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Cheap PC for TV

G

GarlicBreath

Senior member
I just got a new 60" LED TV. I'd like a cheap PC to do two things:

1) Browse the web. (TV's built in browser sucks.)
2) Play music with Window Media Player, so I can get those sweet visualizations.

PC needs to be quiet, have HDMI output to connect to my AV receiver, and have WiFi. I already have a wireless keyboard/mouse. I'd like to run Windows 7 or 8.1. I don't currently have an unused software license, though.

I've built desktops before. Not sure if build or buy is the best option.

Anything better/cheaper than this for me?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...FckWMgod40AAhw
 
GarlicBreath said:
I just got a new 60" LED TV. I'd like a cheap PC to do two things:

1) Browse the web. (TV's built in browser sucks.)
2) Play music with Window Media Player, so I can get those sweet visualizations.

PC needs to be quiet, have HDMI output to connect to my AV receiver, and have WiFi. I already have a wireless keyboard/mouse. I'd like to run Windows 7 or 8.1. I don't currently have an unused software license, though.

I've built desktops before. Not sure if build or buy is the best option.

Anything better/cheaper than this for me?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...FckWMgod40AAhw
Click to expand...

Look at the Intel NUCs. There are several models from $130. You'll need to add RAM and SATA/mSATA. If you want a larger, regular machine, check out the Lenovo outlet. They have some good deals come and go all the time..
 
That's kind of pricey for what you are getting. I'd be curious if that Celeron would be much faster than the processor built into your TV in actual usage.

If form factor isn't a concern, you can get something like this Dell that would be a sure bet. I don't think you can build a PC, including an OS, even given your limited application, for less than $300.
 
Intel NUC
Gigabyte Brix
anything in that form factor is what you're looking for.

Head over to XBMC.org and go to their forum, then hardware section, then read the stickies. There are about 5 small build PCs that come under $300. One would come under $300 with OS even.

That's what you want.

It's worth if for the "cool visualizations". BTW, I suggest you use Aeon Visualizer as well. It has a TON more visualizers and better ones than WMP. I had Visualizers going up on my 70 inch LED during parties. People loved it.
 
I saw something the other day that if you get tax software from Amazon and agree to accept your return on a amazon gift card you can get a 5% larger return.

Make sure you know the exact specification of what you are buying. I looked on amazon.com and some of these things have 5400 rpm hard drives.

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Revo-RL80...acer+revo+rl80

On the surface it looks pretty good, but you might not want to settle for a 5400 HD. You might find a regular Dell computer for about this price. It looks OK to me but maybe their are some reviews you could look at.

Here are some examples of some NUC's already with 8 gigs of SODIM RAM and SSD'S:
http://www.directron.com/next-unit-computing-pc-1.html
I dont know if the 1.1 Ghz Celeron is fast enough or not. Since this is a shop that sells and builds maybe then can downgrade the RAM to 4 Gig and save some money. They have some other models.
 
GarlicBreath said:
Thanks, Charlie. Quiet, you think?
Click to expand...

Should be OK, it's not like there will be a huge or sustained demand on the CPU. The Pentium in my HTPC barely breaks 30-32C in normal use, including streaming video.... that's idle fan territory.

WMP is pretty good, but XBMC might be the hot setup for visualizations. Personally, I didn't care too much for XBMC for video playback, but it might be worth it for audio/visuals.
 
piasabird said:
I saw something the other day that if you get tax software from Amazon and agree to accept your return on a amazon gift card you can get a 5% larger return.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for pointing this out. The bonus is 10%, actually. (Guess who just bought Turbotax?)
 
Charlie98 said:
Should be OK, it's not like there will be a huge or sustained demand on the CPU. The Pentium in my HTPC barely breaks 30-32C in normal use, including streaming video.... that's idle fan territory.

WMP is pretty good, but XBMC might be the hot setup for visualizations. Personally, I didn't care too much for XBMC for video playback, but it might be worth it for audio/visuals.
Click to expand...

I got the one you recomended. Running XBMC just fine, and quiet. I'm happy. Thanks.
 
GarlicBreath said:
I got the one you recomended. Running XBMC just fine, and quiet. I'm happy. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'd be curious to see what the CPU utilization is on that small Celeron while streaming video... I put the Pentium in mine, to me a downgrade from the i3 I originally spec'd... and if the iGPU of the Celeron is up to the task of the XBMC visuals.
 
Charlie98 said:
I'd be curious to see what the CPU utilization is on that small Celeron while streaming video... I put the Pentium in mine, to me a downgrade from the i3 I originally spec'd... and if the iGPU of the Celeron is up to the task of the XBMC visuals.
Click to expand...

The XMBC milkdrop visualization is smooth as butter.

I do get a little hiccup in the audio sometimes when I first start a new song, but it's connecting to another PC via wireless network.

I don't have CPU utilization software installed.

Edit: Duh. I can use the task manager.
Edit 2: If I use the resource monitor, the CPU usage is around 11-20%. The maximum frequency was 84%.
 
Last edited:
GarlicBreath said:
The XMBC milkdrop visualization is smooth as butter.

I do get a little hiccup in the audio sometimes when I first start a new song, but it's connecting to another PC via wireless network.

I don't have CPU utilization software installed.

Edit: Duh. I can use the task manager.
Edit 2: If I use the resource monitor, the CPU usage is around 11-20%. The maximum frequency was 84%.
Click to expand...

Very good!
 
Try out a Raspberry Pi. I don't know how good it will be for actual browsing though, but if you have a use for one for something else, get one and try it out then it can always go towards another use if it's too slow for active browsing.

It will play 1080p video fine with XBMC, as well.

Actually this may not work for #2, I don't think they can run Windows.
 
Red Squirrel said:
Try out a Raspberry Pi. I don't know how good it will be for actual browsing though, but if you have a use for one for something else, get one and try it out then it can always go towards another use if it's too slow for active browsing.

It will play 1080p video fine with XBMC, as well.

Actually this may not work for #2, I don't think they can run Windows.
Click to expand...

Browsing is shit.

No windows but xbmc does visualizations for music.
 
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