Help me build an HTPC

[IBJanky]

I've always wanted to build an HTPC that would serve mainly as a movie jukebox. It'd make my life so much more convenient if I could just search and play my movies thru a hard drive.

I'd like to put together an HTPC piece by piece, but on a budget. I'd like to keep the total below $500 if possible.

I don't need a super fast, top of the line processor, etc, just something decent that will play my movies without a hitch. There will be no overcloking, tweaking involved.

Also, I will NOT be playing games on this at all. This is purely going to serve as a movie jukebox.

Here are some of the parts I'm thinking of getting (not complete list yet, this is going to be a work in progress):

HTPC Case $55

Power supply $40

mATX Motherboard w/ HDMI, onboard graphics $55 AR

AMD Athlon II X2 3.2GHz $68

4GB DDR3 1600 memory $50

2TB hard drive $80

Blu Ray drive $40

Wireless keyboard+trackball $25 AR

Total is $453 - $40 in rebates = $413

How's this looking so far?

myke

 

[mfenn]

Raidmax is a pretty bad brand for PSUs, and ECS doesn't really make great motherboards either. I'd recommend replacing the PSU with this Antec Earthwatts 430W for $35 AR and replacing the mobo with this ASRock 880GM-LE for $60.

The other stuff looks fine though.

 

[IBJanky]

Raidmax is a pretty bad brand for PSUs, and ECS doesn't really make great motherboards either. I'd recommend replacing the PSU with this Antec Earthwatts 430W for $35 AR and replacing the mobo with this ASRock 880GM-LE for $60.

The other stuff looks fine though.

I wanted a modular PSU to keep the inside of the HTPC neat. I absolutely hate wire clutter.

The ECS board has gotten decent reviews, I've owned ECS boards in the past and never really had a problem?

myke

 

[Loop2kil]

I would tend to agree with mfenn on the PSU but everything else looks solid and should do exactly what you intend.

 

[Jimmah]

I wonder if you could use one of the Foxconn barebones machines and add a lower power single or dual core Intel chip and toss in a cheap 2gb stick and a 5450 or something. Your build looks good minus the poor PSU, do you need that much machine for playing music and bluray is the question.

 

[IBJanky]

You guys make it sounds like the PSU is gonna blow up a week after I get it.

It's gotten 4/5 out of over 500+ reviews, it can't be THAT bad.

It's just a basic HTPC guys, I'm not building a super high performance overclocking machine.

myke

 

[mfenn]

That could very well happen. We've given you our advice. It's your money, and thus how you spend it is up to you. Bottom line: There is a reason that there are no $40 modular 400W PSUs from quality manufacturers.

 

[IBJanky]

That could very well happen. We've given you our advice. Tt's your money, and thus how you spend it is up to you. Bottom line: There is a reason that there are no $40 modular 400W PSUs from quality manufacturers.

I'll make a note of that.

Although for $40, I'm not gonna lose any sleep.

myke

 

[betasub]

Although for $40, I'm not gonna lose any sleep.

If it does blow, you could be out for a whole lot more than $40.

And if $40 doesn't mean that much to you, why not spend your money on a reliable PSU?

 

[Jimmah]

You guys make it sounds like the PSU is gonna blow up a week after I get it.

It's gotten 4/5 out of over 500+ reviews, it can't be THAT bad.

It's just a basic HTPC guys, I'm not building a super high performance overclocking machine.

myke

Why not build some with less power then? Just curious, as I have a dual core HTPC and it's way beyond overkill for music and movies.

 

[IBJanky]

If it does blow, you could be out for a whole lot more than $40.

And if $40 doesn't mean that much to you, why not spend your money on a reliable PSU?

Why not build some with less power then? Just curious, as I have a dual core HTPC and it's way beyond overkill for music and movies.

Because I want to build as much HTPC I can with a budget of $500.

With shipping and tax, the above mentioned parts totaled $499

Hey, if it blows, then I'll just RMA it, and deal with it from there. No worries.

myke

 

[mfenn]

Hey, if it blows, then I'll just RMA it, and deal with it from there. No worries.

myke

LOL

1st: Why do you expect to get warranty service from Raidmax?
2nd: Why do think that ECS will replace the mobo when it will be obvious to them that the PSU killed it?

This ain't a whole system that you're buying. Manufacturers will take any opportunity to blame the other guys.

 

[IBJanky]

LOL

1st: Why do you expect to get warranty service from Raidmax?
2nd: Why do think that ECS will replace the mobo when it will be obvious to them that the PSU killed it?

