Ultra Budget HTPC Build - feedback wanted!
#16
(2012-06-01, 21:06)Mick1152 Wrote: no built in wireless, he can add a cheap wireless usb to it if needed but, wired network is the way to go if at all possible.

I'm looking at a cheap WiFi PCI-E card mostly for my brother-in-law's convenience. I'm pretty sure it's enough for web streaming.
(2012-06-01, 18:00)Monkeypox Wrote: Don't forget a 2.5 to 3.5 mounting bracket if you're using that SSD.

Thanks - I'm going to see if I can fit it somewhere in the case, otherwise I'll get a cheap bracket.
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#17
(2012-06-01, 04:58)Dougie Fresh Wrote: Celeron and Pentium will perform the same for HTPC duties -- the G530 is perfect.

Potentially better deal on G530:
http://www.superbiiz.com/query.php?categry=0&s=G530
$41.99 - $5 with code "ZAMBONI" + shipping ($2.01 USPS First Class to my zip) = $39

That's a great deal, but it's OEM and won't include the heatsink/fan.
(2012-06-01, 15:43)Dougie Fresh Wrote: Here's a 64GB SSD for sale today:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820220581
$49.99 after mail-in rebate

Perfect! That's in my price range for a SSD.
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#18
(2012-06-01, 21:33)RealDealNeil Wrote:
(2012-06-01, 04:58)Dougie Fresh Wrote: Celeron and Pentium will perform the same for HTPC duties -- the G530 is perfect.

Potentially better deal on G530:
http://www.superbiiz.com/query.php?categry=0&s=G530
$41.99 - $5 with code "ZAMBONI" + shipping ($2.01 USPS First Class to my zip) = $39

That's a great deal, but it's OEM and won't include the heatsink/fan.

Oops, wrong link. Try this link: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=G530BOX
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#19
(2012-06-01, 05:39)lagledavid Wrote: this is where prices should be on a basic HTPC. Its not like we need mega power. I would love to know how this board performs.

I agree - it seems plenty powerful to me.

To get the price down, I had to wait for deals on a few components (i.e. MB, SSD) and be willing to settle on some less-than-stellar quality parts (i.e. MB, Case, PSU). The reviews on these were fairly positive so it wasn't much of a sacrifice.
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#20
PSU is not where to skimp. Go on Youtube and search "Cheap PSU". There are plenty of low priced high quality PSUs. It's not where to save $5-$10.
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#21
Everything can have problems though, I just bought components for a new desktop computer and got a very good, well liked, expensive, popular brand of PSU. I was a little shocked when it arrived and there was a large capacitor rattling around loose inside it. Didn't look like it had even a hint of solder residue on the two leads like it wasn't even soldered in place. Shocking there must not be any sort of quality control cause I'm certain a rattling power supply would have caught some attention. I tested it on an old known working system and it was certainly not working so sent it right back and bought a different brand.
HTPC 1 - AMD A8-3870K, ASRock A75M, Silverstone ML03B, Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR3 1866, Crucial M4 64GB SSD
HTPC 2 - HP Stream Mini, 6GB Ram
unRAID 6 Server - Intel Celeron G1610, 20TB Storage

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#22
$59.99 for Crucial m4 64GB SSD
http://www.buy.com/prod/crucial-m4-64gb-...50371.html
No coupons or rebates needed. Free shipping.
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#23
(2012-06-02, 18:47)Dougie Fresh Wrote: $59.99 for Crucial m4 64GB SSD
http://www.buy.com/prod/crucial-m4-64gb-...50371.html
No coupons or rebates needed. Free shipping.

Grrrr ... just bout that drive 12 days ago for $80 + $8 s/h off amazon ... fudge that!!!
The Mi7 (full specs)
HTPC: Antek ISK 300 | Pico 160 | ASRock z77E | i7 3770S | GSkill Ares 8GB | BigShuriken 2 | Crucial 64 SSD
TOYS: Panasonic TC-P58S2 | Onkyo TX-SR608 | Atlantic Tech 2400 | Harmony 1 | iPazzPort ProMini | Mohu 1000 | HomeRun Dual | 2x2TB NAS
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#24
Just bought a 128GB SSD for my new desktop system from amazon, bought it at 4am, at 9am the price had dropped and they wouldn't match the new price or let me return it because the order was still processing. Not a big fan of amazon these days.
HTPC 1 - AMD A8-3870K, ASRock A75M, Silverstone ML03B, Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR3 1866, Crucial M4 64GB SSD
HTPC 2 - HP Stream Mini, 6GB Ram
unRAID 6 Server - Intel Celeron G1610, 20TB Storage

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#25
(2012-06-02, 18:47)Dougie Fresh Wrote: $59.99 for Crucial m4 64GB SSD
http://www.buy.com/prod/crucial-m4-64gb-...50371.html
No coupons or rebates needed. Free shipping.

