Need recommendation for HTPC parts with some already on hand.

VitrasSlade

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Aug 23, 2015
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After upgrading my first PC build a few times throughout the past year, I have leftover parts and I am wanting to plan out an HTPC. I am more concerned with it performing optimally than price.

I am planning to use it for watching movies, YouTube, and other online media, while also using it to stream games from my PC through Steam. As of now I have been using a Surface Pro 3, but it doesn't take much to turn the fans on if I try streaming.

So the key features I am looking for: relative silence, small form factor (Fractal Design Node 202 being a good example), and enough power to stream games without getting noticeably louder.

The parts I have on hand:
-650w PSU
-2x 4GB DDR3 RAM
-MSI GTX 960 2G
-Gigabyte LGA 1150 Micro ATX mobo

I was initially thinking about getting a micro ATX HTPC case (the ones with "slim" PCIE) and putting a Pentium or i3 without using the GPU, though I wasn't sure if the integrated graphics could handle it easily. Thanks.
 
Solution
With the components you have offhand, I would have two system recommendations.
The first, is smaller, but does not utilize the graphics card:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($113.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG C7 40.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($37.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (Purchased For $0.00)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.69 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power...
With the components you have offhand, I would have two system recommendations.
The first, is smaller, but does not utilize the graphics card:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($113.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG C7 40.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($37.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (Purchased For $0.00)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.69 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 650W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $299.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-13 19:49 EDT-0400
The cooler is over the top and is not necessary for the i3, but will give you the silent performance you desire while streaming. The i3 will perform fine on its own with HD graphics, which allows the case to be smaller.
The case is the Silverstone ML03B, which offers USB 3.0 ports, a stylish front, and a small form factor.
The SSD is one of the fastest on the market and since you aren't saving files, but rather streaming, it will work fine in your build.

The second system is slightly larger and more expensive, but fits the GTX 960 into the system:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($113.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG C7 40.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($37.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (Purchased For $0.00)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($87.69 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GB Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Silverstone GD09B HTPC Case ($72.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 650W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $312.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-06-13 19:52 EDT-0400

The case is larger, and offers the same functionality as the other model, but offers more space for multiple PCI-E cards.

I hope this answers your question, best of luck!
 
Solution


He already has a GTX 960, and he definitely won't be streaming 4k games with a 950 or a Pentium. The i3 offers greater performance, and if he decides to use no GPU, then the Pentium will be left overwhelmed while streaming.