High-end HTPC without overkilling

Geral · Aug 19, 2014

Hi community!

So i will build a HTPC. I would like it to be the best it could be without overkilling it.

It will be used for:

■ Play blue ray discs and eventually 4k
■ It will be plugged to a big tv (maybe 4k, but eventually it will defenitely be a 4k display)
■ it will be also be plugged to a nice stereo sound-surround sistem (maybe i need a sound card for this?)
■ it will be connected to cable tv
■ I would like to record anything there
■ It has to be able to run as a nice karaoke too

I think thats it. What would be the best hardware to buy without overkilling it.

P.S. The hardware changes too much if i want to play games there from time to time?

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

Geral :

Hi community!

So i will build a HTPC. I would like it to be the best it could be without overkilling it.

It will be used for:

■ Play blue ray discs and eventually 4k
■ It will be plugged to a big tv (maybe 4k, but eventually it will defenitely be a 4k display)
■ it will be also be plugged to a nice stereo sound-surround sistem (maybe i need a sound card for this?)
■ it will be connected to cable tv
■ I would like to record anything there
■ It has to be able to run as a nice karaoke too

I think thats it. What would be the best hardware to buy without overkilling it.

P.S. The hardware changes too much if i want to play games there from time to time?

Post your budget and we'll work something out.

sadams04 · Aug 19, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4350 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($97.49 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($111.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Superclocked Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 360W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Media Center Kit Dual TV Tuner w/ IR Remote PCI-E x 1 (Newegg) ($129.99)
Total: $885.40

Geral · Aug 19, 2014

zeyuanfu :

Well lets say theres no budget limit. The thing is i dont want to pay for something expensive if it wont be necesary.

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

Will you do multiple monitors?

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($40.50 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Superclocked ACX Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($138.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $733.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-19 09:29 EDT-0400
And add whatever you wish to this build.

Geral · Aug 19, 2014

sadams04 :

Nice.

Wouldnt i need a sound card? for a lets say 7.1 surround system?

zeyuanfu :

Nop. I saw some cases that use a display touch screen wich is a small monitor actually, will that count as a second monitor?

sadams04 · Aug 19, 2014

Geral :

Nope. The onboard sound will be fine and you will likely be doing optical audio anyway. That or over HDMI... You do plan on having a home stereo in the mix, right?

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

Geral :

sadams04 :

Nice.

Wouldnt i need a sound card? for a lets say 7.1 surround system?

zeyuanfu :

Nop. I saw some cases that use a display touch screen wich is a small monitor actually, will that count as a second monitor?

You don't need a sound card unless you're some kind of music mixer or just a rich guy.
It wouldn't be really a second monitor, and you can get a second monitor with the money you're using to buy one of the small monitors.

Geral · Aug 19, 2014

sadams04 :

Yes. I think thats better than to have just some great speakers connected directly to the pc right?

zeyuanfu :

IF i get the two monitors, will the gpu be fine?

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

Geral :

sadams04 :

Yes. I think thats better than to have just some great speakers connected directly to the pc right?

sadams04 :

zeyuanfu :

IF i get the two monitors, will the gpu be fine?

It will be fine at 1920x1080 but not 4K, you have to get a 770 or a 780 for that.

sadams04 · Aug 19, 2014

zeyuanfu :

...for gaming at 4k, but there is no reason not to expect a moderate GPU (GTX 750 or 760 mentioned here) to be able to play video at 4k resolutions without question.

Geral · Aug 19, 2014

sadams04 :

Ok so i should only spend more money IF i plan to play games on that. Else a gtx 760 is more than enough for a 4k display in lets say a 50" TV?

And about the sound... for a nice 7.1 system, should i get only the speakers or an audio system with 7.1 speakers incorporated?

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

Geral :

sadams04 :

Ok so i should only spend more money IF i plan to play games on that. Else a gtx 760 is more than enough for a 4k display in lets say a 50" TV?

And about the sound... for a nice 7.1 system, should i get only the speakers or an audio system with 7.1 speakers incorporated?

If you're an audiophile, I'd say 7.1 surround.

Geral · Aug 19, 2014

I meant 7.1 speakers vs 7.1 audio system (wich one is better)

zeyuanfu · Aug 19, 2014

Geral :

I'm not really familiar with sound terms, but audio system sounds like it has more stuff in it.

Geral · Aug 20, 2014

ok thanks, any more opinions while i build a sample of the htpc so u can check it out? Thx for the help btw

zeyuanfu · Aug 20, 2014

You COULD get 8 GB of RAM instead of 4 if you would like to game a little...

High-end HTPC without overkilling

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