Budget HTPC Build Needed

SummonHydro

Distinguished
Aug 13, 2014
42
0
18,530
I am looking for a budget HTPC for around $400 with everything included. I need everything, such as the OS, but not a monitor of course. I will be streaming Netflix and other shows for my living room. And if you can, please make it not so expensive, as I want a cheap but smooth experience as I watch. I also have Ethernet availability so no need for WiFi if you were going to include it. Thanks!
 
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dkvQkL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dkvQkL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($49.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Corsair SPEC-03 Red ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0 DVD/CD Writer ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $280.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-19 00:21 EST-0500
 
This will give you what you need.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A6-5400K 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($36.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($37.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Essentials 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($34.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $358.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-19 00:24 EST-0500
 
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($111.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($28.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $389.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-19 00:24 EST-0500
 
Here's a low-budget build for a strictly media HTPC:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus AM1M-A Micro ATX AM1 Motherboard ($37.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($85.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $382.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-19 00:24 EST-0500

-Wolf sends
 
This one is a little cheaper with less rebates

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX/WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Xion XON-310_BK MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($35.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $378.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-19 00:31 EST-0500
 
Goodness, such complicated builds. My HTPC is an ASRock Q1900-ITX ($90), you can fit that with a tiny case like an Antek ISK 300-150 ($55), 4Gb ram, and a 128Gb SSD (Crucial MX ot BX 100 - $70) and call it a day. Maybe throw a DVD/Bluray player in there. Still, its fully functional as a HTPC, netfilix/youtube streaming build for about $225.00. And I use one of those little little $10 wireless keyboard trackpads from ebay to control it.