Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice for building low-cost HTPC/gaming PC for the living room. I already have a pretty good PC that I use for software development and gaming (will still play games like Diablo III/Civ5/etc there), but I want to play games in the couch with a controller, as well as HTPC use. I'm looking at a SFF build using a mini-ITX motherboard.
Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next couple of months. Not urgent.
Budget Range: Aprox. $500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, HTPC (MLB TV streaming, movies, music collection)
Are you buying a monitor: No
Parts to Upgrade: N/A
Do you need to buy OS: No, already have a Win7 HP license I bought for Bootcamp that never installed
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon or Fry's, can't use Newegg (no US credit card)
Location: Northern Los Angeles, CA (travel there a couple of times a month)
Parts Preferences:
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 720p HDTV, the resolution is 1366x768
Additional Comments: Small Form Factor, as quiet as possible,
Some games I expect to play: Skyrim, Fallout: NV, Metro 2033 (in low settings, I don't mind), Alan Wake, Batman:AA,Batman:AC,LA Noire,Rayman Origins
I am looking at the following parts, please feel free to recommend any upgrades/alternatives. I already have a wireless keyboard/trackpad, USB DVD drive, an ethernet wired-802.11n wireless bridge, and an XBox PC controller.
CPU: Intel Pentium 3.10 GHz 2 LGA 1155 G870 Processor (~$100)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Pentium-3-10-Processor-BX80623G870/dp/B00892499Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342733207&sr=8-1&keywords=pentium+g870
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61N-USB3 Intel H61 Express Chipset Mini ITX DDR3 800 Intel - LGA 1155 Motherboard ($80)
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GA-H61N-USB3-Intel-Express-Chipset/dp/B005SCYHV8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I2KAGBQMMMYGMB
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8 GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 MHz PC3-10666 240-Pin DDR3 Memory Kit ($50)
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-PC3-10666-240-Pin-Memory-CMX8GX3M2A1333C9/dp/B003N8GVUY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I3TBI0W3Q7FPEG
Case: APEX MI-008 Tower Black P4 Chassis with 250W Itx Psu+sata Power Supply ($40)
http://www.amazon.com/MI-008-Tower-Black-Chassis-Supply/dp/B001H0BA24/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I2UM59KB9XA95C
Video Card: XFX Single Slot HD 7750 800MHz 1GB DDR5 DVI HDMI Display Port PCI-E Graphics Cards FX775AZNP4 ($120)
http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Single-Display-Graphics-FX775AZNP4/dp/B007Z3T5JC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I36YA4D5S0QDW
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache ($70)
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Cache-Desktop/dp/B00461G3MS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342733233&sr=8-1&keywords=Western+Digital+Caviar+Blue+500+GB+SATA+III+7200+RPM+16+MB+Cache
Total: $470
This build would consume about 180W (according to http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine), so the case included 250W PSU should be sufficient. It would drive a 32" 720p HDTV via the 7750's HDMI output, and I will use and XBox 360 controller for gaming. Since it is a 720p display I think this video card would do the job just fine. The case is small, but everything should fit according to the reviews I've seen, and I'm not afraid to open some holes in it and add a fan or two if more ventilation is required. The Pentium G870 and the 7750 have a low TDP, so hopefully it won't be an issue.
What do you guys think? Thanks for any suggestions!
I'm looking for some advice for building low-cost HTPC/gaming PC for the living room. I already have a pretty good PC that I use for software development and gaming (will still play games like Diablo III/Civ5/etc there), but I want to play games in the couch with a controller, as well as HTPC use. I'm looking at a SFF build using a mini-ITX motherboard.
Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next couple of months. Not urgent.
Budget Range: Aprox. $500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, HTPC (MLB TV streaming, movies, music collection)
Are you buying a monitor: No
Parts to Upgrade: N/A
Do you need to buy OS: No, already have a Win7 HP license I bought for Bootcamp that never installed
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon or Fry's, can't use Newegg (no US credit card)
Location: Northern Los Angeles, CA (travel there a couple of times a month)
Parts Preferences:
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 720p HDTV, the resolution is 1366x768
Additional Comments: Small Form Factor, as quiet as possible,
Some games I expect to play: Skyrim, Fallout: NV, Metro 2033 (in low settings, I don't mind), Alan Wake, Batman:AA,Batman:AC,LA Noire,Rayman Origins
I am looking at the following parts, please feel free to recommend any upgrades/alternatives. I already have a wireless keyboard/trackpad, USB DVD drive, an ethernet wired-802.11n wireless bridge, and an XBox PC controller.
CPU: Intel Pentium 3.10 GHz 2 LGA 1155 G870 Processor (~$100)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Pentium-3-10-Processor-BX80623G870/dp/B00892499Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342733207&sr=8-1&keywords=pentium+g870
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61N-USB3 Intel H61 Express Chipset Mini ITX DDR3 800 Intel - LGA 1155 Motherboard ($80)
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GA-H61N-USB3-Intel-Express-Chipset/dp/B005SCYHV8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I2KAGBQMMMYGMB
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8 GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 MHz PC3-10666 240-Pin DDR3 Memory Kit ($50)
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-PC3-10666-240-Pin-Memory-CMX8GX3M2A1333C9/dp/B003N8GVUY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I3TBI0W3Q7FPEG
Case: APEX MI-008 Tower Black P4 Chassis with 250W Itx Psu+sata Power Supply ($40)
http://www.amazon.com/MI-008-Tower-Black-Chassis-Supply/dp/B001H0BA24/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I2UM59KB9XA95C
Video Card: XFX Single Slot HD 7750 800MHz 1GB DDR5 DVI HDMI Display Port PCI-E Graphics Cards FX775AZNP4 ($120)
http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Single-Display-Graphics-FX775AZNP4/dp/B007Z3T5JC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3OAERDPLF2K3I&coliid=I36YA4D5S0QDW
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache ($70)
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Cache-Desktop/dp/B00461G3MS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342733233&sr=8-1&keywords=Western+Digital+Caviar+Blue+500+GB+SATA+III+7200+RPM+16+MB+Cache
Total: $470
This build would consume about 180W (according to http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine), so the case included 250W PSU should be sufficient. It would drive a 32" 720p HDTV via the 7750's HDMI output, and I will use and XBox 360 controller for gaming. Since it is a 720p display I think this video card would do the job just fine. The case is small, but everything should fit according to the reviews I've seen, and I'm not afraid to open some holes in it and add a fan or two if more ventilation is required. The Pentium G870 and the 7750 have a low TDP, so hopefully it won't be an issue.
What do you guys think? Thanks for any suggestions!