HTPC Build ~300

[chumchum]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to see what you guys think of this HTPC build. I will be running this on a 50+ inch TV so would like to know if the GPU on the processor will be enough. Also, I will be playing games like SC2 and D3 so if you could tell me if I can play them on High Settings. In addition, I would like to keep the system low wattage so would like to know if the 300watt that comes with the case will be enough to run everything without any problems.

Case: Rosewill R379-M Black/ Silver 0.8mm SGCC Steel Slim MicroATX Computer Case with ATX12V Flex 300W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147098

MOBO: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M FM2 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157334&name=AMD-Motherboards

CPU: AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7540D AD540KOKHJBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311&name=Desktop-Memory

SDD: OCZ Agility 4 AGT4-25SAT3-64G 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227810

Grand Total: $324.98 Tax and Shipping Included

I really appreciate the help. Thanks!

 

[chumchum]

Hey guys,

Here is another build. I added a dedicated GPU for dual graphics and changed the MOBO.

Case: Rosewill R379-M Black/ Silver 0.8mm SGCC Steel Slim MicroATX Computer Case with ATX12V Flex 300W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147098

MOBO: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS FM2 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157331

CPU: AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7540D AD540KOKHJBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819113282

GPU:GIGABYTE GV-R645-1GI Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125431&name=Desktop-Graphics-Cards

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] top-Memory

SDD: OCZ Agility 4 AGT4-25SAT3-64G 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227810

Total: $347.83 Tax and Shipping Included

But after the rebates it comes out to a Grand Total: $312.83

Which is $2.15 cheaper after the $10 rebate from the original post

 

[abbadon_34]

you won't do high, low to medium depending on resolution

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-5800k-a8-5600k-a6-5400k,3224-18.html

that video card won't improvement anything

you'll run out of space pretty quick

that said, for $300, I think you're doing pretty good

 

[bgrt]

That video card allows for dual graphics, so it does add some performance to the setup. You're looking at D3 at medium 1080p probably. CPU will not bottleneck the things you're using it for. Pretty decent budget build.

Wouldn't worry too much about space. I've had a couple of games + Win 7 installed on my 60GB SSD with several GB left.

 

[chumchum]

I am not too worried about the space since I have spares. Just would like to know if the dedicated GPU will make a significant difference. I like the first set-up because it has a s/pdif and HDMI on the MOBO but not sure if the GPU good enough on its own. The second set-up does not have the s/pdif and HDMI on the MOBO since the idea is that the dedicated GPU has the HDMI on the MOBO so it doesn't need one and I can improve the graphics at the same time. If we had to say a percentage, how much of an improvement will we see on the dual GPU compared to the integrated GPU on these 2 similar set-ups? Thanks!

 

[peep1988]

Hey guys,

Here is another build. I added a dedicated GPU for dual graphics and changed the MOBO.

Case: Rosewill R379-M Black/ Silver 0.8mm SGCC Steel Slim MicroATX Computer Case with ATX12V Flex 300W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147098

MOBO: ASRock FM2A75M-DGS FM2 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157331

CPU: AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7540D AD540KOKHJBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819113282

GPU:GIGABYTE GV-R645-1GI Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125431&name=Desktop-Graphics-Cards

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] top-Memory

SDD: OCZ Agility 4 AGT4-25SAT3-64G 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227810

Total: $347.83 Tax and Shipping Included

But after the rebates it comes out to a Grand Total: $312.83


My advice please get the AMD a10 5800k yes its 125 bucks but it will smash the performance of the API you choose only other option is to up your budget to 500 so you can get a Intel Pentium or and phenom CPU with a AMD 7870

Which is $2.15 cheaper after the $10 rebate from the original post

 

[peep1988]

I am not too worried about the space since I have spares. Just would like to know if the dedicated GPU will make a significant difference. I like the first set-up because it has a s/pdif and HDMI on the MOBO but not sure if the GPU good enough on its own. The second set-up does not have the s/pdif and HDMI on the MOBO since the idea is that the dedicated GPU has the HDMI on the MOBO so it doesn't need one and I can improve the graphics at the same time. If we had to say a percentage, how much of an improvement will we see on the dual GPU compared to the integrated GPU on these 2 similar set-ups? Thanks!

if you can op raise your budget to 500 this a awesome build for the price
550 before and 480 after mir awesome gtx 660 2gb a pentium intel cpu 8gb ram and much more http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

 

[bgrt]

I am not too worried about the space since I have spares. Just would like to know if the dedicated GPU will make a significant difference. I like the first set-up because it has a s/pdif and HDMI on the MOBO but not sure if the GPU good enough on its own. The second set-up does not have the s/pdif and HDMI on the MOBO since the idea is that the dedicated GPU has the HDMI on the MOBO so it doesn't need one and I can improve the graphics at the same time. If we had to say a percentage, how much of an improvement will we see on the dual GPU compared to the integrated GPU on these 2 similar set-ups? Thanks!

The dedicated GPU will make a difference in those borderline cases where you need an extra 5 fps to play a game. Overall you're looking at an estimated 30% increase in general. I probably would go with the iGPU alone if you're fine with lowered gaming detail, 30% isn't enough to convince me to buy a dedicated GPU.