Advice for budget Mini ITX HTPC

[SyncGuy]

Hello all,

I'm back again to seek advice for my next DIY project: HTPC!

Hmm.. I've decided to set up a somewhat "budget" HTPC in my living room. i've termed it as "budget" as with my requirement, i am not too sure if it would fit into the "budget" category as i do not have any experience as to what is needed and what would be considered overkill.

Currently i've been using my laptop (Asus UL30A) to handle HD movie downloads over WiFi via JDownloader straight to my NAS (DNS 320) which is attached to my router via LAN.

At the same time, once the packages of a movie has been downloaded, my NAS handles the unzipping, although somewhat quite slow. And this requires my laptop to be switched on throughout.

I would also concurrently stream 1080P movies from my NAS to my 42" Samsung Smart TV via the LAN cable with no issues.


Therefore, i am thinking that i might as well set up a 24/7 HTPC that would be able to concurrently handle downloads, *unzip*, stream movies, surf web, youtube, facebook, flickr, etc.

No gaming would be done.

*I'd believe unzipping of packages would be much faster if done via a better CPU in the HTPC rather than by the DNS-320. Once unzipped, i will manually transfer the files to my NAS.


Therefore, after explaining my intended usage as above, i would like to seek advice as to what would be a good set up perhaps below $400-$500? Not too sure on price cap as i'm looking at just the bare minimum required to meet my requirements, nothing more.

Will be using Windows 7 OS.
No KB+mouse needed as i already have.
Mini ITX would be appreciated..

Any advice?

EDIT: Cracking my head on this over Google leads me to read up a bit more on AMD A10 processor... Hmm..

 

[royfrosty]

Can get a gigabyte h77n-wifi itx mobo with a g2010.
Ram kingston value ram 4gb
1tb wd blue
Any dvd combo drive
Pico psu 450w will do
Chassis any chassis that is small

Pai seh using phone now cant see any price list to recommend you.

 

[SyncGuy]

Can get a gigabyte h77n-wifi itx mobo with a g2010.
Ram kingston value ram 4gb
1tb wd blue
Any dvd combo drive
Pico psu 450w will do
Chassis any chassis that is small

Pai seh using phone now cant see any price list to recommend you.

Thanks for the recommendation bro! Sorry, but i'm curious and still find it pretty intriguing.. I was looking at the i3-3245 as it is the cheapest chip which has the HD4000 graphics(i assumed this is important since i am not looking at a dedicated GPU).

The processor that you had recommended, i can't see what is the integrated graphics, but you mean it can actually support 1080P smoothly?!

Sorry, very noob here..

 

[yusoffb01]

Thanks for the recommendation bro! Sorry, but i'm curious and still find it pretty intriguing.. I was looking at the i3-3245 as it is the cheapest chip which has the HD4000 graphics(i assumed this is important since i am not looking at a dedicated GPU).

The processor that you had recommended, i can't see what is the integrated graphics, but you mean it can actually support 1080P smoothly?!
i
Sorry, very noob here..

u can go for celeron g1610 it is the cheapest.

you dont need good graphics to play 1080p smoothly... good graphics will offload decoding from cpu. but not all format supported.

 

[SyncGuy]

u can go for celeron g1610 it is the cheapest.

you dont need good graphics to play 1080p smoothly... good graphics will offload decoding from cpu. but not all format supported.

Wow... Ok...
So, for CPU-wise, will the celeron g1610 be able to handle multiple downloads in the background cum extraction(winzip) while streaming 1080p movies to my Samsung TV from my NAS all at the same time?

 

[yusoffb01]

Wow... Ok...
So, for CPU-wise, will the celeron g1610 be able to handle multiple downloads in the background cum extraction(winzip) while streaming 1080p movies to my Samsung TV from my NAS all at the same time?

cfm can. downloading doesnt take much. probably 8percent cpu. 1080p playback 35 percent. unzipping varies depending on current cpu loaad.

