4K/60Hz HTPC for Video Only

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moogleslam

moogleslam

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May 17, 2010
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I'm starting to design a build for this, and have a few questions regarding mobo/CPU/GPU options.

This system will be used for 4k video only. Amazon, HULU, downloaded movies, etc, and it will not be used for gaming or anything else.

The plan is it to design it to be able to easily handle content at 4k/60FPS, but keep the cost as low as possible.

I know I need HDMI 2.0, but is it most cost effective to get a CPU with onboard video, or to get a cheaper CPU, with a dedicated graphics card? Once I get that figured out, I can get everything else in place. Any recommendations?

Thanks
 
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Quixit
The Pentium G4400 specs say it supports 4K. Thunderbolt is going to be pricey, and I think you might still need a Thunderbolt->HDMI 2.0 converter.
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Quixit

Quixit

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Dec 22, 2014
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To support 4K @ 60Hz over HDMI you basically only have 2 choices. A Sky Lake Intel CPU with a DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0 converter (Club3D is the only company I know of that makes a compatible adapter.) or an Nvidia Maxwell-based graphics card, which support HDMI 2.0 (check individual card specs to be sure). No AMD GPUs support HDMI 2 and Sky Lake doesn't either, the only reason it will work with a converter is that it does support 4K/60hz over Displayport.
 
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moogleslam

moogleslam

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May 17, 2010
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Thanks guys,

Are there any disadvantages to using the adapter? How cheap on a Skylake CPU could I go? Would the low end Pentium G4400 be enough? That is just $59.99 + the adapter for $28.99 = $88.98.

Comparatively, the GTX 950 is $140 by itself, before you even add in the CPU.

I just read this on the Skylake wiki page: "HDMI 2.0 (4K@60 Hz) is only supported on motherboards equipped with Intel’s Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt controller". So with such a motherboard, am I right in thinking I could forgo the adapter? EDIT: It looks like only 4 Gigabyte motherboards currently have this, and the cheapest is about $200....

Thanks
 
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