Rafeed's baby overclocking blu-ray player

CPU: AMD A8-6600K 3.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X40 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($82.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X Extreme4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($95.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($87.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital WD Green 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($87.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG UH12NS30 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $654.57
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-06 07:25 EDT-0400)
 
 
G-Unit's "Any TV Can Be The Streaming TV" Rig:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G2120 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($95.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vector Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 1GB Video Card ($105.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec ISK 310-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply ($87.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $675.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-06 16:28 EDT-0400)

In case you can't tell my name for this rig is a play on the AT&T "Any room can be the TV room" commercial. 😀
 
A little bit of blu-ray, a little bit of couch gaming.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($88.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Wintec AMPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD Green 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($93.91 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 360W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG UH12NS30 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 Low Profile 1GB DDR5 ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $696.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 12:49 EDT-0400)

Set up the SSD as either an OS drive with only media center apps, or use Intel SRT to use it as a cache drive to give the HDD SSD-like performance. Gigabyte boards don't flash their power LED when in S3 standby. This should be enough to have some fun in the home theater. One can exchange the video card for a TV tuner if that floats your boat.
 
The Old Timey NES HTPC

I thought I'd add my actual Home Theater PC to the list. It's certainly far from the most powerful machine here, but for my media streaming needs it is perfect and the look can't be beat.

Processor: ASRock E350M1/USB3 AMD E-350 APU Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo $100
Motherboard: See above
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 $36
Graphics Card: Included in APU
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG 840 Series 120GB SSD $110
Case: Broken NES Console, about $15
Power Supply: nMEDIAPC HTPC Typical 60W, Maxiaum 85W Mini ITX DC to ATX Integrated Power Module with DC Adaptor $35
Cooling: EVERCOOL 40mm Chipset Fan $5
DVD Burner: None

Total: Around $300


IMG_1729.jpg


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IMG_1739.jpg


IMG_1737.jpg
 
This is a build i'm going to be doing in a month or so. It's kinda of a mix between a Nas and a HTPC as all storage space is gonna be in the case(6 HDD in the future just 1 for now), its going to use a 60GB 7mm ssd squeezed between the HDD bays as boot drive.

Manny's Media Vault

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A6-6400K 3.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($77.24 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X-ITX Mini ITX FM2 Motherboard ($105.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($44.74 @ Amazon)
Storage: Mushkin Chronos 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($128.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case ($89.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($41.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $558.30
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-12 11:16 EDT-0400)
 
A monkey sits in front of a computer monitor. He joins a tech website, then spends some time punching the mouse and keyboard. The nonsense that results from this is named

For the Console Gamer's TV Stand

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($112.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: GeIL Enhance CORSA 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.95 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 1GB Video Card ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Inwin IW-BP655.300TBL Mini ITX Desktop Case w/300W Power Supply ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG UH12NS30 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($54.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $553.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-17 18:07 EDT-0400)

$530.87 w/o shipping
 


Um... you forget that all parts have to be bought from Newegg or Amazon, and I don't see the classic NES being sold on either site.
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($72.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GT 640 1GB Video Card ($83.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($89.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $687.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 12:21 EDT-0400)
 
Sangeet's Couch Gaming HTPC

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($67.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB Video Card ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($56.23 @ Amazon)
Total: $696.71
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 13:49 EDT-0400)
 
The Budget HTPC

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus F2A55-M LE Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Momentus XT 750GB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($116.48 @ Mac Mall)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($58.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $451.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 17:10 EDT-0400)
 
"Enjoy your movie!" System :)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master GeminII M4 58.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.81 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A85XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Plextor M5P Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($127.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital WD Blue 500GB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.51 @ Amazon)
Case: Lian-Li PC-Q12B Mini ITX Tower Case w/300W Power Supply ($147.98 @ Newegg)

Total: $700.26
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-08 02:16 EDT-0400)
 