 

[royfrosty]

Alright, this would be my recommendations:

Mobo + CPU
Asrock B75m ITX + Intel Celeron G1610 ~ $154

RAM
Kingston PC3-1333 DDR 3 4gb ram ~ $45

HDD or SSD
What i think best for HTPC if you storing Movies or Musics i would recommend get the WD Black 1tb ($126) as it is faster to load of HD movies from the HDD, making movies fast forward or backwards fast enough. If you are purely using for streaming online shows i would just recommend you buying Plextor M5S 128gb ($134)

Chassis
This is the only one that you might need to get it from MyNextCom either online or go down to SLS where their physical shop is.

Jonsbo V2B with 300W PSU ~ $92

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OS ~ $115

ODD (optional)
For your DVD movies playback

Any brand at $25

EDIT: You will need a Wireless Adapter for WiFi
TP Link Wireless N Adapter ~ $20

Total cost $577 with ODD (With HDD) +$134 with SSD
Total cost $552 w/o ODD (With HDD) +$134 with SSD

Build at Tradepac & casing at MyNextCom

 

[yusoffb01]

Instead of getting 1tb black, you could get 2tb toshiba for less.

 

[SyncGuy]

Alright, this would be my recommendations:

Mobo + CPU
Asrock B75m ITX + Intel Celeron G1610 ~ $154

RAM
Kingston PC3-1333 DDR 3 4gb ram ~ $45

HDD or SSD
What i think best for HTPC if you storing Movies or Musics i would recommend get the WD Black 1tb ($126) as it is faster to load of HD movies from the HDD, making movies fast forward or backwards fast enough. If you are purely using for streaming online shows i would just recommend you buying Plextor M5S 128gb ($134)

Chassis
This is the only one that you might need to get it from MyNextCom either online or go down to SLS where their physical shop is.

Jonsbo V2B with 300W PSU ~ $92

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OS ~ $115

ODD (optional)
For your DVD movies playback

Any brand at $25

EDIT: You will need a Wireless Adapter for WiFi
TP Link Wireless N Adapter ~ $20

Total cost $577 with ODD (With HDD) +$134 with SSD
Total cost $552 w/o ODD (With HDD) +$134 with SSD

Build at Tradepac & casing at MyNextCom

Thanks a lot for your recommendation my friend! Looks like i can shave a fair bit amount of cash as i already have a Windows 7 OS and i would be attaching the HTPC to my router via ethernet.

But nevertheless, after cracking my head and Googling around, i suddenly hit upon the idea of setting up a HTPC+NAS combo.

I can then use it as a 24/7 download machine while able to watch 1080P movies at any point in time and also chuck in a large amount of storage space.

Is that even possible and would it be recommended? If not, why?

I've an offer from a kind HWZ member here for a budget Mini ITX build for around ~$300.

Specs are roughly:

Intel I3-2120T 35W Sandy Bridge CPU
DH67CF ITX Motherboard
8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 9 Corsair Vengeance RAM
Antec ISK 310-150

Starting off with the above build, would i be able to further expand it with 1 SSD for OS and 2x3TB HDD for storage (NAS) purpose over ethernet attached to my router?

Is this hybrid build even possible?

 

[royfrosty]

Thanks a lot for your recommendation my friend! Looks like i can shave a fair bit amount of cash as i already have a Windows 7 OS and i would be attaching the HTPC to my router via ethernet.

But nevertheless, after cracking my head and Googling around, i suddenly hit upon the idea of setting up a HTPC+NAS combo.

I can then use it as a 24/7 download machine while able to watch 1080P movies at any point in time and also chuck in a large amount of storage space.

Is that even possible and would it be recommended? If not, why?

I've an offer from a kind HWZ member here for a budget Mini ITX build for around ~$300.

Specs are roughly:

Intel I3-2120T 35W Sandy Bridge CPU
DH67CF ITX Motherboard
8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 9 Corsair Vengeance RAM
Antec ISK 310-150

Starting off with the above build, would i be able to further expand it with 1 SSD for OS and 2x3TB HDD for storage (NAS) purpose over ethernet attached to my router?

