HTPC recommendation

[fatthumb]

Hi Guys,

My current rig recently died on me and since I no longer play games, I'd like to get a new HTPC rig to connect to my bedroom smart TV via HDMI.

Purpose of the rig will be for torrenting, streaming, microsoft office, team viewer remote to office desktop and watching HD movies.

Quite a modest budget if possible below 700 SGD else 700-1000 SGD (no monitor but need OS).

My main requirement will be the small form factor since I will be putting the CPU on my built in TV rack.

Any advice is appreciated since I've been out of touch with latest build/rig.

Thanks guys sorry for the loooong write up

 

[MoneyFace =p]

How did your PC die on you? Still powerful to cater to all those needs though. Have you troubleshoot it?

 

[fatthumb]

Yeah I know it has been giving me a lot of blue screen and auto reboot since 2 years back. Been trying to troubleshoot by removing one by one and yesterday it just refused to boot to windows. Perma blue screen and since i need smaller form factor to pair with my TV I just thought of getting a new rig (get it over and done with).

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Yeah I know it has been giving me a lot of blue screen and auto reboot since 2 years back. Been trying to troubleshoot by removing one by one and yesterday it just refused to boot to windows. Perma blue screen and since i need smaller form factor to pair with my TV I just thought of getting a new rig (get it over and done with).

What BSoD message did you observed? Can use BlueScreenViewer to see the message?

Could be due to SSD, GPU, RAM or maybe mobo...

 

[fatthumb]

I no longer able to boot into windows... How to troubleshoot? Highly suspect SSD too since not using my pcie graphic card.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

What BSoD message did you observed? Can use BlueScreenViewer to see the message?

Could be due to SSD, GPU, RAM or maybe mobo...

Do you have access to another PC with DVD drive? Have you tried burning and testing your RAMs with memtest?

I understand that you want to get over with it with a brand new PC, but my rationale to ask you troubleshoot is to pinpoint out the faulty part so you can choose to reuse some of them. And you current system is also yet going to be more powerful than the ones we are going to recommend. So rather than going for a brand new PC i would really suggest you troubleshoot and sniff out the culprit so you don't need to waste money on something less powerful.

 

[fatthumb]

Do you have access to another PC with DVD drive? Have you tried burning and testing your RAMs with memtest?

I understand that you want to get over with it with a brand new PC, but my rationale to ask you troubleshoot is to pinpoint out the faulty part so you can choose to reuse some of them. And you current system is also yet going to be more powerful than the ones we are going to recommend. So rather than going for a brand new PC i would really suggest you troubleshoot and sniff out the culprit so you don't need to waste money on something less powerful.

Ok thanks bro i havE another laptop with dvdrom. I dont know how to do memtest but will google and find out. Any other troubleshooting tools u want to recommend bearing in mind i cant access my windows?

 

[fatthumb]

Argh now i get it... Dont think i can memtest since i got no other pc...

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Ok thanks bro i havE another laptop with dvdrom. I dont know how to do memtest but will google and find out. Any other troubleshooting tools u want to recommend bearing in mind i cant access my windows?

Ok great, you can actually burn these tools ISOs into a thumbdrive using YUMI (or use the provided USB installer tool) on memtest website:

http://www.memtest.org/

You did mention you have actually taken out the graphics card to try booting up right? You should try also setting in EFI BIOS Primary Graphics Adapter to "Onboard" and try booting up. Also, do try booting up with just the SSD plugged in, leaving all other drive unplugged to eliminate any possibility of interference.

 

[escksu]

If you are looking for a new PC. Suggest Intel NUC. Reason is that its small and looks quite sleek. IMHO, external looks is more important than performance for HTPC. The NUC is more than capable to handle all HTPC tasks anyway as well.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

If you are looking for a new PC. Suggest Intel NUC. Reason is that its small and looks quite sleek. IMHO, external looks is more important than performance for HTPC. The NUC is more than capable to handle all HTPC tasks anyway as well.

He already got a great system that is also scalable....

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Argh now i get it... Dont think i can memtest since i got no other pc...

Just get another PC, plug in an empty thumbdrive, download the ISO and USB installer and burn the ISO into the thumbdrive.

 

[fatthumb]

Managed to run memtest after i got lucky and get into startup repair. However test completed and no results summary... Seems like no issue with memory?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Bad RAMs should have these red markings:

I guess nothing for you right?

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Managed to run memtest after i got lucky and get into startup repair. However test completed and no results summary... Seems like no issue with memory?

Do you have some space left in your WD 1TB HDD to create another partition? If you got some spare time, probably 1-2 hours, try this:

Plug in HDD, ODD and without that OCZ SSD into system, try shrinking your HDD existing partition to create some space for another partition. Install a fresh copy of Windows using your Windows disc into that emptied out space with all the drivers along and observe for anymore occurrence of BSoDs or shut downs. And later on test further with reinstallation of your graphics card and its latest driver and observe for the same things. If no problem thereafter that mean your OCS SSD is at fault.

 

[fatthumb]

Do you have some space left in your WD 1TB HDD to create another partition? If you got some spare time, probably 1-2 hours, try this:

Plug in HDD, ODD and without that OCZ SSD into system, try shrinking your HDD existing partition to create some space for another partition. Install a fresh copy of Windows using your Windows disc into that emptied out space with all the drivers along and observe for anymore occurrence of BSoDs or shut downs. And later on test further with reinstallation of your graphics card and its latest driver and observe for the same things. If no problem thereafter that mean your OCS SSD is at fault.

Yeah got no time now gotta work tomorrow. Now running memtest via usb. I got one red line huurahhh

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Yeah got no time now gotta work tomorrow. Now running memtest via usb. I got one red line huurahhh

Oh then you should pay Corbell a visit to exchange for new sticks of RAM le..

No spare HDD or SSD whatsoever right?

Thee 2 are great SSD deals btw:

SSD: Transcend SSD370S 256GB @ $98^ (Lazada Singapore)

SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB @ $110^ (Lazada Singapore)

After MCUNLOCKED 18% discount ($50 cap)

 

[fatthumb]

 

[fatthumb]

I dont have original windows as well, i think it is time to invest in a new one along with ssd. Any recommendation for OS and where to buy? thanks bro

 

[MoneyFace =p]

I dont have original windows as well, i think it is time to invest in a new one along with ssd. Any recommendation for OS and where to buy? thanks bro

Then who install your Windows for you one? It is a genuine paid copy i presume right? Windows 7 Ultimate leh, not cheap.