Looking for cheapest HTPC?

mtw · 19th February 2011, 12:18 PM

EDIT: No longer require help, they chose their own parts - thanks anyway!

I'm helping a friend build a HTPC, and they are looking for the absolute bare minimum requirements to play 1080p mkv files (Although 99% of what will be watched will be 720p max). They already have a DVD player, tuner, foxtel etc so I'm unsure if getting a tuner for the htpc is necessary?

Also, I've been trying to decide on a front end to show them. They wanted to go with MythTV and learn a bit about Linux but I'm not sure if that would be the best route if they have been windows/mac only so far throughout their lives.

They've just bought a WD20EARS (2TB Caviar Green) to start off with, so we won't include a HDD cost for this box.

My thoughts thus far are:

Mobo: Asus M4A88T-M-USB3 AM3 880G DDR3 - $99.00
CPU: AMD AM3 x2 255 3.10Ghz Althlon II Dual Core - $64.00
RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB Kit(2Gx2) DDR3 1600 RAM (Intel 775pin, AM3) - $55.00 (This RAM will work with the mobo I listed right?)
Case: ???
PSU: ???
Tuner: ???

Total: $218.00 (So far)

Cases for HTPCs I have absolutely no idea about, I've been browsing a bit but I still can't decide. Worst comes to worst, they are happy to have a standard tower.

flain · 19th February 2011, 12:59 PM

Thought about getting an apple tv2 for them and putting XBMC on it? Will decode 1080p but only output 720p. Another downside is you can't plug usb storage into it.

Also a WDTV Live can be had for $99 and plays almost anything but the interface is no where near as good as XBMC. You will be able to install the 2TB drive you already have into the WDTV live.

There is a good thread on the xbmc forums on this topic here:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=94268

mtw · 19th February 2011, 1:24 PM

I originally suggested just getting a WDTV Live, but they want to have a PC there and use it for additional tasks (torrenting etc I assume).

EDIT: They've come up with the parts they want now, don't worry. What they chose was massively overkill though lol.

19th February 2011, 12:18 PM	#1
mtw Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,163	Looking for cheapest HTPC? EDIT: No longer require help, they chose their own parts - thanks anyway! I'm helping a friend build a HTPC, and they are looking for the absolute bare minimum requirements to play 1080p mkv files (Although 99% of what will be watched will be 720p max). They already have a DVD player, tuner, foxtel etc so I'm unsure if getting a tuner for the htpc is necessary? Also, I've been trying to decide on a front end to show them. They wanted to go with MythTV and learn a bit about Linux but I'm not sure if that would be the best route if they have been windows/mac only so far throughout their lives. They've just bought a WD20EARS (2TB Caviar Green) to start off with, so we won't include a HDD cost for this box. My thoughts thus far are: Mobo: Asus M4A88T-M-USB3 AM3 880G DDR3 - $99.00 CPU: AMD AM3 x2 255 3.10Ghz Althlon II Dual Core - $64.00 RAM: G.Skill-NQ 4GB Kit(2Gx2) DDR3 1600 RAM (Intel 775pin, AM3) - $55.00 (This RAM will work with the mobo I listed right?) Case: ??? PSU: ??? Tuner: ??? Total: $218.00 (So far) Cases for HTPCs I have absolutely no idea about, I've been browsing a bit but I still can't decide. Worst comes to worst, they are happy to have a standard tower. Last edited by mtw; 19th February 2011 at 3:26 PM.

19th February 2011, 1:24 PM	#3
mtw Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,163	I originally suggested just getting a WDTV Live, but they want to have a PC there and use it for additional tasks (torrenting etc I assume). EDIT: They've come up with the parts they want now, don't worry. What they chose was massively overkill though lol. Last edited by mtw; 19th February 2011 at 3:25 PM.

19th February 2011, 12:59 PM	#2
flain Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,786	Thought about getting an apple tv2 for them and putting XBMC on it? Will decode 1080p but only output 720p. Another downside is you can't plug usb storage into it. Also a WDTV Live can be had for $99 and plays almost anything but the interface is no where near as good as XBMC. You will be able to install the 2TB drive you already have into the WDTV live. There is a good thread on the xbmc forums on this topic here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=94268