Is this hybrid build even possible?

I'm not sure how NAS works. I only know it is multiple HDD connected in RAID.

So i'm unable to advise you on that.

Well that guy offer you a sandy bridge HTPC. It is up to you. For what i know get a new proper setup yourself and pay a little more for extra warranty. Once and for all settle it. Unless you are those type that itch for an upgrade then just buy 2nd hand.

 

[yusoffb01]

the price is fair, neither exp or cheap. take note of 1 yr wrty left vs buying new got 3 yrs.

if u leave com on, dont need ssd. it only benefits for faster bootup time.

if possible i suggest install windows 8 on hdd in uefi mode. my laptop using hdd and uefi loads faster than my desktop on ssd and legacy bios.

 

[Yo2020]

if u can wait, the new i3 n pentium r coming in sep.

 

[FanFreak]

Thanks a lot for your recommendation my friend! Looks like i can shave a fair bit amount of cash as i already have a Windows 7 OS and i would be attaching the HTPC to my router via ethernet.

But nevertheless, after cracking my head and Googling around, i suddenly hit upon the idea of setting up a HTPC+NAS combo.

I can then use it as a 24/7 download machine while able to watch 1080P movies at any point in time and also chuck in a large amount of storage space.

Is that even possible and would it be recommended? If not, why?

I've an offer from a kind HWZ member here for a budget Mini ITX build for around ~$300.

Specs are roughly:

Intel I3-2120T 35W Sandy Bridge CPU
DH67CF ITX Motherboard
8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 9 Corsair Vengeance RAM
Antec ISK 310-150

Starting off with the above build, would i be able to further expand it with 1 SSD for OS and 2x3TB HDD for storage (NAS) purpose over ethernet attached to my router?

Is this hybrid build even possible?

Please take note that the antec casing does not accomodate so many HDD.
Please change to ah lian casing or fractal node to make it a NAS hybrid that you want.

 

[daniel_83]

this casing small enough?

more details here:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/hoot-pc-themes-my-wifey-4286366.html

 

[SyncGuy]

Please take note that the antec casing does not accomodate so many HDD.
Please change to ah lian casing or fractal node to make it a NAS hybrid that you want.

Hmm.... Ok! Looked at the specs again, quite true.. LoL! Oh well...

Thanks for the advices! I will ponder further.

 

[rAcEr]

I'll spend more to get a pentium g2010 instead of the celeron just in case more cpu power is needed

 

[SyncGuy]

I'll spend more to get a pentium g2010 instead of the celeron just in case more cpu power is needed

I'm thinking of the same too... The price diff won't be too much i think..

But i'm looking at those low TDP CPUs coz i'm doubling up the HTPC as a download cum unRAR machine..

**Yea, 24/7 downloading movies non-stop and then unRAR-ing the archives before having it sent over to my NAS. Macam constant "background service"..

Then at any point in time this is happening, i might want to watch a movie or surf the web or youtube.

You think the CPU G2010 can handle these all at the same time?

 

[t258jgn]

with all these running on background, you might need i3-3220 / i3-3225

 

[chengsun]

got so many movies to download? i download 1 ep RM 1.4GB takes like 20minutes only. Most of the time the Transmission sitting in my router is like idle there only

 

[SyncGuy]

got so many movies to download? i download 1 ep RM 1.4GB takes like 20minutes only. Most of the time the Transmission sitting in my router is like idle there only

I dunno man... I download only FHD 1080P averaging 8gb/movie on my 100mbps fibre+Mio TV data plan. I don't watch TV, only movies..
Download, Watch finish, delete, Download, watch finish, delete, all the way.. :/

Have movies from 90's also mah...

Using JDownloader to manage the downloading and extracting to my 3TB NAS.

with all these running on background, you might need i3-3220 / i3-3225

Ah... Just as i've suspected... I worry too... Looks like i would need to look at the i3-3220T version?