Powerful but Quiet HTPC $500-$800+ New Build or Pre-Built

[KueB]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: 500-800 (willing to spend more if getting value for $)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: HTPC, streaming 1080p, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, HuluPlus, etc., downloading HD movies, surfing the web

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: new buid

Do you need to buy OS: No - I'm planning to get Windows 8.1 Pro for Students $69.99 from Microsoft Store

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, newegg

Location: Sacramento, CA

Parts Preferences: latest i5 processor, 8GB ram, SSD

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No (don't even know what it is lol)

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Need HTPC replacement for Lenovo Q190. I'd like it to be fast (current setup can't keep up with 1080p unless downloaded), needs to be quiet but powerful and small factor. Opitcal drive is optional - can't remember last time I used it.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Bought a bigger TV, old one is going to kids game room, Lenovo Q190 is not powerful enough anymore.

I'm willing to buy prebuilt if it's not too much more. I understand that time is money so I might go that route if anything exists on the market. I understand that this may be a little overboard but I want to future proof it somewhat. Open to suggestions (using over the air antenna, I heard people DVR stuff but don't know why).

 

[menetlaus]

No need for the i5 for your usage. There is an argument to be made for <$100 AMD processors, but I would stick with an i3-4xxx as much lower power draw so less cooling is needed and thus can be quieter. Dual core i3 is more than enough to handle 1080P content.

You can probably do with onboard graphics as you have no heavy graphics loads planned.

Look into cases - that is probably about the biggest decision you will have to make and the size will determine the motherboard and PSU that you can use.

8GB ram will be more than enough for you.

 

[menetlaus]

Actually any of the cheaper pentium broadwell based dual core CPU's will do you as well as an i3

 

[KueB]

I tend to be impatient and gazillion windows open that's why I thought i5 is better. I don't mind spending a little more.

 

[KueB]

I hope there are experts out there that can help me with this. What parts do I need to buy to get HTPC? I'm willing to buy prebuilt but I couldn't find it on my own.

 

[KueB]

Maybe all I need is?
Intel NUC D54250WYK1 Intel 4th Gen Core i5-4250U Processor
Samsung Electronics 840 EVO mSATA 0.85-Inch Solid State Drive MZ-MTE250BW
Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3 - 12800) CL11 SODIMM 204-Pin 1.35V/1.5V Notebook Memory Modules CT2CP51264BF160B