Would this make a cheap htpc build?

JamesAnderson · 28 Jul 2011 at 18:55

Its for Viewing bluray video (already have a drive) and general browsing, would go in the TV cabinet, are there any improvements anyone can make and reduce the price a little? I have a copy of windows 7.

Thank you.

Jordan97 · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:26

Still deciding on a new build are you? Are you actually going to listen to us this time?

Anyway, you don't need to buy a processor and RAM as they already come in the barebones kit.

With the money you save from that, buy a better GPU, as that will struggle to play blu-ray and HD video.

coldfused · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:28

Probably go down the AMD llano route? Go for the AMD Llano A6-3650 2.60GHz (£86).
It's Quad Core and has a 6530 onboard graphics chip which in theory if we follow the numbers means that it *could* be faster than your selected 6450.

Llano chips are well suited for HTPC

Plus you save £8! (£94 vs £86) and since it will consume less power, saves you money on electricity in the long run!

Would check socket compatibility however lol - just spotted it now.

coldfused · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:30

Here's a review:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/a8-3500m-llano-apu,review-32207.html

Jordan97 · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:39

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD Llano A6-3650 2.60GHz (Socket FM1) APU Processor (AD3650WNGXBOX) with FREE DIRT3 PC Game £85.99
1 x MSI A75MA-G55 AMD Hudson D3 (Socket FM1) DDR3 Llano MIcro-ATX Motherboard £71.99
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue 160GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (WD1600AAJS) £25.99
1 x OCUK EZCool NA-705 Case - Black (500w PSU) £24.98
1 x Corsair Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low Voltage Dual-Channel Kit £23.98
1 x OcUK 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
Total : £260.42 (includes shipping : £11.25).

If you went with your build, you would struggle to play any blu-ray DVD's. In fact, it would be impossible without a DVD drive and you wouldn't need a 500GB HDD if all that is going to be on it is the OS.

R088ieS86 · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:44

As a budget htpc yes it would work.

The 6450 would play blueray's no problem.
you could make it cheaper by going to an x2 but then you would lose some of the speed in browsing and general use.

JamesAnderson · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:48

I have already built my system.
This is for a HTPC, I already have a Bluray drive
I have a £200 budget so that llano is a little out of budget.
But thanks though.

Jony27 · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:50

Jordan97 said:
If you went with your build, you would struggle to play any blu-ray DVD's. In fact, it would be impossible without a DVD drive and you wouldn't need a 500GB HDD if all that is going to be on it is the OS.

but it would be rude not to, for £4 more you get an extra 340GB :rolleyes:

saves money in the future.

R088ieS86 · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:53

If you wanted to sneak under £200:

YOUR BASKET
1 x "Primo 500a" AMD DDR3 Ready Barebones (Socket AM2+/AM3) £54.98
1 x AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £41.99
1 x Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6450 HM 512MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card (11190-04-20G) £33.59
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue 160GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (WD1600AAJS) £25.99
1 x Corsair Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low Voltage Dual-Channel Kit £23.98
Total : £199.13 (includes shipping : £15.50).

Brian8bit · 28 Jul 2011 at 19:54

You could always get the Sempron and unlock a core on it if you want to go even cheaper.