[SOLVED] Looking for a Media Streaming PC / Device

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime this month

Budget Range: No more than $400 max, but the less expensive the better

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Streaming videos and music through TV / sound system. NO GAMES.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Whole new system from scratch, I have spare storage drives that I can use for boot / storage to cut down on cost.

Do you need to buy OS: Probably depending on device

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, Micro Center

Location: Orange County, California, USA (I do have access to a Micro Center)

Parts Preferences: Open to suggestions

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1080P

Additional Comments: I am looking for a low cost / low power streaming PC or device for an exercise room. I am looking for something that would be a step up from something like a Chromecast, but something that is not quite a full blown HTPC. In addition to streaming video I would also like to be able to access my music / MP3 collection. So would this be something like an Intel compute stick or an Argon One (Raspberry Pi 4) be appropriate? I would like to have a full Windows installation with this device to be able to watch the majority of streaming services, Youtube, Spotify, iTunes, etc. And having low power is an absolute requirement for this device - the lower the power requirements, the better. Also: ZERO games will be played on this PC / device. ZERO. This is strictly for music and media storage and access.
 
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Mini ITX R3 3200g rig sounds about right, for what you want to do. Prices are a bit jacked up, right now, though. Even a 3000g probably would be fine.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Athlon 3000G 3.5 GHz Dual-Core Processor ($98.55 @ MemoryC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450 I AORUS PRO WIFI Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard ($119.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $378.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and...

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
Mini ITX R3 3200g rig sounds about right, for what you want to do. Prices are a bit jacked up, right now, though. Even a 3000g probably would be fine.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Athlon 3000G 3.5 GHz Dual-Core Processor ($98.55 @ MemoryC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450 I AORUS PRO WIFI Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard ($119.99 @ B&H)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $378.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-10-20 16:06 EDT-0400
 
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