Budget HTPC Build (AMD A6 ?)

Dolphyn42 · Mar 16, 2014

I have been looking around and found a lot of budget A6 and A4 builds that many say will be sufficient for HTPC. However I am still unsure if they will suffice for our family. I'll just post this in the format in the sticky:

Approximate Purchase Date: End of spring break or end of the month

Budget Range: $250-350, After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Media center, web surfing and internet video, light gaming, ripping Blu-Rays (probably a future use)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.newegg.com ; www.ncixus.com

Country: America

Parts Preferences: Micro ATX or Mini ITX HTPC Case

Overclocking: If needed

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: Full 1080p LG Passive 3D TV (I would like this to have 3D capabilities (not necessarily for gaming) if at all possible)

Additional Comments: Needs to be quiet enough so we can't hear it when sitting on the couch. We have a MyBook Live or two for NAS, if that will work for NAS.
Here is something I put together. Not sure if it's any good, especially the power supply with the case.
I'm hoping my budget can withstand all this, but if it can't, $450 will probably be the max.

jaslion · Mar 16, 2014

Dolphyn42 :

Thats a good system but if you can get an a8 somewhere for just a bit more then that would be better because i had problems playing a high bit rate video on an athlon II x4 system with a radeon hd 6450 and i found that a better gpu solved the problem. Also it will give you a better experience overall.

Dolphyn42 · Mar 16, 2014

jaslion :

Will a 5600K work?

RazerZ · Mar 16, 2014

Dolphyn42 :

This will be a much better , faster system at the same price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3420 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($50.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($90.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Diablotek CPA-0170 ATX Mid Tower Case w/400W Power Supply ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $326.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 10:29 EDT-0400)

jaslion · Mar 16, 2014

RazerZ :

Dolphyn42 :

This will be a much better , faster system at the same price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3420 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($50.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($90.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Diablotek CPA-0170 ATX Mid Tower Case w/400W Power Supply ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $326.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 10:29 EDT-0400)

true but i am not so sure about that psu being a good one and delivering enough to power the system.

RazerZ · Mar 16, 2014

jaslion :

RazerZ :

true but i am not so sure about that psu being a good one and delivering enough to power the system.

It should suffice, looking at the completed builds people have used 7850s and it did fine.

jaslion · Mar 16, 2014

RazerZ :

jaslion :

RazerZ :

true but i am not so sure about that psu being a good one and delivering enough to power the system.

It should suffice, looking at the completed builds people have used 7850s and it did fine.

Well then thats one good deal.

tcb1005 · Mar 16, 2014

RazerZ :

Dolphyn42 :

This will be a much better , faster system at the same price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3420 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($50.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($90.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Diablotek CPA-0170 ATX Mid Tower Case w/400W Power Supply ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $326.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 10:29 EDT-0400)

+1

Dolphyn42 · Mar 16, 2014

RazerZ :

Dolphyn42 :

This will be a much better , faster system at the same price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3420 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($50.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($90.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Diablotek CPA-0170 ATX Mid Tower Case w/400W Power Supply ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $326.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-16 10:29 EDT-0400)

Any thoughts on an aftermarket cooler for CPU or will the stock one suffice?
Also, 1x4GB or 2x2GB? I've always heard that dual-channel is better, or does it matter?
Other than that it looks pretty sexy. Thanks.

RazerZ · Mar 16, 2014

Dolphyn42 :

RazerZ :

Any thoughts on an aftermarket cooler for CPU or will the stock one suffice?
Also, 1x4GB or 2x2GB? I've always heard that dual-channel is better, or does it matter?
Other than that it looks pretty sexy. Thanks.

Well if you plan to upgrade it to 8gb later on stick with one stick of 4gb. Otherwise 2x2gb would be better. As for the cpu cooler stock should be ok, but if you were to add one go for anything under $20

Here's an example:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr910htx3g1

Dolphyn42 · Mar 16, 2014

RazerZ :

Dolphyn42 :

Well if you plan to upgrade it to 8gb later on stick with one stick of 4gb. Otherwise 2x2gb would be better. As for the cpu cooler stock should be ok, but if you were to add one go for anything under $20

Here's an example:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr910htx3g1

Yeah, okay, I see now. Thank you for all of the help, it will probably come a long way.

RazerZ · Mar 16, 2014

Dolphyn42 :

RazerZ :

Dolphyn42 :

Well if you plan to upgrade it to 8gb later on stick with one stick of 4gb. Otherwise 2x2gb would be better. As for the cpu cooler stock should be ok, but if you were to add one go for anything under $20

Here's an example:

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr910htx3g1

Yeah, okay, I see now. Thank you for all of the help, it will probably come a long way.

No problem.

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