I was all set to pull the trigger -
Price jumped to 79.99. Hope you bought one or more when you had the chance ......
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#26
(2012-06-02, 18:47)Dougie Fresh Wrote: $59.99 for Crucial m4 64GB SSD
http://www.buy.com/prod/crucial-m4-64gb-...50371.html
No coupons or rebates needed. Free shipping.

that price is insane O.O
wish i was in USA lol
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#27
(2012-06-02, 21:12)Mick1152 Wrote: Just bought a 128GB SSD for my new desktop system from amazon, bought it at 4am, at 9am the price had dropped and they wouldn't match the new price or let me return it because the order was still processing. Not a big fan of amazon these days.

I'm not sure what you mean by return it (as you can't return something you don't have), but you can cancel the order through amazon without much more than a click or two. There's a big button to cancel on the order page for your item.
The Mi7 (full specs)
HTPC: Antek ISK 300 | Pico 160 | ASRock z77E | i7 3770S | GSkill Ares 8GB | BigShuriken 2 | Crucial 64 SSD
TOYS: Panasonic TC-P58S2 | Onkyo TX-SR608 | Atlantic Tech 2400 | Harmony 1 | iPazzPort ProMini | Mohu 1000 | HomeRun Dual | 2x2TB NAS
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#28
(2012-06-03, 00:16)Driver 944 Wrote:
(2012-06-02, 18:47)Dougie Fresh Wrote: $59.99 for Crucial m4 64GB SSD
http://www.buy.com/prod/crucial-m4-64gb-...50371.html
No coupons or rebates needed. Free shipping.

I was all set to pull the trigger -
Price jumped to 79.99. Hope you bought one or more when you had the chance ......

its still $59
My HTPC AMD A8-3870K CPU/ SilverStone ML03B/ASRock MB-A75M /Seasonic SS-400ET/Corsair XMS3 4GB
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#29
(2012-06-03, 00:46)helpermonkey Wrote:
(2012-06-02, 21:12)Mick1152 Wrote: Just bought a 128GB SSD for my new desktop system from amazon, bought it at 4am, at 9am the price had dropped and they wouldn't match the new price or let me return it because the order was still processing. Not a big fan of amazon these days.

I'm not sure what you mean by return it (as you can't return something you don't have), but you can cancel the order through amazon without much more than a click or two. There's a big button to cancel on the order page for your item.

Nope, it was disabled on the website and when I called their number they said it couldn't be cancelled because the order was currently in processing and I would have to call back later once the order was approved. Problem was, I ordered it to be sent overnight so it went from processing to shipped and I can't do anything about it. Not a huge deal but, sure sucks to miss out on a lower price by a few hours and have the retailer not be willing to do anything about it. Worst part, it didn't show up as shipped until after the lower price took effect. Not a big fan of amazon right now and won't be buying from a retailer without a price match policy in the future, especially with how fast some of these prices are dropping.
HTPC 1 - AMD A8-3870K, ASRock A75M, Silverstone ML03B, Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR3 1866, Crucial M4 64GB SSD
HTPC 2 - HP Stream Mini, 6GB Ram
unRAID 6 Server - Intel Celeron G1610, 20TB Storage

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#30
I built almost the exact system 6 months so i will give my impressions.

my parts used where
ECS H61H2-M3(1.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX $49.99
ECS NGT440-1GQI-F1 GeForce GT 440 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 $49.99
G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $22.99
Intel Celeron G530 Sandy Bridge 2.4GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics $51.99
CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $44.99
and i had a few 2tb drives laying around to use with the system for storage

anyway while the on-board intel grafics did work fine with anything i threw at it in MPC-HC
i had constant lock ups in XBMC, so i ended up just using the gt 440, solved all my problems. if it was not for the xbmc issues the intel grafics would
have been fine i think, i didnt have any high bitrate mkv's to to test, but standerd sized 1080p movies 10 to 18gb
would play fine, personaly i normally just download 720p versions around 5gb for my media center, any moive that i want
in high quailty i buy blurays anyway, and im over 800 movies in my bluray collection, my htpc is more for tv shows and
movies i dont care to own on bluray, if i could solve the xbmc problems, i would scrap the 440 in favor of noise reduction
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Ultra Budget HTPC Build - feedback wanted!0