This ain't a whole system that you're buying. Manufacturers will take any opportunity to blame the other guys.

1. Why not? It carries a 2-yr warranty.
2. So you're saying that my PSU will blow up my whole build? Possible, sure. But very unlikely.

Jeez man, why do you think everybody is out to screw you over? Past experience?

myke

 

[mfenn]

Nope, I just don't like to play the odds.

 

[IBJanky]

Nope, I just don't like to play the odds.

Ever been to Las Vegas?

myke

 

[Blain]

LOL

1st: Why do you expect to get warranty service from Raidmax?
2nd: Why do think that ECS will replace the mobo when it will be obvious to them that the PSU killed it?

This ain't a whole system that you're buying. Manufacturers will take any opportunity to blame the other guys.

1. Why not? It carries a 2-yr warranty.
2. So you're saying that my PSU will blow up my whole build? Possible, sure. But very unlikely.

Jeez man, why do you think everybody is out to screw you over? Past experience?

myke

* Has anyone ever accused you of being hard headed?
* What exactly was your goal in starting this "Help me build" thread?

 

[IBJanky]

* Has anyone ever accused you of being hard headed?
* What exactly was your goal in starting this "Help me build" thread?

1. How am I hard headed? Simply because I have a different opinion?

2. Read first post. Maybe you missed it.

 

[Blain]

Four people have tried to dissuade you against buying the Raidmax PS because of reliability issues, yet you insist that...
A. It probably won't be an issue
B. You are willing to gamble the rest of your components on Raidmax quality

Do you know something about Raidmax build quality that we aren't privy to?

 

[IBJanky]

Four people have tried to dissuade you against buying the Raidmax PS because of reliability issues, yet you insist that...
A. It probably won't be an issue
B. You are willing to gamble the rest of your components on Raidmax quality

Do you know something about Raidmax build quality that we aren't privy to?

Well, here's my logic:

If all Raidmax PSUs are so unreliable and/or tend to blow up, then, how are they still in the PSU business?

Why does it get decent reviews on Newegg.com? I know it's not perfect but overall, not horrible either.

That's just my opinion, and I am still entitled to it I believe. If having a different opinion than everyone else makes me hard headed, then so be it.

What's your logic? I'd really like to know.

myke

 

[ravaneli]

What I got from all of this is a hard headed boy who had already made his mind, but asks for advice just to brag about his new build.

I think your build is horrible, and one should not ask for advice when he has already decided he won't take any.

Please do not feed this guy any more attention

 

[IBJanky]

What I got from all of this is a hard headed boy who had already made his mind, but asks for advice just to brag about his new build.

I think your build is horrible, and one should not ask for advice when he has already decided he won't take any.

Please do not feed this guy any more attention

Unless I'm mistaken, I don't remember ever asking for advice.

I asked for an opinion of my build. Not advice.

Two totally different things.

I never asked, "What should I buy?"

myke

ps.
Thanks for calling me a hard headed little boy

 

[maddog808]

Just get a nettop with Atom/Ion. I picked up a Acer Revo 3610 slightly used for $250. It comes with a Windows 7 license. Dual boot with XBMC Live. It will stream 1080p Blu Ray rips all day, and is super efficient. Will cost about $25 a year to run, if you leave it on 24/7 365. Put the money you saved toward a NAS. Then you guys don't have to argue about a PSU. There are other comparable nettops out there as well, made by Asrock, Foxconn, Jetway, etc. Good luck.

 

[fffblackmage]

Well regardless if you wanted opinion or advice, Raidmax still sucks for a PSU. For $40, you could do much better than Raidmax.

 

[IBJanky]

Just get a nettop with Atom/Ion. I picked up a Acer Revo 3610 slightly used for $250. It comes with a Windows 7 license. Dual boot with XBMC Live. It will stream 1080p Blu Ray rips all day, and is super efficient. Will cost about $25 a year to run, if you leave it on 24/7 365. Put the money you saved toward a NAS. Then you guys don't have to argue about a PSU. There are other comparable nettops out there as well, made by Asrock, Foxconn, Jetway, etc. Good luck.

I already ordered the parts today. Should all be here by Monday afternoon.

I'll look into XBMC Live. Looks really slick.

Thanks!

myke

 

[maddog808]

I'll look into XBMC Live. Looks really slick.

Here is a great place to learn all about XBMC. I'm just getting into it myself. I researched for about a month before I decided on the Revo. XBMC is definitely a project, but I think the end result is worth it. Have fun!

Matt