Advice on building a $700-$800 mini PC

[Yuripa]

Intending to use it as a living room entertainment system.

Current setup - 42" LG ips tv + Katana soundbar + subwoofer

Main intended usage -

1. Watching 1080p movies/shows on VLC player
2. Watching Youtube
3. Playing 2-player emulator games (nintendo, saga, ps 1/2, arcade)
4. (Just) Maybe, play 2-4 player pc soccer games (pro evolution soccer, fifa)
5. Probably looking at a 2TB hard disk but unsure if getting an additional 128GB SSD is a necessity.
6. Built-in Wi-Fi would be required since I have a wireless AIO Fuji Xerox printer that I might be using.

I'll probably get a win 10 os via Carousel and as for the mini PC chassis, with my limited knowledge on the function/quality of it, I'm looking at something like the Cooler Master Elite 130 -

Thanks in advance!! Any and Every advice given is greatly appreciated

 

[singupingu]

CASE: Thermaltake Core V1 $79
MOBO+CPU: MSI H110i Pro AC + Pentium G4560 $210
RAM: Kingston Valueram DDR4 2133MHz 8GB $85
PSU: FSP Hexa+ 450W $59
HDD: Seagate Firecuda 2TB SSHD $179 via Lazada*
GPU: Zotac Mini GTX 1050 2GB $178 via Lazada*
OS: Windows 10 Home $11 via Carousell

*buy together in a cart, get $300 fuzzie gift voucher for $60 cash back

TOTAL: $801 - $60 cashback = $741

Prices quoted from PC theme or otherwise stated.,

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

 

[dgenex]

Should try to get a SSD to install Windows. The faster boot time is quite substantial. Or get the SSHD as singupingu suggested

 

[Yuripa]

CASE: Thermaltake Core V1 $79
MOBO+CPU: MSI H110i Pro AC + Pentium G4560 $210
RAM: Kingston Valueram DDR4 2133MHz 8GB $85
PSU: FSP Hexa+ 450W $59
HDD: Seagate Firecuda 2TB SSHD $179 via Lazada*
GPU: Zotac Mini GTX 1050 2GB $178 via Lazada*
OS: Windows 10 Home $11 via Carousell

*buy together in a cart, get $300 fuzzie gift voucher for $60 cash back

TOTAL: $801 - $60 cashback = $741

Prices quoted from PC theme or otherwise stated.,

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

Oh wow, looks good!! Thanks again for your suggestion!! I'll check it out and get back to you if I've any questions.

 

[Yuripa]

Should try to get a SSD to install Windows. The faster boot time is quite substantial. Or get the SSHD as singupingu suggested

Yup, didn't know about SSHD, I'll probably get this as an alternative

 

[singupingu]

Oh wow, looks good!! Thanks again for your suggestion!! I'll check it out and get back to you if I've any questions.

No problem. Sshd will help boot time. The rest of the application don't really benefit much from the higher cost of ssd+hdd. Though you can also get ssd+hdd from lazada as well to make use of the $60 cashback.

Stack with Shopback for additional 2% cash back should get you few dollars back as well.

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

 

[Yuripa]

No problem. Sshd will help boot time. The rest of the application don't really benefit much from the higher cost of ssd+hdd. Though you can also get ssd+hdd from lazada as well to make use of the $60 cashback.

Stack with Shopback for additional 2% cash back should get you few dollars back as well.

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

That means 2 separate online transactions for 2 × $60 cashback?

And stack with Shopback = go buy lazada items via Shopback website?

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

 

[singupingu]

That means 2 separate online transactions for 2 × $60 cashback?

And stack with Shopback = go buy lazada items via Shopback website?

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

First, buy the gift voucher and gift to yourself. Done from the Fuzzie app from your phone.

Then, browse the stuff you need from Shopback website, your purchasing must be done with the redirected site from Shopback to make it eligible for the cashback claim.

Enter the voucher code at the end of the purchasing review, under the discount code.

Wait for delivery and done.

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

 

[Yuripa]

First, buy the gift voucher and gift to yourself. Done from the Fuzzie app from your phone.

Then, browse the stuff you need from Shopback website, your purchasing must be done with the redirected site from Shopback to make it eligible for the cashback claim.

Enter the voucher code at the end of the purchasing review, under the discount code.

Wait for delivery and done.

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

Woot. Noted with thanks!!

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

 

[Yuripa]

Which HDD and SSD would you be recommending then? And is 128GB more than sufficient for my needs? Reason for 2TB is to store movies music and photos/videos.

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

 

[dgenex]

HDD can get WD Blue/Black. Black more ex but got 2-year longer warranty, think the performance improvement is minimal though.

SSD can get OCZ/PNY for budget, got excess get Samsung EVO.

128GB basically is for people more or less only looking to store OS and maybe a few programs. If you have multiple programs that you need to load fast like some AAA games or video editing software then I suggest at least 250GB

 

[singupingu]

Which HDD and SSD would you be recommending then? And is 128GB more than sufficient for my needs? Reason for 2TB is to store movies music and photos/videos.

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

Any reputable brand will do. SSHD is most budget friendly and practical already. If you insist ssd and hdd combo, PNY Phantom-1 120gb for $79.90 and Seagate Barracuda 2TB $111.

120gb is enough for your usage as a HTPC.

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

 

[MasterChief86]

Intending to use it as a living room entertainment system.

