Help deciding new HTPC/Media Server

[TofuLion]

Hello again, community.

So I recently decided to try my hand at custom water cooling for the build in my signature. Not sure what inspired this decision, but over the next few months I will be slowly acquiring the parts to allow this transformation. I will be getting a FD Define S Window, along with a larger PSU to allow tons of headroom for SLI. So I also decided I will reuse some of the parts to create an HTPC/Media Server for my living room TV. It will be used to watch movies on the TV (netflix, hulu, hbo go, local media, etc.) as well as copying movies and streaming them to devices in my household (Plex). Parts I will be reusing:

-Antec HCG 620
-Fractal Design Define R4
-Cryorig R1Ultimate
-Samsung 840 EVO 250GB
-2 X 4 GB DDR3-2133

also will be adding a larger storage, not sure yet but thinking something like WD2003FZEX or TOSHIBA PH3400U-1I72

the part where i really need help is deciding CPU + motherboard. my reuse of current parts have eliminated a lot of restricting factors that help determine the best configuration: case is SILENT, 620 watts is WAY more than i'll ever need for this build, and high performance CPU cooler. So heat, noise, and power consumption are taken out of the equation leaving me with only price/performance. here are my considerations:

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4370 3.8GHz Dual-Core Processor ($137.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $204.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-06 14:14 EDT-0400

Pros:
-strongest single core performance (which in most cases means better overall)

Cons:
-weakest motherboard features (only supports DDR3-1600)
-weakest graphics performance

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($91.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($77.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GT 730 1GB Video Card ($44.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $214.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-06 14:36 EDT-0400

Pros:
-highest thread count (helps with copying/transcoding)
-unlocked cpu (actually benefits from the CPU cooler)

Cons:
-needs a GPU (budget fits though)
-mediocre motherboard features (only supports up to DDR3-2000)

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($118.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($87.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $206.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-06 14:43 EDT-0400

Pros:
-best graphics performance
-best motherboard choice (supports and benefits from the DDR3-2133)
-unlocked cpu (actually benefits from the CPU cooler)

Cons:
-weakest CPU performance

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so there you have it, my dilemma that i have been contemplating and obsessing over for days. any help would be very much appreciated. did i miss or misunderstand anything?

 

[davidarad02]

as for a HTPC, you really want a balance between the GPU and CPU, so I think the APU setup will be best, as the CPU isn't that horrible, and it is powerful enough for streaming video. also, I believe it support 4k (only 30Hz from HDMI and 60Hz for DP), so if you want to go for 4k in the future, that an option (but don't count me on that, im not 100% sure it supports it...)

also, it can do solid 720p-900p gaming, so you can sit back with a controller on the couch, playing games on the TV.

 

[Wisecracker]

Actually, the CPU performance of the AMD A10-7850K is better than you are giving it credit.

Any way you go, you will have more than enough 'juice' to push your tasks, and yeah, 620w is a good bit of over-kill.

edit:

...I believe it support 4k (only 30Hz from HDMI and 60Hz for DP), so if you want to go for 4k in the future, that an option (but don't count me on that, im not 100% sure it supports it...)

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe it will do 4K-60 with Power Director software.

The new Carrizo APU is rumored to do HEVC natively

 

[boosted1g]

I would go for i3 just for easy repurpose latter since the integrated graphics is more then adequate for 1080p playback.

The apu will be fine for very light gaming but if you aspire for more in the future then the FM2 platform is going to hold you back.

For anything cpu related and not graphics related the i3 will be the clear performance winner.

 

[davidarad02]

Actually, the CPU performance of the AMD A10-7850K is better than you are giving it credit.

Any way you go, you will have more than enough 'juice' to push your tasks, and yeah, 620w is a good bit of over-kill.

edit:

...I believe it support 4k (only 30Hz from HDMI and 60Hz for DP), so if you want to go for 4k in the future, that an option (but don't count me on that, im not 100% sure it supports it...)

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe it will do 4K-60 with Power Director software.

The new Carrizo APU is rumored to do HEVC natively

thats really nice, considering the price of it...

 

[davidarad02]

I would go for i3 just for easy repurpose latter since the integrated graphics is more then adequate for 1080p playback.

The apu will be fine for very light gaming but if you aspire for more in the future then the FM2 platform is going to hold you back.

For anything cpu related and not graphics related the i3 will be the clear performance winner.

yet it is only intel graphics... he couldn't do anything more then 1080p playback (aka 4k playback, and slight "console killing "gaming)

 

[TofuLion]

my highest concern is the ability to handle my current needs most effectively. 4K support is nice, but i doubt i will ever use this build for 4K. the build will likely last the entire life of the TV it will be purposed for, since it is a 55 inch wall mounted 120Hz screen and i won't be replacing it anytime soon. the option to do some light gaming (in this case i wouldn't mind down-scaling the settings or even resolution) is nice, but not quite a priority since i will have a nice gaming PC for that.

my main concern is video encoding and transcoding. that's where the FX will be most useful being able to handle many tasks at once. the i3 (or even if i expanded my budget to include an i5) would probably cut 5-10 minutes off the time it takes to copy a blu ray, but then is seriously lacking in the GPU department. i also read that the APU has hardware acceleration for these tasks, and could possibly make up the difference (especially with a good overclock).

i want to give AMD a chance, but i don't want to make a stupid decision because of that.