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+--- Thread: Cheapest HTPC possible - Holy Grail (/showthread.php?tid=112914)
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Cheapest HTPC possible - Holy Grail - apex82 - 2011-10-21
Want ubuntu with xbmc and able to play 1080p MKV. I dont care about 7.1 or Trude-HD audio. Is this the cheapest setup possible that can do it!?
Case - $50
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121115
Motherboard with built in GPU - $80
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186212
500 GB HDD 3.5" - $50
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701
2GB Memory - $15
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220453
Total = $195 before shipping and tax
Does this do the trick? Do all the components seem like they are compatible? Thanks!
- voip-ninja - 2011-10-21
The question would be if that APU can really do full 1080P under Linux. It looks pretty anemic.
Also "1080P" is thrown around here all the time, but there is a world of difference between playing a lossy 1080P encode downloaded off the internet and a full 1080P rip of a BD.
- Robotica - 2011-10-21
yes, it will work. Instead of ubuntu you could also consider openelec.
- apex82 - 2011-10-21
voip-ninja Wrote:The question would be if that APU can really do full 1080P under Linux. It looks pretty anemic.
Also "1080P" is thrown around here all the time, but there is a world of difference between playing a lossy 1080P encode downloaded off the internet and a full 1080P rip of a BD.
I am referring to the lossy 1080p MKV on internet.
- Kirky99 - 2011-10-21
You don't even need a hard drive if you run OpenELEC (you would need your media on a file server).
Although it's more.. The Atom/ION combo with OpenELEC is tough to beat for your needs. I'm not sure on how good OpenELEC works with the CPU/GPU combo above.
- voip-ninja - 2011-10-21
As an aside, is there any way to "test" openelec on a machine without doing a full install, like just booting it from a thumb drive?
- mr.sparkle - 2011-10-21
Install OpenELEC from one thumb drive to another thumb drive, no?
- apex82 - 2011-10-21
Unfortunately, this will be a main media hub so will require a HDD for all the files. I also want to be able to browse internet etc. Openelec is out of the window because of this. So I should pull the trigger?
- wsume99 - 2011-10-21
I you were running windows then I'd say go ahead. I used an e-350 and it handled every "lossy" mkv I could find. I have no experience with ATI + linux but from what I hear it can be a real pain. That's not to say that eventually you won't be able to get everything working properly but you will absolutely need h/w acceleration to playback 1080p on the e-350. Not a problem with windows - not so sure with linux.
Atom/ION will definately work but will cost a little more $$$.
- bluray - 2011-10-21
i know you're trying to keep the cost down but if you're planning to playback bd iso in full 1080p video and bitstreaming dts-hd and truehd audio, i highly recommend one of these gpu $25 (MSI N430GT) or this $40 (SAPPHIRE 100322L Radeon HD 6450).
- r1lee - 2011-10-21
hasn't it been deteremined that E-350 will play back BD 1080p and bistream Hidef audio?
- apex82 - 2011-10-21
wsume99 Wrote:I you were running windows then I'd say go ahead. I used an e-350 and it handled every "lossy" mkv I could find. I have no experience with ATI + linux but from what I hear it can be a real pain. That's not to say that eventually you won't be able to get everything working properly but you will absolutely need h/w acceleration to playback 1080p on the e-350. Not a problem with windows - not so sure with linux.
Atom/ION will definately work but will cost a little more $$$.
I guess this would be the cheapest possible ion solution? That would be $70 more which seems like quite a bit.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500036
I am worried about the ati/ubuntu issue... anyone dealt with this recently?
- bluray - 2011-10-21
r8lee Wrote:hasn't it been deteremined that E-350 will play back BD 1080p and bistream Hidef audio?you can give it a try with pre-eden, you'll find out what i meant. xbmc is not known for it fluently playback. when trying to make it bitstream dts-hd and truehd, it'll be that much tougher. i bet you'll look for the link of gt430 and hd6450 later!
if you are using 7mce with tmt5, it'll be much easier task and more fluent to bitstream dts-hd and truehd than pre-eden!
- wsume99 - 2011-10-21
I'm not clear if the OP wants to bitstream or not. Either way you could consider doing the following. Get a different mITX case that has an expansion slot. Go ahead and get the e-350 MB like you were planning. If it is a problem in linux and you can't get it working to your satisfaction then you can get a low profile G210(no bitstreaming) or GT430(supports bitstreaming) if you need it. Either way it should be cheaper than an ATOM/ION.
- apex82 - 2011-10-21
wsume99 Wrote:I'm not clear if the OP wants to bitstream or not. Either way you could consider doing the following. Get a different mITX case that has an expansion slot. Go ahead and get the e-350 MB like you were planning. If it is a problem in linux and you can't get it working to your satisfaction then you can get a low profile G210(no bitstreaming) or GT430(supports bitstreaming) if you need it. Either way it should be cheaper than an ATOM/ION.
Awesome idea! I am a noob and didnt realize it was possible to use an nvidia card on an amd cpu. Correct, I do not care about bitstreaming.