$250 HTPC Build for Living Room

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dissbelief

dissbelief

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Im looking to build a $250 HTPC for my living room (Newegg/USA). I would prefer a mini-itx build but a micro-atx will work. As for parts, I have 8gb DDR3-1333 ram but I assume it'll need to be faster for the integrated graphics. Otherwise, I'll need everything besides the OS and wifi card. I will be using it for netflix, youtube, and light gaming. A remote or a wireless keyboard with touchpad is needed. I'm willing to budge a little bit on price. AMD or Intel, whichever has the best bang for the buck. Thanks for the help.
 
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Hlsgsz
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StormBrew

StormBrew

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Hoping you're willing to budge more on price. Depending on how much gaming performance you want, the build will vary.
I'll start with the gaming optimized system:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI A68HI AC Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Silverstone ML05B HTPC Case ($40.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone 300W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply ($48.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Keyboard: Logitech K400 Wireless Slim Keyboard w/Touchpad ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $314.34
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-14 17:41 EDT-0400
The CPU is an AMD APU, which outperforms Intel integrated graphics for the same price. The build does go over budget, but that's to be expected with any decent PC. This setup can run most games on 1080p between 25-30FPS, but may be lacking in desktop operation compared to an Intel chip. Since you're streaming video, I went with a 1TB hard drive, but it could be changed to a smaller size, if most of your files are not downloaded. Keyboard is a Logitech one with a touchpad built in. The motherboard has onboard Wifi, so you can leave your card out, and opt to get a separate graphics card in the future.
The second build will have less performance, but is cheaper, and has a better upgrade path for the future, so your choice.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3260 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($53.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($25.90 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone ML05B HTPC Case ($40.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone 300W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply ($48.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Keyboard: Logitech K400 Wireless Slim Keyboard w/Touchpad ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $286.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-14 17:40 EDT-0400
Overall, it's still very difficult to have a "good" gaming build for this price range and form factor. There are several compromises that are made, and you may not have the best gaming experience. Both builds will work, but I would recommend saving at least $500, and starting from there. You will have far better luck.
 
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Geekwad

Geekwad

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Is this stretching too much?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($76.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($36.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: PNY CS1311 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 730 2GB Video Card ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Xion XON-310_BK MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Mini Keyboard w/Touchpad ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $315.89
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 
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StormBrew

StormBrew

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That system is awful. A quad core AMD CPU clocked at 1.3 Ghz will not run any game effectively, and ruins any potential upgrade path.
 
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StormBrew

StormBrew

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That build is very good, but OP did also state he needed an HTPC setup. While the system would perform well, I'm not sure the case fits the standard for HTPC.
If we are allowed to stretch outside the boundary a little bit, then I would highly recommend this system.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-DS2H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($37.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Team Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 250 2GB Core Edition Video Card ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill R379-M MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Logitech K400 Wireless Slim Keyboard w/Touchpad ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $285.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-14 17:53 EDT-0400
 
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate 1TB 2.5" 5400RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive ($76.88 @ OutletPC)
Case: Apex DS-539 HTPC Case w/275W Power Supply ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $310.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-14 17:54 EDT-0400

You should choose a keyboard + mouse combo kit. It's too subjective.
I went a little over budget because i chose a hybrid HDD(its an HDD with a small SSD cache).
You can lower the price by getting a smaller such drive https://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st500lm000
or get a classic HDD: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex

I observed later that you have some ram, yet i'm sticking by this build as i believe that it's worth paying $26 for a stick of DDR4 in order to get the better integrated graphics in the latest Intel CPUs.
 
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G

Guest

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A6-7400K 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($50.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock A68M-ITX Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($61.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($38.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Fractal Design Integra M 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $260.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-14 18:30 EDT-0400
 
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Some ram would help :)
 
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StormBrew

StormBrew

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I imagine he's using the sticks that OP listed.
 
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Ah, whoops! I didn't notice that. Sorry for that.
 
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dissbelief

dissbelief

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Thanks for all the suggestions. Sometime tomorrow I'll go through all of them and figure out what I'm going to do and then let you guys know. I'm experienced at building PCs but haven't kept up on new hardware since Sandy Bridge (still rocking 2500k and Gtx 570)so the suggestions are most helpful. Thank you all very much
 
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dissbelief

dissbelief

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What do you think about an Apex case with a PSU? I don't know the brand so I'm not sure if they are quality. Also, I can use my network for storage so maybe some $ can be cut from the SSD.

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/apex-case-mi008
 
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G

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I don't think the cooler would even fit in that case. When I first starting building computers, I thought I could save money and go with an APEX power supply because it was cheap. It ended up killing the motherboard. You could get this EVGA power supply instead for $15 less, but it's not modular.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438015

 
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ScrewySqrl

ScrewySqrl

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here you go, in a $250 budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($114.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus A68HM-E Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Apex DM-318 HTPC Case w/275W Power Supply ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $250.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-14 23:53 EDT-0400
 
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Obviously the apex PSUs in both those cases are not great, but and extra PSU will push your costs even further.
I have amended the build with a PSU and only an SSD witch is fine if you can use network storage.
I didn't choose the case you gave as an example as it's inferior(cramped, no usb 3.0 front ports, and it's hard to impossible to find a good compatible psu that will not cost too much)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($26.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($56.00 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apex DS-539 HTPC Case w/275W Power Supply ($45.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular TFX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $349.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-15 07:26 EDT-0400

Basically, you will not be able to stay in your budget with a separate PSU and get decent parts. Worth the 100 extra? I think so.
 
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alexkensit

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It's an HTPC. Its one of the best CPUs for HTPC's; as for light gaming, you'll be surprised, it can handle older games well and "lighter titles" at low settings.

I wanted to make him a Pentium G4400 build (really good budget CPU) but his budget just doesn't get him there.
 
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