HTPC Media Server Cheap Build

[Guest]

Approximate Purchase Date: Not Important, no timeframe.

Budget Range: I'd say $300 but anything cheaper is better, left over money from building new system, selling old.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: I want to build a Media Server/HTPC

Location: Ottawa, Canada

I want to build the smallest, quietest, cheapest, yet best performing HTPC for viewing HD/Blu-ray content. USB 3.0 would be useful but as long as it has ethernet, not a problem.

Also suggestion of free/cheap RAID software, best solution.

 

[excella1221]

Here's one from another thread.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k5hM

CPU and graphics: A6-3500 $69.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad3500ojgxbox

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A55M-DS2 $54.98 after MIR
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaa55mds2

RAM: Crucial DDR3-1866 9-9-9-24 1.5V 2x2GB BLT2KIT2G3D1869DT1TX0 $39.99 after MIR
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-blt2kit2g3d1869dt1tx0

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 7.2KRPM $55.99 WD5000AAKX
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5000aakx

Case: Rosewill R379-M Micro-ATX slim-line w/300W PSU $49.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-r379m


DVD/CD drive: LG GH24NS90 CD/DVD burner $16.99
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-gh24ns90

total:$271.93 after $10 MIR

 

[Guest]

So you're telling me that system can run blu-ray quality without issue?

 

[akopp21]

That DVD burner won't play Blu-rays. The rest of it would work, but I'd get a better case and PSU.

 

[excella1221]

^Good point, here's a revised version.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A6-3500 2.1GHz Triple-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A55M-DS2 Micro ATX FM1 Motherboard ($54.98 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($23.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill R379-M MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $309.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

The PSU is fine. 300w is more than enough for a system like this. The PSU is attached to a Rosewill casing so I assume it's a quality product from them as well.

 

[Guest]

It looks pretty good, but hoping for a smaller (maybe more square) case for this kind of setup. The rest can work.

Thanks.

 

[excella1221]

Okay, here, it's also $10 cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023&Tpk=rosewill%20blackbone

 

[Guest]

Once again, remember. I can't seem to open US links, only CA ones.

 

[akopp21]

Here's all of NewEgg's HTPC cases, see if there's any that you like. Just make sure you don't get a micro ATX motherboard and an ITX case.

http://www.newegg.ca/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=690&name=HTPC-Media-Center-Cases

 

[Seahawk2000]

will the mother board listed here only support stereo? with no hdmi or spdif out?

 

[excella1221]

Once again, remember. I can't seem to open US links, only CA ones.

Oh my bad. Didn't see you were from Canada. Though hun, you didn't say anything about not being able to open links.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023&Tpk=rosewill%20blackbone