Motherboard recommendation: cheap HTPC

[marmasatt]

So I'm going to dabble into a Blu-Ray HTPC. Is there a cheap reliable board that people are using these days for similar projects? Platform or brand doesn't really matter to me. Does one of these mini-itx ION combo's fit the bill as far as being quiet, cheap, having HDMI, and generally being sufficient? It's like $79 in stock when you can find it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500029

Taking any recommendations.

Thanks.

 

[marmasatt]

Come on people. 46 views and no one can give me a baseline idea on what to look for? I've been out of the loop for awhile.

Like will this kind of thing fly or am I better off spending just a bit more picking up an AMD system or someone's leftover 775 combo for just a bit more? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121399

 

[lopri]

Atom can deal with Blu-Ray with ION, but I wouldn't try to build one myself. Well, I actually did in the past. I had something like do-it-yourself Mac mini in mind, but the result was quite grotesque, both in form and in function. (lol)

You are much better off with a Clarkdale CPU or a discrete GPU.

 

[Auric]

If only for BD then just use a stand-alone even if that means writing your own discs.

Otherwise, for all singing all dancing HTPC go with Clarkdale as said. Gigabyte makes a nice Mini-ITX variant. The extra $100 total is well worth it over an ION where all performance outside of actual playback is very limited. Any other system will need at least an entry level Radeon 5000 so the likelihood of saving anything is minimal (and older systems will use more power too).

 

[Termie]

Come on people. 46 views and no one can give me a baseline idea on what to look for? I've been out of the loop for awhile.

Like will this kind of thing fly or am I better off spending just a bit more picking up an AMD system or someone's leftover 775 combo for just a bit more? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121399

If only for BD then just use a stand-alone even if that means writing your own discs.

Otherwise, for all singing all dancing HTPC go with Clarkdale as said. Gigabyte makes a nice Mini-ITX variant. The extra $100 total is well worth it over an ION where all performance outside of actual playback is very limited. Any other system will need at least an entry level Radeon 5000 so the likelihood of saving anything is minimal (and older systems will use more power too).

That non-Ion Atom board you linked won't cut it at all. If you're willing to part with a bit more cash, you'll get a real computer out of the deal...here's that Gigabyte Mini Clarksdale board in a combo with the i3-530: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.487206. You're talking some serious computing power there, and very low electricity use. Plus enough graphics ability to handle blu-ray.

 

[Termie]

I should add...if you really, really just want to do blu-ray at the lowest cost, then a blu-ray player is probably your best bet. Building an Atom (or any) box just for blu-ray is possible, but it's a very expensive way to get the job done. Given that you'll already be spending a lot on a mini-ITX case, other expensive low-power and/or compact components, and the blu-ray drive/burner (which can itself cost as much as a stand-alone), you might as well go all out and make it a serious computer. Clarksdale lets you do that.

 

[crucibelle]

Google "avsforum"... they've got some build guides there. I would give a direct link, but I'm not sure I'm allowed to on this forum.

 

[marmasatt]

Thanks, and thanks for that last link. I don't know. When you put it that way, that I'm basically just building a blu-ray player with *possibly* some streaming options, a stand alone player makes more sense. But I just bought the case, and drives (both HD and BR DVD) are so cheap right now. The combo is the only thing that's going to cost money.

 

[sdsdv10]

Thanks, and thanks for that last link. I don't know. When you put it that way, that I'm basically just building a blu-ray player with *possibly* some streaming options, a stand alone player makes more sense. But I just bought the case, and drives (both HD and BR DVD) are so cheap right now. The combo is the only thing that's going to cost money.

What kind of "streaming", your own content or the Netflix kind? Streaming (Netflix, Youtube kind) BR play can be had for ~$150-$250 or a PS3 for $300. The lowest end CPU/MB combo's over the AVS forums (noted in a previous post, they are excellent) would run you at least ~$200. The midrange starts ~$350 for the combo. I understand you have the case and drives, but this doesn't look like good money spent to me.

If you plan to do it anyways, go at least mid-range. I don't think you will be happy with the lowest end system like the one linked to. The Atom/ION combo works, but just barely. Many that I have read about just haven't been happy with the performance.

Here is a quote from the AVS HTPC build guide:

The system is essentially the same as the Intel-NVIDIA (iGPU) system with Celeron E3300 replaced by Atom 330. Hence its graphics capability is identical. The CPU is weaker and slower, but good enough for the basic HTPC tasks (video playback through DXVA, navigating Windows Media Center etc.). Here is a performance comparison between Atom 330 and Pentium Dual-Core E2200 2.2GHz 1MB L2 (close to Celeron E3300).

Anandtech CPU comparison

Unless your expectations are very low, I don't think you will be happy with the Atom/ION system. I looked into a few months back and pasted on it, so I certainly am biased.

The lowest cost system at AVS (and the minimum I could recommend) is:
CPU: Core i3 530 2.93GHz LGA1156, $113.
CPU Cooler: Stock cooler, $0.
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3 LGA1156 Intel H55 chipset Mini-ITX, $101. An alternative is Intel DH57JG LGA1156 Intel H57 chipset Mini-ATX, $110.

 

[o1die]

Frys has some i3's for around $80 in recent days, and an msi board to go with it for about the same price. You'll have to check their website to see if they have any in stock, or if the deals are in stores only. My 530 does everything it needs to, and doesn't use too much energy at idle, about 13 watts. I may not upgrade for several years, since frys no longer offers it's combo specials. You can also check your local craigslist. I found my htpc case for only $30, and it takes an atx board.

