Cheap HTPC XBMC build - Less than £100

[wildest_jjk]

Hi guys,

I need some advice on parts for a cheap HTPC build to run XBMC. I would like it to be able to output 1080p and also HD audio.

My budget is £100 but really I would like it to be less. Just a general idea on parts is fine as I will try and source second hand parts. I just need to know whether things like AMD or Intel for the CPU, good motherboards, PSU's etc.

Any help appreciated

 

[deano-5]

Wonder if a Raspberry Pi could do it?

 

[wildest_jjk]

Wonder if a Raspberry Pi could do it?

Hey, thanks for the response.

I have some concerns/doubts about the Pi. I keep reading that people are having problems with things such as scrolling through menus etc. I want something that works well but obviously for a good price. Perhaps I'm wrong though!

Cheers

 

[deano-5]

You're going struggle with that budget thats why I suggested a Pi

You may get more replies in general hardware

 

[deano-5]

Get a mod to move this thread

 

[wildest_jjk]

Can the mod that just closed my thread move this then please? I now cannot respond to it.

 

[Space Monkey]

Done

 

[passey89]

now tv, unlock developer mode, install media browser / PLEX. £9.99

 

[Pedaars]

If your just after an idea on parts check out this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18618352 has a £300 spec but if your going to look for 2nd hand or have some of the parts already that could bring the cost down

 

[Hagar]

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte F2A58M-HD2 AMD A58 Chipset (Socket FM2+) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £35.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (ST500DM002) HDD £34.49
1 x Zalman T1 Plus Mini-Tower USB 3.0 - Black £19.99
1 x **B Grade** AMD A4-5300 3.40GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Dual Core Processor (AD5300OKHJBOX) £19.99
1 x Antec VP450P 450W '80 Plus' Continuous Power Supply £19.79
1 x TeamGroup Elite 2GB (1x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Single Channel Module (TED32GM1333C901) £13.99
Total : £144.24 (includes shipping : ).



Maybe better with 4GB faster memory. Upgradeable to xfire 6670 or just use a single faster GPU if required. Should run XBMC just fine.

 

[wildest_jjk]

Done

Thanks!

now tv, unlock developer mode, install media browser / PLEX. £9.99

Thanks for the response but I think the Now TV (although cheap) doesn't provide things like 1080p and a wired ethernet connection.

If your just after an idea on parts check out this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18618352 has a £300 spec but if your going to look for 2nd hand or have some of the parts already that could bring the cost down

I will take a look at the thread now cheers

 

[wildest_jjk]

YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte F2A58M-HD2 AMD A58 Chipset (Socket FM2+) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £35.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (ST500DM002) HDD £34.49
1 x Zalman T1 Plus Mini-Tower USB 3.0 - Black £19.99
1 x **B Grade** AMD A4-5300 3.40GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Dual Core Processor (AD5300OKHJBOX) £19.99
1 x Antec VP450P 450W '80 Plus' Continuous Power Supply £19.79
1 x TeamGroup Elite 2GB (1x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Single Channel Module (TED32GM1333C901) £13.99
Total : £144.24 (includes shipping : ).



Maybe better with 4GB faster memory. Upgradeable to xfire 6670 or just use a single faster GPU if required. Should run XBMC just fine.

Will take a look at this I might even have some parts so let me take a look and I will post back. Is AMD the way to go then? I have no experience with it. Is it more for the integrated graphics or the cost?

Thanks again!

 

[Hagar]

Will take a look at this I might even have some parts so let me take a look and I will post back. Is AMD the way to go then? I have no experience with it. Is it more for the integrated graphics or the cost?

Thanks again!

Just to see what you could get with a low budget. Using SH parts you could get more memory, more storage, slightly better features.

An AMD APU is probably the best way to go for your requirements and budget.

 

[wildest_jjk]

Just to see what you could get with a low budget. Using SH parts you could get more memory, more storage, slightly better features.

An AMD APU is probably the best way to go for your requirements and budget.

Thanks again.

I've had a look at parts that I've got here and I could probably take out 4GB RAM out of my NAS, I have an SSD lieing around as well as some standard hard drives. I can't think what else I have right now.

Do you think that particular APU would handle everything I need? My main goals are for XBMC with 1080p and maybe even HD audio.

Cheers

 

[mrham4321]

Surely the AM1 Kabini w/ Athlon 5350 would be absolutely perfect for your needs? Extremely cheap platform cost, low TDP, integrated graphics, quad core etc.

 

[wildest_jjk]

Surely the AM1 Kabini w/ Athlon 5350 would be absolutely perfect for your needs? Extremely cheap platform cost, low TDP, integrated graphics, quad core etc.

I'm not really sure what that is. Is it just an APU? Or motherboard as well?

Thanks

EDIT: Eventually found it, Kabini is the APU generation I think.

 

[wildest_jjk]

So would something like this combination be any good for an HTPC?

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD Athlon 5150 1.60GHz Quad Core Processor - Retail (Socket AM1) £35.99
1 x MSI AM1I AMD AM1 (Socket FS1b) Mini ITX Motherboard £24.95
Total : £60.94 (includes shipping : ).

 

[wildest_jjk]

Some suggestions on a good cheap case/PSU would also be great. They are the only other components I would really need.

Thanks

 

[CEUOTC]

How about this : IN WIN BP655, USB 3.0 Mini-ITX Enclosure, 250 Watt Power Supply - Black

 

[wildest_jjk]

That's pretty nice actually, didn't see that one when I was looking either. The only thing that worries me is the TFX PSU. I think I would prefer ATX PSU compatible but I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.