Good hardware ideas for first low budget htpc/dvr.

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bm2016

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#196801 13-Jun-2016 11:57

I was wondering what a good choic of hardware for my first htpc/dvr would be First off I know I will have 8gb ram, 1+ tb harddrive for storage and a smaller for boot and a tv tuner. I am stuck on the processor.I will use the cpu onboard graphics as the case has no room for graphics card. I want low power but also low price try to be under $80 for just processor.(whole build with all listed above $300). I was looking at the amd 5350 but I don't think it has enough power. I also saw the pentiums(haswell)but they have a higher tdp and power consumption. I have a 90watt laptop adaptor I want to use for the power supply. Also my case only has a clearence of 2.7 inches so a big heatsink is an issue. I also looked a little at boards with emebed cpus but they also don't seem to have enough power nor good graphics. Sorry for all the requirments but I'm kinda lost.

turb

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#1570970 13-Jun-2016 12:50

Do you need to use such a small case?

It seems to be limiting you quite a bit.

I have an Antec NSK2480B which is huuuge, but at least it's easy to keep cool and I can get whatever components I like.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

xpd

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#1570974 13-Jun-2016 12:51

What are you hoping to do with it ? use it purely for viewing, or wanting recording ability as well ?

XPD^ / DemiseNZ

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bm2016

19 posts

Geek

#1571339 13-Jun-2016 22:18

turb: Do you need to use such a small case?

It seems to be limiting you quite a bit.

I have an Antec NSK2480B which is huuuge, but at least it's easy to keep cool and I can get whatever components I like.

Old tivo case. Got it for free andbit fits with my other components and has tons of potential I belive. Yea its small and tight though but it saves at least $30.

bm2016

19 posts

Geek

#1571344 13-Jun-2016 22:21

xpd:
What are you hoping to do with it ? use it purely for viewing, or wanting recording ability as well ?

Mostly recording and streamingto multiple devices. (Pc phones, tablets eventually rasberry pi) never more than probaly 2 streams and native playback to tv at once. It also will be used as a media server for our home movies and music. Occasional web browsing(including web gaming) and maybe a little gaming most likely like seek and find and older games maybe n64 and snes emulator if enough power.

JimmyH

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#1571368 13-Jun-2016 23:53

I think your budget is too low. If you want all that (including a tuner, 1TB of storage and enough to stream and transcode to multiple clients at once) then you are probably looking at spending at least double the $300 you mention. If you want windows instead of linux et al, add the cost of that as well.

I would go with an i5 processor (i3 in a pinch), in a small-form case like an Intel NUC with HDMI out, small SSD for boot, and laptop drive for additional storage, with a USB tuner. But you won't get all of that, including an OS etc, for $300.

Your cheapest option might be to pick up an ex-lease system from the likes of PB Tech or another vendor, which includes an OS, upgrade the disk, and add a tuner and wireless keyboard. But, all up, still over your $300 budget for something decent.

bm2016

19 posts

Geek

#1571386 14-Jun-2016 07:10

JimmyH:

I think your budget is too low. If you want all that (including a tuner, 1TB of storage and enough to stream and transcode to multiple clients at once) then you are probably looking at spending at least double the $300 you mention. If you want windows instead of linux et al, add the cost of that as well.

I would go with an i5 processor (i3 in a pinch), in a small-form case like an Intel NUC with HDMI out, small SSD for boot, and laptop drive for additional storage, with a USB tuner. But you won't get all of that, including an OS etc, for $300.

Your cheapest option might be to pick up an ex-lease system from the likes of PB Tech or another vendor, which includes an OS, upgrade the disk, and add a tuner and wireless keyboard. But, all up, still over your $300 budget for something decent.

I would try no to trans code as i know that is way to CPU extensive for my budget. I would also be using linux to cut costs and I want to start learning a little Linux. I would try to keep the videos in a smaller more compatible format such as mp4. I don't neccesaryly need a laptop storage drive as there is room for one full sized drive, i would just need a smaller drive for boot preferably not ssd as the cost is higher. I know my budget is low but this is in place of a pc for myself as that would cost around at least $700

darylblake

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#1571395 14-Jun-2016 07:42

Ok I will put this in perspective.

I have this case here.

