Budget Mini ITX PC ?

[dutchshrek]

I'm looking at this case (M350) due to it's small size: http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Mini-ITX-enclosure-PicoPSU-compatible/dp/B003DXI288

Something similar in size will work as well, I just need something to sit next to the DVR and Xbox/ps3. Anyway, I'm not sure what else I should be buying.
I'm not looking to use it for games, but I ould use it for netflix and other means of streaming. So preferably with hdmi out. Other then that for simple browsing and email. I'll also likely want to install openoffice or something to open the occasional work file.
The hardest part is media I suppose. It does not need wifi as I have a network cable already there. Not sure if usb3.0 will be needed since I do not think I have any devices that have it yet.

I'm hoping to keep it at $300 or under.

 

[Blaise170]

As close as I could get to $300 for Mini-ITX.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A6-5400K 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A75IA-E53 Mini ITX FM2 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($35.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $327.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-19 22:57 EST-0500)

 

[dutchshrek]

That's actually not a bad price. Better then what I kept running into. And that case looks better then the m350. Only because I forgot about the dvd drive.
Like I said, I just need a neat looking media player that will allow me to browse and work a little.
Thanks for the help, it may just work for me

 

[geofelt]

The cm elite 120 is relatively large, 9.4" x 8.2" x 15.8"
The antec isk-150 would be similar to the M350 and much smaller.
Use a intel itx socket 1150 motherboard and an inexpensive socket 1150 cpu.
How much storage space would you need?

 

[dutchshrek]

I would like to have 1tb of storage. While I stream most of my media, I do have quite a lot stored so extra space never hurts.

Let me ask you something. What does Newegg mean with their descriptions when it includes:
1 External 5.25" Drive Bays
1 x 3.5" HDD (1 T)
1 x 3.5" HDD (0.8 T) Internal 3.5" Drive Bays

Because I have no idea what they refer to as an external drive and I can't say I know the difference between 1T and 0.8T 3.5" drives.
And I can assume I can only fit 1 hdd at a time correct?
This is the example I was looking at when I saw it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108196

 

[Blaise170]

I would like to have 1tb of storage. While I stream most of my media, I do have quite a lot stored so extra space never hurts.

Let me ask you something. What does Newegg mean with their descriptions when it includes:
1 External 5.25" Drive Bays
1 x 3.5" HDD (1 T)
1 x 3.5" HDD (0.8 T) Internal 3.5" Drive Bays

Because I have no idea what they refer to as an external drive and I can't say I know the difference between 1T and 0.8T 3.5" drives.
And I can assume I can only fit 1 hdd at a time correct?
This is the example I was looking at when I saw it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108196

5.25" is the DVD drive bay.

The difference between 1.0T and 0.8T is height. You will need a drive that is 1" and 0.8" or smaller to fit into their cage.

 

[lp231]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81I Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.15 @ Mwave)
Memory: A-Data XPG Gaming Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($33.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Inwin BP655.200BL Mini ITX Desktop Case w/200W Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $285.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-21 00:15 EST-0500)