First HTPC

[buzzlightweight]

So i would like to make an HTPC, I will only be running a 1080p TV and nothing else.
Will this do or should i make changes?
many thanks

My basket at Overclockers UK:

• 1 x Intel Pentium Dual Core G4500 3.50GHz (Skylake) Socket LGA1151 Processor - Retail= £65.99
• 1 x Asus H110I Plus D3 Intel H110 (Socket 1151) DDR3 ITX Motherboard= £59.99
• 1 x Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9)= £26.99
• 1 x Super Flower Golden Green HX 350W "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply - Black= £38.99
• 1 x Samsung 120GB 850 EVO SSD 2.5" SATA 6Gbps 32 Layer 3D V-NAND Solid State Drive (MZ-75E120B/EU= £49.99
• 1 x Western Digital Caviar Red 3TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache HDD - OEM WD30EFRX= £94.99
• 1 x Silverstone SST-ML06B USB 3.0 Milo Slim HTPC, Mini-ITX - Black= £46.99
• 1 x Alpenföhn Panorama CPU Cooler= £19.99

Total: £415.02
(includes shipping: £11.10)
​

 

[Frank Jeagar]

I think this is good, it is actually similar to my own setup.

Using integrated graphics is a good choice, unless you plan to game there is no need for a dedicated GPU since high-end ones are unnecessary and low end ones aren't better than integrated.

4gb of RAM is enough since there won't be much running on the system anyway. If I were you I'd go into the BIOS when you first build it and set the dedicated memory for the graphics to the max setting to help improve the graphics performance.

Small SSD will give you that superfast app loading feel and WD Reds are awesome for HTPC storage.

One of the best looking HTPC cases IMO and that 350W PSU will be nice and efficient.

Overall I think this is really nice, every component seems fit for purpose and well thought out, I wouldn't change a thing

 

[Confused Stu]

That case says it only supports SFX power supplies, and you've got an ATX size one listed. You'll need to swap to something like this:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/be-q...0-plus-bronze-sfx-power-supply-ca-088-bq.html

EDIT - Also, the manual for that case shows your CPU cooler height is limited to 37mm if you're fitting a 3.5" HDD into the case (rather than sticking to 2.5" drives), so your cooler is going to be too tall at 57mm. Is it worth seeing how the stock cooler does, as these CPUs put out so little heat the fan will never spin up beyond idle and hence quiet.

 

[Stovepipes]

Don't fancy a PC stick or one of those Gigabyte Brix, Intel NUC type PCs then?

 

[edGfaCTor]

Built a few system with this case 3.5 hdd is a no and only sfx psu fit.

 

[chippy08]

Haswell G3258 Beats the Skylake G4500 in single threaded performance if you don't mind overclocking.

Intel Pentium G4500 @ 3.50GHz score 3788
Intel Pentium G3258 @ 3.20GHz score 3995

 

[Biz.Kid09]

£400 on a HTPC seems a bit insane.

How are you going to be running 1080p TV? Perhaps a NUC will be a more than capable solution or a "Compute-Stick"

 

[ciggybumly]

What about an Nvidia Shield TV, running one myself, full 1080p from NAS, but also has HDMI 2.0 for 4k 60hz and has the ability to game from Geforce NOW or stream form a pc.

about £150 and will include controller and remote

 

[edGfaCTor]

£400 on a HTPC seems a bit insane.

How are you going to be running 1080p TV? Perhaps a NUC will be a more than capable solution or a "Compute-Stick"

it's the wd red that bumps it up so much without that it's not far off what you would expect.