Current setup - 42" LG ips tv + Katana soundbar + subwoofer

Main intended usage -

1. Watching 1080p movies/shows on VLC player
2. Watching Youtube
3. Playing 2-player emulator games (nintendo, saga, ps 1/2, arcade)
4. (Just) Maybe, play 2-4 player pc soccer games (pro evolution soccer, fifa)
5. Probably looking at a 2TB hard disk but unsure if getting an additional 128GB SSD is a necessity.
6. Built-in Wi-Fi would be required since I have a wireless AIO Fuji Xerox printer that I might be using.

I'll probably get a win 10 os via Carousel and as for the mini PC chassis, with my limited knowledge on the function/quality of it, I'm looking at something like the Cooler Master Elite 130 -

Thanks in advance!! Any and Every advice given is greatly appreciated

Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A? It's around 700- 750.
6th Gen Intel Core i5-6402P @ 2.80GHz
VR ready


Acer Predator AG3-710-UR53 is another option

6th Generation Intel Core i5-6400 Processor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX950





Dell XPS x8900-944BLK could do too.

Intel Core i5-6400 processor @ 2.7 GHz
GB DDR3 of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745

 

[Yuripa]

HDD can get WD Blue/Black. Black more ex but got 2-year longer warranty, think the performance improvement is minimal though.

SSD can get OCZ/PNY for budget, got excess get Samsung EVO.

128GB basically is for people more or less only looking to store OS and maybe a few programs. If you have multiple programs that you need to load fast like some AAA games or video editing software then I suggest at least 250GB

Any reputable brand will do. SSHD is most budget friendly and practical already. If you insist ssd and hdd combo, PNY Phantom-1 120gb for $79.90 and Seagate Barracuda 2TB $111.

120gb is enough for your usage as a HTPC.

Sent from Overpowered Phone Mark III using GAGT

Nah, not really a must have. Just wondering between sshd and the other option if there much major difference base on my needs that's all.

Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A? It's around 700- 750.
6th Gen Intel Core i5-6402P @ 2.80GHz
VR ready


Acer Predator AG3-710-UR53 is another option

6th Generation Intel Core i5-6400 Processor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX950





Dell XPS x8900-944BLK could do too.

Intel Core i5-6400 processor @ 2.7 GHz
GB DDR3 of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745

Thanks!! I've checked them out. They're either not available anymore or over my budget.

FYI: Base on my past 3 pc usage, I'm probably using it for 3-5 years before I go for a new rig.

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

 

[yusoffb01]

i built a n3150 cpu using cooler master Elite 110 casing for less than $200

it can play most video formats using hw decoder using media player classic.
bluray also plays fine because it is 8bit h264.

I recommend buying a graphics card if you have hevc and 10bit videos to play back. Otherwise the built in intel gpu is good.

 

[Yuripa]

i built a n3150 cpu using cooler master Elite 110 casing for less than $200

it can play most video formats using hw decoder using media player classic.
bluray also plays fine because it is 8bit h264.

I recommend buying a graphics card if you have hevc and 10bit videos to play back. Otherwise the built in intel gpu is good.

Your entire rig cost less than $200?

 

[yusoffb01]

Your entire rig cost less than $200?

yes

n3150 colourful motherboard from taobao $73
fsp 300w $27 after lazada disc
Coolermaster elite 110 $40 after lazada disc
Sandisk 120gb ssd $45 due to pricing error in lazada
4GB DDr3 ram reuse. but if buy second hand is $20 in carousell

and less than 20w. can leave on to download or use as file server at home.

Spoiler

if you use zotac 1050 graphics card for the hevc video playback will cost $161 more

 

[MoneyFace =p]

yes

n3150 colourful motherboard from taobao $73
fsp 300w $27 after lazada disc
Coolermaster elite 110 $40 after lazada disc
Sandisk 120gb ssd $45 due to pricing error in lazada
4GB DDr3 ram reuse. but if buy second hand is $20 in carousell

and less than 20w. can leave on to download or use as file server at home.

Spoiler

if you use zotac 1050 graphics card for the hevc video playback will cost $161 more

For HEVC, there is now a GT 1030 for that!!

 

[Yuripa]

yes

n3150 colourful motherboard from taobao $73
fsp 300w $27 after lazada disc
Coolermaster elite 110 $40 after lazada disc
Sandisk 120gb ssd $45 due to pricing error in lazada
4GB DDr3 ram reuse. but if buy second hand is $20 in carousell

and less than 20w. can leave on to download or use as file server at home.

Spoiler

if you use zotac 1050 graphics card for the hevc video playback will cost $161 more

Nice. Don't think I'm that hardworking. I'll look into that for my parents house instead. Thanks again

Sent from Nokia 3210 without using GAGT

 

[MoneyFace =p]

The perfectly small and powerful MOBA gaming and 4K60 HEVC 10-bit playback ready HTPC!

CPU+MB+WIFI+BT: Intel Pentium G4560 + MSI H110I Pro AC @ $210 (PC Themes)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4-2400 CL15 8GB Dual Channel Kit [Black] @ $86^
GPU: Zotac GT 1030 2GB [Low Profile] @ $99^
SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB @ $129*
HDD: Toshiba DT01ACA200 2TB @ $89 (PC Themes)
CASE+PSU: In Win BP655 [Black] + Power Man IP-S300FF1-0 300W TFX [80 Plus] @ $95 (Laser Distributor / AIM Resources)
Only 8.2 litres small!
Well within power envelope. No worries.
PSU OEM by FSP.
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Product Key @ $2 (Taobao)

Total: $710

Prices from Lazada SG listings unless otherwise stated.

Prices after Fuzzie App 20% rebates off $150*/100^ Lazada Gift Card purchases.