Feedback requested on cheap media PC build

[cdyerkes]

Hi there, I'm trying to put parts together to build a very cheap, but usable pc to view movies on my HDTV.

Approximate Purchase Date: probably next month or month after

Budget Range: $200 - $400 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: only purpose is to play blu rays and other 1080p movies on my harddrive onto my HDTV (55") over HDMI

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, OS, monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, any other well recommended retailer

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: I'd prefer to use Intel, but not required. Must support windows 7

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)

Additional Comments: I want it to be small, cheap, quiet and can operate without much cooling required since ideally, it would be in a rather short shelf in my TV cabinet.

Here is a build I've been messing with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Motherboard: Asus E35M1-M PRO Micro ATX E-350 Motherboard ($107.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill R379-M MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On ihes112-04 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $359.80
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

 

[flank21]

well since you already listed a AMD E-350 APU, take a look at this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119059
it's the same AMD APU but by Foxconn and already installed in tiny case and comes with a 150watt PSU and its only $105, so you'd save ~$50 by not having to purchase a case.

 

[TheBigTroll]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bcj2

heres my take on the system. it is much more powerful too. the e-350 i doubt can play 1080p blu-ray since that chip was meant for laptops which never have to power 1080p screns.

 

[cdyerkes]

well since you already listed a AMD E-350 APU, take a look at this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119059
it's the same AMD APU but by Foxconn and already installed in tiny case and comes with a 150watt PSU and its only $105, so you'd save ~$50 by not having to purchase a case.

Thanks but that link doesn't seem to be working for me. Keeps bringing me to newegg homepage

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bcj2

heres my take on the system. it is much more powerful too. the e-350 i doubt can play 1080p blu-ray since that chip was meant for laptops which never have to power 1080p screns.

You know for a fact that the board/cpu combo I picked wouldn't play anything in 1080p? The comments on the product page say otherwise and list some codec packs to get it working better. Let me know what you think, thanks.

If I include the video card, would it definitely not run on the original case w/ 300 watt psu?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G620 2.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($58.99 @ Mac Mall)
Motherboard: Asus P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($77.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($21.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video Card ($56.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill R379-M MicroATX Slim Case w/300W Power Supply ($51.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $405.88
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

 

[TheBigTroll]

it would work in the rosewell case no problem. i just dont like the included power supplies proivided by cases.

 

[cdyerkes]

Ah good point. I've never used one included with a case before. Do they typically fail quickly?

 

[TheBigTroll]

they are just never good quality. just the one i put together. the case is ok quality and small while the power supply is quiet. if you want to get the case even more quieter, id get the fractal define mini but that will blow your budget

 

[cdyerkes]

Best answer selected by cdyerkes.

 

[cdyerkes]

Alright, thank you for your help.