Processor:AMD A8-6500 @3.5GHz Quad Core <$@118.99Newegg>
Processor Cooling:Stock Cooler<$@Newegg>
Motherboard:Asus F2A85-M/CSM<$94.99@Newegg>
Memory:Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600<$58.99@Newegg>
Graphic Card:AMD Radeon HD8750D integrated graphics <$@Newegg>
Solid State:SanDisk 64GB<$64.99@Newegg>
Hard Drive:Seagate 2TB<$99.99@Newegg>
Optical Drive:LG BDXL Blu-Ray Writer<$59.99@Newegg>
Power Supply:Corsair CX430 430w 80Plus! Bronze<$39.99@Newegg>
Case:Silver Stone Sugo SG02B-F <$74.99@Newegg>
Multimedia:Hauppage HVR-1250 TV Tuner w/remote<$69.99@Newegg>
Free item:AMD SimCity Game Coupon <Get this with the processor>
$682.91

And that Nintendo HTPC was the same post from last time.
 
Thin Mini-ITX... Because it's there.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220T 2.8GHz Dual-Core Processor ($127.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75TN Thin Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($108.31 @ Amazon)
Memory: PNY 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Mushkin Atlas Series 60GB mSATA Solid State Disk ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 5K1000 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Travelstar 5K1000 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Lian Li PC-Q05B Thin Mini-ITX Case ($69.99)
Other: Intel HTS1155LP Low-Profile Cooler ($38.99)
Other: 120W Univseral Laptop AC Adapter ($19.99)
Other: Rosewill RDED-12001 External USB 3.0 Blu-Ray Burner ($69.99)
Total: $702.22
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-12 17:32 EDT-0400)
(edited 8/12 to comply with Newegg/Amazon only constraint - non-specified parts are from Newegg)

35W Ivy Bridge CPU with HD 2500 graphics, 2TB of storage plus a 60GB mSATA SSD boot drive, and it's less than the size of a coffee table book. No discrete GPU. No TV tuner. No internal optical drive. Did I mention the system is less than 2 inches thick and uses less than 70W? If you really need to watch a Blu-Ray, plug in the USB 3.0 Blu-Ray burner included in the price!
 


How does this power off a laptop power adapter? :heink:
 

That board is part of Gigabyte's AIO platform, so it uses a external power adapter, instead of a regular power supply.
 
Home Theater Gamer

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Gemin II S524 77.7 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Zotac A55ITX-B-E Wi-Fi Mini ITX FM2 Motherboard ($78.04 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP900 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GB Video Card ($139.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone SG05BB-LITE Mini ITX Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80 PLUS Certified SFX12V Power Supply ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Panasonic UJ240 6x Blu-ray Burner BD-RE/8x DVD±RW DL SATA Drive (Black) ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $697.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-11 19:36 EDT-0400)

Assumes NAS for content.
 
Mini-ITX HTPC
A small, quiet HTPC with integrated graphics, a SSD and an IR receiver that can power on/off using a Logitech Harmony (or other) remote. The assumption here is any tuners, media, etc. are external or networked, a common practice these days.

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 dual-core processor with HD4000 graphics ($135.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Dynatron T459 Low Profile Active Copper LGA1156 Intel Core i3/i5/i7 CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-ITX ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 ($39.99 @ Newegg.com)
Storage: Samsung 840 128GB SSD ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Integrated HD4000 GPU
Case: Realan E-i5 mini-ITX case with 84W AC adapter ($116.98 @ ecosmartpc.com)
Power Supply: Included with case
Optical Drive: n/a
IR Receiver: Inteset CIR receiver for ASRock motherboards[/ur] ($23.95 @ Inteset.com)

Total: US$536.88

(Note: the case and IR receiver are not available on Amazon or Newegg)
 
Internet Film Stream Machine

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z77MA-G45 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($92.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.04 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.04 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GT 610 2GB Video Card ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DGX 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($29.98 @ Newegg)
Wired Network Adapter: Intel EXPI9301CTBLK 10/100/1000 Mbps PCI-Express x1 Network Adapter ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill R379-M MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-208DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $689.55
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-02 14:24 EDT-0400)
 
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