 

[Binky]

...here's that Gigabyte Mini Clarksdale board in a combo with the i3-530: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.487206. You're talking some serious computing power there, and very low electricity use. Plus enough graphics ability to handle blu-ray.

That MB combo is pretty sexy for a mini-HTPC. I kinda wish one of my systems would blow up so I could build one of these!

 

[Termie]

The lowest cost system at AVS (and the minimum I could recommend) is:
CPU: Core i3 530 2.93GHz LGA1156, $113.
CPU Cooler: Stock cooler, $0.
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3 LGA1156 Intel H55 chipset Mini-ITX, $101. An alternative is Intel DH57JG LGA1156 Intel H57 chipset Mini-ATX, $110.

Yup - that's the Newegg combo I linked to. And with the combo, the whole thing is $202 rather than $223.

Frys has some i3's for around $80 in recent days, and an msi board to go with it for about the same price. You'll have to check their website to see if they have any in stock, or if the deals are in stores only. My 530 does everything it needs to, and doesn't use too much energy at idle, about 13 watts. I may not upgrade for several years, since frys no longer offers it's combo specials. You can also check your local craigslist. I found my htpc case for only $30, and it takes an atx board.

The Fry's deals on i3's are great - but often out of stock. I saw that a couple of days ago but the $79 price was gone before the end of the day.

That MB combo is pretty sexy for a mini-HTPC. I kinda wish one of my systems would blow up so I could build one of these!

I agree...that i3-530 beats my formerly high-end e8400, is way more efficient, and is way cheaper despite having built-in graphics. Win, win, win. If I were building an HTPC from scratch now, I'd go i3-530 for sure.

 

[marmasatt]

What kind of "streaming", your own content or the Netflix kind? Streaming

Well both really. But the bottom line is people are saying I may be disappointed if I don't just spend a bit more. I know this isn't really a smart build. Just kind of want to dabble a bit into it (cheaply)...

 

[Pneumothorax]

Well both really. But the bottom line is people are saying I may be disappointed if I don't just spend a bit more. I know this isn't really a smart build. Just kind of want to dabble a bit into it (cheaply)...

The atom/ion is a waste of a htpc. Tried going that route and fleabayed it in about a week. Pretty much worthless other than for light internet surfing(seriously bad for flash content) AUDIO streaming and standard def codecs and of course bluray(it barely handles that!). It's not worth it to save $100 on the price difference on a cheap clarkdale build vs an ion build. It's not the like $100 price difference between a i5 750 and a i7 860 which gets maybe 10% faster, we're talking about 300-500% faster, easily (especially for encoding)

 

[hellotyler]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3332167&SID=

I'm planning on getting the EVGA P55V for mine, only $55 after MIR.

 

[nenforcer]

The atom/ion is a waste of a htpc. Tried going that route and fleabayed it in about a week. Pretty much worthless other than for light internet surfing(seriously bad for flash content) AUDIO streaming and standard def codecs and of course bluray(it barely handles that!). It's not worth it to save $100 on the price difference on a cheap clarkdale build vs an ion build. It's not the like $100 price difference between a i5 750 and a i7 860 which gets maybe 10% faster, we're talking about 300-500% faster, easily (especially for encoding)

How long ago did you build this? Adobe didn't release Flash 10.1 with the hardware accelerated support until about 6 months ago. It makes a huge difference when watching things like YouTube 1080P video. I'm talking the difference between non-playable and watchable.

I also noticed a big difference when choosing the right software. Watching the Avatar 1080P trailer with Windows Media Player was a slideshow while the Apple Quicktime native .MOV software was nearly jitter free.

If you looking for a low power HTPC then ION is a great choice (now).

If your looking for even lower power and a simpler setup just get a standalone Bluray player and skip HTPC nonsense.

 

[Seferio]

Well let's start at what case you bought for yourself. If it's a mini-itx case then that will definitely limit you to fewer choices. Low profile vs regular expansion slot will also let us know if you can accommodate a stand alone GPU or not.

 

[Pneumothorax]

How long ago did you build this? Adobe didn't release Flash 10.1 with the hardware accelerated support until about 6 months ago. It makes a huge difference when watching things like YouTube 1080P video. I'm talking the difference between non-playable and watchable.

I also noticed a big difference when choosing the right software. Watching the Avatar 1080P trailer with Windows Media Player was a slideshow while the Apple Quicktime native .MOV software was nearly jitter free.

If you looking for a low power HTPC then ION is a great choice (now).

If your looking for even lower power and a simpler setup just get a standalone Bluray player and skip HTPC nonsense.

I'll admit, it was before the 10.1 flash revision. However, the whole machine just felt so sluggish. It felt like it I was back in my Pentium D days. A clarkdale i3 system isn't exactly a power hog either.

 

[piasabird]

http://www.directron.com/boxdh55tc.html
$93.99

http://www.directron.com/bx80616i3530.html
$114.99

 

[ranga2010]

Atom can deal with Blu-Ray with ION, but I wouldn't try to build one myself. Well, I actually did in the past. I had something like do-it-yourself Mac mini in mind, but the result was quite grotesque, both in form and in function. (lol)

You are much better off with a Clarkdale CPU or a discrete GPU.http://www.musicfordirtcheap.com/php/flash/images/33.gif[/img[/QUOTE]

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