Home Theater PC Build

[Matthew Ross]

I think I've specced this properly. My main questions are whether the processor / on board graphics can handle HD video streaming, and if I have in fact specced components that are compatible. I would go with mini-ITX but I'm picking this up at MicroCenter (for $200.70! including tax!) and they only carry 1 mini-ITX motherboard that is $100 more expensive than the mini-ATX. The more expensive mini-ITX case doesn't help either.

AMD FX 8320E Black Edition
(2) x Crucial 2GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800)
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 Socket AM3+ AMD mATX
Diablotek Diamond ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 400W Power Supply
SanDisk SSD Plus 120GB SATA III 6Gb/s

 

[CTurbo]

As for as HTPCs go, you're on the wrong side of the planet. I wouldn't pay $200 for those parts.

 

[Matthew Ross]

As for as HTPCs go, you're on the wrong side of the planet. I wouldn't pay $200 for those parts.

I have no experience with AMD processors, which is why I'm asking. The RAM is fast enough for what I want, the timing is good, and I'm running a browser all time so there is basically no load other than the OS. The motherboard was selected for the digital audio out. The case is terrible, which I replaced for a slightly more expensive Cooler Master Thermal Master Mid Tower ATX. And the drive doesn't need to be massive because I only intend on running the operating system and a browser. So please elaborate on your reasoning that my suggestions are so far off.

 

[CTurbo]

You should be looking at AMD's FM2+ socket with is absolutely perfect for what you need. Or Intel Skylake.

The FX cpus were meant to be "high performance" but are now 4-5 years old and are not really competitive anymore. None of the microATX AM3+ boards are very good and although they do have a basic integrated graphics built in, they're not very good. They also run hot and loud comparably. It's just the LAST socket I would think of when I think of HTPC. Sorry it truly is the opposite of what you need.

 

[Matthew Ross]

What about microITX? Or is that worse due to the size?

 

[CTurbo]

How about this? You could drop it down about $3-40 by getting a smaller ssd.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($67.81 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M PRO3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($33.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case: DIYPC DIY-F2-W ATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $273.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-23 22:43 EDT-0400

 

[CTurbo]

If it's really just gonna be for watching movies and web browsing

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor ($34.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-AM1M-S2H Micro ATX AM1 Motherboard ($34.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($33.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case: DIYPC DIY-F2-W ATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $222.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-23 22:45 EDT-0400



Or this would be about the size of a dvd player

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor ($34.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock AM1B-ITX Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard ($34.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($33.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $270.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-23 22:46 EDT-0400

 

[Matthew Ross]

I'm looking for boards with a digital audio out so I can connect it to a receiver that will be updated at some point.
I'm also trying to get this together by Friday so I can use my school's free keys for Windows 7 to update to Windows 10.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A6-7400K 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($51.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper T2 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($15.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88X-D3HP ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($73.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($18.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($18.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($40.65 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master TC102 ATX Mid Tower Case w/500W Power Supply
Total: $220.47
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 11:50 EDT-0400

 

[CTurbo]

That would work much better than your original plan. I have to cringe at that psu though. I guess it will probably be fine considering how little power that setup will draw.

 

[CTurbo]

$16 more gets you that quad core A8 7600 with a much stronger graphics capability. That's probably a good investment IMO.

 

[Matthew Ross]

I'm going to shoot for mini ITX. I was going to buy this all from MicroCenter but if I can get it on Amazon, because I have prime, I'll do the more expensive cpu. Which is $15 more expensive than the lesser unit at MicroCenter. How about this? And yes, when I said all I was doing was watching videos on this, I do mean it. If I want to game I'll use my main computer.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI A88XI AC V2 Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($97.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($18.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($18.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: LEPA MX-F1 350W ATX Power Supply ($34.73 @ Amazon)
Total: $275.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 13:22 EDT-0400

 

[Matthew Ross]

Correction: I need to do the CPU and board at MicroCenter because they will take $40 off the final price when you buy them together. What about a AMD A10 7700K? I've also kicked the SSD out and will use a 256GB SSD that I have lying around to reduce the price on this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7700K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($99.94 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI A88XI AC V2 Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($97.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($18.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB (1 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($18.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: LEPA MX-F1 350W ATX Power Supply ($34.73 @ Amazon)
Total: $303.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-24 13:25 EDT-0400

 

[CTurbo]

Looks good except the $38 for 2x2GB ddr3 1600 RAM. You should be able to get a 2x4GB kit for cheaper.

 

[CTurbo]

I would say going from an A6 to an A8 would be a big difference, but going from an A8 to an A10 would not. It's up to you.

 

[CTurbo]

I have an A10 6800k in my HTPC and it's definitely overkill.

 

[Matthew Ross]

Do you think the A6 will struggle through HD video? The A10 is $30 more than the A6 on Microcenter, but then I get a $40 credit on the motherboard. Do you think the A10 will have oodles of power and no use for all of it?

 

[Matthew Ross]

The A10 7700k has a Passmark score that is similar to my main CPU's score. So yeah. It's overkill. The A6 7400k has a score that is 54% lower than the A10. Although the A6 score is 68% higher than the computer's cpu I was originally using to watch HD video. So I think I'll be OK with the A6. This is the RAM I was going for.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/459107/4GB_DDR3-1600_MHz_PC3-12800_CL9_Blue_Desktop_Memory_Module

 

[CTurbo]

The A6 would be ok, but is there no A8 option though?

1866mhz or 2133mhz ddr3 RAM would improve video playback drastically over 1600mhz.

 

[Matthew Ross]

The A6 would be ok, but is there no A8 option though?

1866mhz or 2133mhz ddr3 RAM would improve video playback drastically over 1600mhz.

No, not at Microcenter. Weird, but they only have A6 and A10 in FM2+. I found a 2133mhz Crucial Ballistix Elite 4GB on newegg for $23. I'm going to put the build together and see how it works. If the video playback is insufficient I'll get the card from newegg. But the cheapest Microcenter had was 2 x 4gb @ $40.

 

[CTurbo]

It's a 1x4GB stick? You really want dual channel.

 

[Matthew Ross]

It's a 1x4GB stick? You really want dual channel.

Cheapest dual on newegg, and also according to PC Part Picker, is Klevv Urbane 2 x 4GB for $30. I guess I'll be swimming in RAM.

 

[CTurbo]

You may think I'm crazy, but RAM makes ALL the difference in how well integrated graphics performs. Very very important.

 

[Matthew Ross]

You may think I'm crazy, but RAM makes ALL the difference in how well integrated graphics performs. Very very important.

There's a review in the Review section saying the difference between 1600 and 2133 ends up around 20%. That sounds very legitimate, but I'm still not convinced that I need 8 GB. I'd be very happy with a 2 x 2GB set.

 

[CTurbo]

I agree you really don't need 8GB. It's more of a bang for buck thing considering the difference is $3

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Klevv Neo 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $52.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-25 07:09 EDT-0400

 

[Matthew Ross]

Put all the components together and I'm not posting. Ram is good (tried it on my main computer) and the PSU works (keyboard LEDs light up when flipping the switch on the back of the PSU) so it's either the motherboard or the processor. Read through the motherboard troubleshooting thread on here and the only thing that it could be is a static electricity discharge issue. I had been building it on wood floors (purposefully avoiding carpet for that exact reason) but I'll buy a grounding strap or mat when I go back to Microcenter this Saturday.