BestConfigs Poll: Home Theater PC

[jpishgar]

AMD Radeon's APU based Low Power HTPC

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L9a 57.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($83.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($74.70 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($66.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($107.75 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML04B HTPC Case ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 360W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $683.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-14 01:54 EDT-0400)


Screwy's Living Room Entertainment Box

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($62.79 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($83.98 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($79.31 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: FSP Group 300W 80+ Certified Micro ATX Power Supply ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($68.85 @ Amazon)
Other: Hauppage 1080i TV Tuner card ($59.99)
Total: $656.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-13 19:27 EDT-0400)


shortstuff_mt's DVR replacement HTPC build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($56.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-HD2 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($56.79 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($43.81 @ Amazon)
Storage: PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD Green 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($59.99 @ Newegg)
TV Tuner Card: Ceton InfiniTV 4 PCIe - 4-channel Internal Cable TV Tuner Card for CableCARD ($199.00 @ Amazon)
Total: $674.53
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-16 00:07 EDT-0400)


G-Unit's "Portable Gaming Powerhouse" Rig:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3420 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($75.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M550 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($95.37 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($76.81 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R7 240 2GB Video Card ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec ISK 300-150 Mini ITX Desktop Case w/150W Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $572.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-18 23:51 EDT-0400)


Joseph's Home Entertainment & Gaming Hybrid PC

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Grey 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($98.28 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($72.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.24 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($127.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-209DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $684.43
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-30 22:16 EDT-0400)

 

[Onus]

I gave the nod to Shortstuff_mt based on fitness for purpose as a HTPC, rather than a console.

 

[Realist9]

None of these address how audio is being sent to the awesome stereo systems a HTPC'er is guaranteed to have. Plan on using onboard "video card" for sending audio? How do you suppose that's going to sound? Plan on using onboard sound? How are you getting that to a stereo? Plan on using optical/digital out? I hope not, unless you don't care about positional 5.1/7.1 sound.

At least include a decent vid card that has HDMI out with a capable audio proc. Joseph came closest, so he got the vote.

 

[ubercake]

I like Joseph's build. I know the case is larger, but this would be a console replacement and HTPC in one. I'm always going to have a game console of some type so it makes sense to me as I would have one less device hanging around the entertainment center. Also, I like the option to use an optical audio connection for surround sound output on my older surround sound unit (no HDMI).

 

[Onus]

I would have liked Joseph's build with a quality PSU, but even though it won't be stressed, I don't like the cheap Corsair. Replace it with a Seasonic, and I may have gone for that one too. Shortstuff also used one (grrrr...) but included the tuner card, which was very consistent with the title of his build.

 

[g-unit1111]

I would have liked Joseph's build with a quality PSU, but even though it won't be stressed, I don't like the cheap Corsair. Replace it with a Seasonic, and I may have gone for that one too. Shortstuff also used one (grrrr...) but included the tuner card, which was very consistent with the title of his build.

My build for this one used a built in PSU - which usually is a huge faux pas but I was going for *really* small form factor so you got to compromise somewhere. :lol:

 

[Onus]

Yours looked a little more like a tiny gamer than a HTPC build. The included Antec PSU should be decent, although proprietary and therefor expensive to replace.

 

[neerdeth]

Can someone tell me if the "AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor" is overkill for 1080 video at 30fps?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

yes. if all you're doing is 1080p video.


the 7850K is strong enough to do decent video gaming

 

[40s]

I've tried the ceton and hated it. the tuner cannot wake the computer in time to record because WMC software is too dumb to record a second later than the time it awakes! I use the Happaugue mentioned on Screwy's build and it works like a champ and uses its own software rather than the neglected WMC software (but only does unencrypted channels).

None of these address how audio is being sent to the awesome stereo systems a HTPC'er is guaranteed to have. Plan on using onboard "video card" for sending audio? How do you suppose that's going to sound? Plan on using onboard sound? How are you getting that to a stereo? Plan on using optical/digital out? I hope not, unless you don't care about positional 5.1/7.1 sound.

At least include a decent vid card that has HDMI out with a capable audio proc. Joseph came closest, so he got the vote.

You need a decent video card, but if you are running sound through the HDMI to an AV receiver or direct to the tv you wouldn't need an audio processor it would be a waste of money. Video card HDMI audio is as good as anything else and plays great with my receiver.

I don't understand why you say HDMI doesn't do 5.1 and up I can personally attest that it does...

G-Unit's and Joseph have vid cards with HDMI out.