First HTPC Build

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Macca1

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#99458 20-Mar-2012 07:52

So I'm looking at building my first HTPC.

Currently it's looking like this:

CPU: AMD A4-3400 $98.57

http://www.alphacity.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=67_383_268&products_id=99242

Motherboard: ASRock A55M-HVS $77.98

http://pconlineshop.co.nz/pcshop/product_info.php?products_id=377686

Case: Silverstone ML03B $102.35

http://superpc.co.nz/shop/product.php?id_product=923

PSU: CoolerMaster Elite Power 400W $42.68

http://www.alphacity.co.nz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=93_96&products_id=34545

RAM: Kingston HyperX Blu 2x2GB $45.06

http://www.dodgybastards.co.nz/2gb-1600mhz-ddr3-non-ecc-hyperx-blu.html

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB $134.27

http://www.computerstore.co.nz/WD10EARX.aspx

WiFi: TP-Link TL-WN751ND $29.84

http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NETTPL0751&name=TP-Link-TL-WN751ND-150Mbps-Wireless-PCI-Adapter-At

Blu-Ray: Lite-On $74.86

http://pconlineshop.co.nz/pcshop/product_info.php?products_id=368884

Total: $605.61

Obviously looking to do this on a budget but am happy to spend more if it is worthwhile.

I've got MySky and will be keeping that so don't need to record any incoming TV.

It needs to have WiFi because I can't get my router is on a different floor and I can't move it.

I'm not 100% sold on the Blu-Ray player at this stage, haven't decided if it's worth it.

Software wise I will run XBMC, probably on Ubuntu unless I can find an old Windows licence that I may have lying around somewhere. Will use my android as a remote, tested it on my laptop and it works perfectly.

Keen to hear any opinions on whether there are better parts or better ways of doing this at all. Happy to spend a bit more money if the results are worth it.

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3729 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#597477 20-Mar-2012 09:18

if you dont want to record and want to run xbmc, why not just get an apple tv for $169-159 and be done with it?

even if you want to record at a later stage, you could setup a server and use the xbmc pvr branch to record tv.

a lot of people are moving away from full out HTPCs in favour of thin clients as theyre cheaper, quieter, using less power, can be hidden away etc. eg the raspberrypi (which seems to be taking forever to arrive however)

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trig42

5787 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#597486 20-Mar-2012 09:24

reven: if you dont want to record and want to run xbmc, why not just get an apple tv for $169-159 and be done with it?

even if you want to record at a later stage, you could setup a server and use the xbmc pvr branch to record tv.

a lot of people are moving away from full out HTPCs in favour of thin clients as theyre cheaper, quieter, using less power, can be hidden away etc. eg the raspberrypi (which seems to be taking forever to arrive however)

+1

Why build a big PC when something like an AppleTV will do just fine (you will need some sort of server for content as well though)?

However, now that Apple have released a new AppleTV and I am not sure if a jailbreak has been done for it yet.

PhillyG

42 posts

Geek

#597487 20-Mar-2012 09:25

I would steer clear of the caviar green drives. They are rubbish.

reven

3729 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#597510 20-Mar-2012 09:50

trig42: However, now that Apple have released a new AppleTV and I am not sure if a jailbreak has been done for it yet.

yeah theres no jailbreak for ATV3 yet, but there should be one shortly (these things usually dont take very long), or you could always get an ATV2.

personally i would just wait a couple of weeks and get an ATV3.

my only issue with ATV is the remotes are pretty limited, i believe you can use a bluetooth ps3 remote which maybe an option or your phone as a remote (not a fan of this myself).

im not sure if you can use a harmony one remote and program it to act as 10 different apple remotes, you could do this on mac minis. apple remotes have a 1 to 200 or so identifier and each press is appended with this, that way if you have more than one device in the same room the remote wouldnt effect all of them. i use to do this with remotebuddy application on my mac mini, that was good.

Macca1

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#597518 20-Mar-2012 09:55

reven: if you dont want to record and want to run xbmc, why not just get an apple tv for $169-159 and be done with it?

even if you want to record at a later stage, you could setup a server and use the xbmc pvr branch to record tv.

a lot of people are moving away from full out HTPCs in favour of thin clients as theyre cheaper, quieter, using less power, can be hidden away etc. eg the raspberrypi (which seems to be taking forever to arrive however)

I had thought about getting an apple TV or similar, but I don't have a server currently, and don't have any old machines lying around that I could make one out of either.

