Budget Intel HTPC Build

[Hondarider98]

Approximate Purchase Date: April

Budget Range: $400 before tax and shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: watching 1080p movies, transcoding with Plex Media Server, streaming netflix, might use as PVR, light gaming.

Are you buying a monitor: No, using TV

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: ncix.com, newegg.ca

Location: Canada

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU for upgradeability

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Must be quiet and have decent storage because I am sick of streaming issues when I want to watch a movie in HD. Budget is a little flexible if there is a good reason for a certain component. Also, mATX motherboard is preferred because of extra PCI slots.

 

[Hondarider98]

There are many CPU choices, so I found a few. Which one is the best for the price?

Intel Celeron G555 2.7GHz Ivy Bridge 1mb cache, dual core $60
Intel Pentium G2120 3.1GHz Ivy Bridge 3mb cache, dual core $90
Intel Pentium G645 2.9GHz Ivy Bridge 3mb cache, dual core $67

 

[jesot]

What does "light gaming" consist of?

i3 3225 ($130-145)
asus/asrock/gigabyte mobo ($70-115)
4gb memory ($30)
2TB wd green drive ($90-100)
hauppage tv card ($90-140)
case of choice

 

[Hondarider98]

What does "light gaming" consist of?

Running older games like gta san andreas, just cause 2. I don't expect it to run crysis 2 very well or at all.

 

[Hondarider98]

Is a core i3 really necessary for this build? Would a pentium g2120 with a cheap gpu perform better than an i3 with HD 4000 graphics?

 

[Heath Bradbury]

Curious if you made a decision here... i'm looking for something similar -minus even the light gaming. Primarily the Plex/XBMC (and for me torrent/Usenet). I was thinking of going with something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G2120 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($77.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($101.24 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($39.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $530.14
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-24 16:10 EDT-0400)

but i haven't completely made up my mind on a handful of parts yet though. Here's the thread if you're interested...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1659922/htpc-build-stylish-quiet-power-efficient.html