Milo ML03B Slim HTPC chassis

Its a really good little case. I can get a mATX board in it, and a full size computer PSU. I got a 500W in it. which is probably a little overkill but its what I had left.
I am using the machine for pretty much exactly what you describe and it runs extremely well.

I have:

Asrock B3 Chipset mATX motherboard

Pentium G620 dual core cpu (2.6 Ghz)

4GB of DDR3 Ram

1x 2.5" 80GB SSD for OS.

1x 3.5" 2TB SATA Drive

1x 3.5" 750GB SATA Drive

1x 2.5" 250GB Old notebook Drive.

1x 1000mbit PCI-E x1 adapter (cuz the motherboard only did 100mbit lan which really peeved me off).

And it runs 1080p movies mint, I download stuff while watching stuff while streaming data to other machines. It is fine, doesnt skip a beat. That Athlon processor you had there will be absolutely fine. The onboard Intel graphics are actually quite good. I am contemplating getting a geforce for it, but I have not needed to so far.

I have it run windows 8.1 and xmbc, also have a joypad which i use to play dosbox arcade and emulator games.

openmedia

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#1571585 14-Jun-2016 12:19

If you are using external tuners something like this could be a good starting point

- http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=BPCGBM1001&name=GIGABYTE-BRIX-BACE-3150-Ultra-Compact-PC-kit---Int

But you'll still need to add RAM and HD which will take you well over the $300 mark

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

JimmyH

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#1572002 14-Jun-2016 22:16

bm2016:

I would try no to trans code as i know that is way to CPU extensive for my budget.

Ummm... you also said that you wanted to use the unit to record and stream to multiple devices, citing a range (PC, phones, tablets, Raspberry Pi) as examples.

If you are recording, esp from HD sources such as Freeview, and then streaming to a range of devices that diverse then you pretty much have to transcode. Unless they are all capable of playing the recorded material natively. Which for diverse low power devices and sources such as HD Freeview I kind of doubt.

bm2016

19 posts

Geek

#1572005 14-Jun-2016 22:33

JimmyH:
bm2016:

I would try no to trans code as i know that is way to CPU extensive for my budget.

Ummm... you also said that you wanted to use the unit to record and stream to multiple devices, citing a range (PC, phones, tablets, Raspberry Pi) as examples.

If you are recording, esp from HD sources such as Freeview, and then streaming to a range of devices that diverse then you pretty much have to transcode. Unless they are all capable of playing the recorded material natively. Which for diverse low power devices and sources such as HD Freeview I kind of doubt.

Yes I want it to record and stream. It wont be hd however just sd as we don't have an hd tv plan. I figured that most devices would be able to read the video as long as its a in a popular format.(scratch the rasberry pi that will be a media extender for upstairs if I ever build this). All our devices(not pc) are also android if that helps. I was really trying to stay away from transcoding as I know it is so cpu heavy and I can't afford it.

bm2016

19 posts

Geek

#1575393 16-Jun-2016 22:14

darylblake:
Ok I will put this in perspective.

I have this case here.

Milo ML03B Slim HTPC chassis

Its a really good little case. I can get a mATX board in it, and a full size computer PSU. I got a 500W in it. which is probably a little overkill but its what I had left.
I am using the machine for pretty much exactly what you describe and it runs extremely well.

I have:

Asrock B3 Chipset mATX motherboard

Pentium G620 dual core cpu (2.6 Ghz)

4GB of DDR3 Ram

1x 2.5" 80GB SSD for OS.

1x 3.5" 2TB SATA Drive

1x 3.5" 750GB SATA Drive

1x 2.5" 250GB Old notebook Drive.

1x 1000mbit PCI-E x1 adapter (cuz the motherboard only did 100mbit lan which really peeved me off).

And it runs 1080p movies mint, I download stuff while watching stuff while streaming data to other machines. It is fine, doesnt skip a beat. That Athlon processor you had there will be absolutely fine. The onboard Intel graphics are actually quite good. I am contemplating getting a geforce for it, but I have not needed to so far.

I have it run windows 8.1 and xmbc, also have a joypad which i use to play dosbox arcade and emulator games.

Sounds like a nice htpc. What definition do you stream to your other clients and what are the other clients? I was thinking of a wii remote for mine a joypad is a good idea though perfect for dosbox.