So I guess I'm trying to build a server/HTPC in one, not really an ideal set up for sure but I think it's going to be easier than having a server and an apple tv. I lived in a shared flat and the router is right outside two bedrooms, so having a server permanently on there might not go down so well with the flatmates.

Kiwipixter

246 posts

Master Geek

#597540 20-Mar-2012 10:26

Macca1:
reven: if you dont want to record and want to run xbmc, why not just get an apple tv for $169-159 and be done with it?

even if you want to record at a later stage, you could setup a server and use the xbmc pvr branch to record tv.

a lot of people are moving away from full out HTPCs in favour of thin clients as theyre cheaper, quieter, using less power, can be hidden away etc. eg the raspberrypi (which seems to be taking forever to arrive however)

I had thought about getting an apple TV or similar, but I don't have a server currently, and don't have any old machines lying around that I could make one out of either.

So I guess I'm trying to build a server/HTPC in one, not really an ideal set up for sure but I think it's going to be easier than having a server and an apple tv. I lived in a shared flat and the router is right outside two bedrooms, so having a server permanently on there might not go down so well with the flatmates.

I'd go for one of this, http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=339/ID=17111/SID=370694479/productdetails.html, or equivalent Wifi N router with a NAS port. Just HDD for storage. Then all you need are media streamers, like the WD Live TV, to stream the media files to your TV. This is a much cheaper and simpler solution than the HTPC route.

reven

3729 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#597548 20-Mar-2012 10:37

or just go for a regular old NAS, $160 on ATV, and a couple hundred bucks on a NAS still cheaper than detected HTPC and you get the benefit of it being a NAS (which do come in handy quite often, eg taking it to a mates for errr wink wink)

shadybrothers

236 posts

Master Geek

#597552 20-Mar-2012 10:51

PhillyG: I would steer clear of the caviar green drives. They are rubbish.

Explain yourself.

this is a slap in the face!

Macca1

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#597622 20-Mar-2012 12:34

An apple tv is beginning to sound like the way to go, however will have to wait and see when it can be jailbroken.

Saving the money would be nice, even with a NAS it's still only half the price probably.

PhillyG

42 posts

Geek

#597678 20-Mar-2012 13:50

shadybrothers:
PhillyG: I would steer clear of the caviar green drives. They are rubbish.

Explain yourself.

I have had to RMA two of these drives myself and know of two other people who have also.

There is also numerous results in Google regarding issues with these drives.

http://www.google.co.nz/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=caviar+green+problem&oq=caviar+green+p&aq=3&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=0l0l1l171l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&gs_l=hp.3.3.0l4.0l0l1l171l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0.frgbld.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=6fe4b0cfb9f031b8&biw=1920&bih=947

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#598351 21-Mar-2012 19:39

Or a WD TV Live - can be had for around $130, and you don't need a server - just a USB drive.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#598374 21-Mar-2012 20:40

I've been re-thinking my media pc. At the moment I have an i3 on a mini-itx board with all the jazz but it is a bit big and ugly. Apple TV looks nice but I don't like the idea of having to jail break them.

What are peoples thoughts on pico-itx? I figure all u would cost about $500 odd to build one. Is it worth it and can they hack it?

PANiCnz

982 posts

Ultimate Geek

#598467 22-Mar-2012 07:21

Isn't VIA the only company that offers pico-ITX? I heard their driver support is terrible and their CPU's are under powered. Probably worth avoiding.

If you want a full HTPC but something that is small have a look at some of prebuilds from the likes of Zotac, ASUS etc.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#598618 22-Mar-2012 12:18

yea they are the only ones that do pico-itx. Didn't realise they had a bad reputation. My main concern was could the 1.2Ghz processor hack it as there is no room for improvement lol.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#598815 22-Mar-2012 19:43

If you want a full HTPC but something that is small have a look at some of prebuilds from the likes of Zotac, ASUS etc.

One of the guys at work has built one that I find fairly cute. He got one of the big old VCRs (with one of the really solid cases, from when VCRs were expensive and well built) from the Salvation Army shop for about $20. He then gutted it, and managed to shoehorn a motherboard etc into it. Video connectors into the back, with some creative use of a Dremel, and the DVD drive site behind the flap where the tapes used to go in.

Not sure what motherboard & power supply he used (I can try and find out), but I think it it is kinda clever. Not only is it a good size and a cheap HTPC case, but it fits right into the entertainment centre that holds his TV, and looks just like a VCR that isn't out of place in the lounge - rather than a garish office PC.

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