How's this HTPC build?
#16
Everyone, thanks for the comments !
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#17
No problem if you have any questions feel free to ask em. I clearly like hardware way too much because I didn't even watch this NBA game go into over time. The lower power/low cost options from intel and AMD are way too interesting to me.

Also, if you want a case recommendation let me know what your plans are for drives. I like the Silverstone Grandia cases, but I don't think it's a necessity to have one at all. My TV Stand is sufficiently far away from the wall that I could fit my whole tower PC behind there. If you don't have to pay the HTPC case premium then I wouldn't. I actually just have my FractalDesign D4 case right next to my TV stand. Not a SINGLE person has ever said "Wow why do you have a PC next to your TV." Every single person has actually said "I just thought you had two subs. I didn't know how you were using a mouse/keyboard with your TV." Those are the people who noticed it, many just don't even notice the black box next to my TV stand.

But that's if you want to save some cash or get a better suited case. I considered the Grandia case though so I understand if you want to keep it.
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#18
(2014-04-21, 06:24)tential Wrote: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealD...bo.1594348 - 100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820313426 - 50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820178455 - 60
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=119920 - Pick the powersupply based on your location. You only need the lowest power one. - $38
Total, $248

I recommend this OP if you want to use AMD.

If you want to use intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813138393 - 70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820313426 - 50
Case - I need more informatoin on your plans for this build to recommend the correct case.
PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk The price on this has changed by $30 again to 90. Just pick up a cheap SSD though with decent reviews. You aren't running games or anything so SSD performance differences won't be huge to you. For gamers/enthusiasts, they will whine about the 1 second extra they have to wait or will brag about buying a faster SSD just to shave an incremental amount of time off a task. I doubt you care that much.

I change my power supply recommendation to Pico:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=119920

Only reason I recommended anything else was to keep it all newegg but Pico Power supplies are the best price to performance ratio you can get in a Mini ITX.

You won't need case fans with either of these builds because it'll be essentially silent. You can still use a CD Drive. Personally, I'd get a USB CD Drive. It's so rare that you ever need a CD drive that I wouldn't bother installing one on any build now and will just use a USB CD Drive if I need it. I'd only put a CD/DVD/Bluray Drive in my main PC. I can't remember the last time I needed a CD Drive for anything other than burning a DVD/CD for family members who still live in the extreme past in terms of hardware.

Good suggestions, though I would also like to suggest the Bay Trail mobo as it is passively cooled http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813128698

There is off course a higher price tag on this, though Bay Trail brings with itself better a GPU and presumably power savings, though I haven't read any reviews that can back up the last part.

For more info on bay trail-d motherboards you can look here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=184930

Like tential says, the optical drive isn't necessary unless you plan to play Blurays.
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#19
I didn't recommend BayTrail because intel has a habit of putting out HUGE breaking bugs on their first mobo.

If people have them with no issue then I'd get BayTrail. The J1900. But I think the performance bonus/price premium probably won't ever come into play. Also, I like the fact that Kabini is upgradeable so that if x265 becomes popular with the next year or two you could upgrade your Kabini processor to one that has hardwarew decoding.

Edit: Wow that feels weird actually giving preference to an AMD product lol....
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#20
I personally, believe building an htpc is thinking the old way. Had multiple htpcs for 9-10 years and moving away from it. Yes still have mine, but just because still works fine. However, it is just a movie player now since I got a NAS a while back. Seriously looking into going to Fire TV since it can run xbmc.

The new way to go, it is with a NAS and a media player such as Roku, Apple TV or Fire TV. The cost would be around $250.

I do agree, if you really want xbmc, fire tv and an apple tv v2 are the only options. Hence I will probably go with the FTV.
AFTV (non-rooted + Kodi)
WD My Book Live NAS
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#21
AppleTV is a joke. Only going up to 720p isn't even an option. Roku doesn't have XBMC as an option. FireTV still isn't perfect with XBMC.
Saying those are the only 2 options when the Apple TV isn't 1080p capable and the FireTV isn't finished yet with playback is EXTREMELY misleading.

HTPC serves its place and allows for other options that these devices may not be able to handle as well. FireTV is my pick for later when it's more mature but right now certainly not. FireTV is the closest we've gotten with XBMC to an EASY/Cheap to work with SetTop Box with Rmote but HTPC still has it in terms of reliable playback and playback options.
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#22
You are correct, Apple TV works, but it has its limitations. It all depends on the user's requirements.
Fire TV, it is coming along. Getting there...
Roku works great, but with Plex, not XBMC to stream files to it

and yes, HTPC will handle just about anything, since it is a whole blown system and OS most of the time. But it all depends on the user requirements. In my case, even though I've been happy with it for the past years, it is overkill.

Anyhow, going back to the original request... as some stated before:

Too expensive if you just want a HTPC to browse and play media files.
- I would only keep the SSD
- Instead of the optical drive + harddrive, save that money and get a NAS
- Cheaper processor

Hardware mentioned by Tential is pretty good.

I personally, like Zotac Zbox barebone systems. Just add RAM, hard drive + OS and ready to go. You can find some models on Amazon and Newegg.
AFTV (non-rooted + Kodi)
WD My Book Live NAS
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#23
OP, what are your goals for this build? I think it's important that you specify clearly what you will be using this HTPC for, what it needs to support (3D, PVR?), which components you DON'T want to change and which ones you are open to suggestions for. While it's good to get feedback from experienced members, it's also important that you don't end up with something that strays too far away from your original build - you need to be satisfied with the HTPC since you will be the one using it and not us.
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How's this HTPC build?0