How cheap can I build an HTPC for?

[DeviousTrap]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for: HTPC - See below

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
As cheap as can be? Under $300-400!

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Intel and nVidia.
No preference.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
See below.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I've done tons, just can't find anything with remotely concrete bare minimum requirements

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Completely stock.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
ASAP

-------------

I used to keep up with computer hardware but I've fallen out of the loop . Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I currently have a spare desktop with the following specs:
Athlon 64 3000+
(insert name of random barebones motherboard with ide and sata plugs)
3GB DDR(1)
Dual 250gb IDE HDDs
Ati Radeon 9800 Pro (connected to a 1080p DLP w/ a DVI-HDMI cable)

Basically, how cheaply can I make this into an HTPC that can play 1080p? I'm currently able to stream 720p over a wireless N network without any issues, but cpu load goes through the roof and the computer drops frames if I try to play 1080p files.

I can see new cases for $80 or so that'll flow with my entertainment center, but I'm lost about all the other components. I read that a I could just get an AGP card with a hardware decoder such as a ATI 2600pro and that would be enough to play 1080p. Is that I really need? And, what if I wanted to get an internal blu-ray drive and play those dics, how much would have to be changed?

Thanks

P.S - I'm sort of an anxious to set this all up, so it'd be even better if the parts could be ordered at reasonable prices from Amazon.com as I've got a prime membership.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Anybody?

 

[Keitero]

Have you tried the following:

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H - $89.99
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 - $69.99
pqi TURBO 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2-800 - $39.99

Total - $199.97 + shipping.

Add case + PSU + HD + optical + OS and call it a day.

 

[CSMR]

If it's a pure HTPC and you need to build straight away I'd get an AMD 780g mobo with as low-end a processor as possible. 780g is a good chipset and will handle the decoding you need.
You could also replace your video card as you suggest and use your current pc. Higher power (and so potential noise) than the above.
You could wait a couple of months and get an intel G45 mobo.

 

[DeviousTrap]

I guess my biggest question is, whether the computer (with an upgraded video card) would be able to decode blu-ray discs? Everything I'm reading online comments on how something like a 2600pro can take all of the 1080p decoding load off of the processor, but does that still apply with blu-ray playback? And if so, considering that this will purely be an HTPC, would I really be gaining anything by spending an extra $200 to upgrade to a new processor/mobo combo?

 

[Winterpool]

Supposedly, with the 780G chipset's integrated graphics, you can obtain 1080p HD video from Blu-ray using only a Sempron 64 3200+. However: 'Smooth and stutter-free playback is no longer possible with an even slower processor, such as an AMD Sempron 64 3000+.'

A modern discrete graphics card with Avivo or PureVideo will probably handle HD somewhat better than the AMD 780G, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with a processor as old as an Athlon 64 3000+. Not to mention, I presume your chip is socket 754 or 939, since you're still using DDR memory.

I suspect a midrange modern video card (GeForce 8600 and better; ATi HD 2600 XT; etc) could probably play most 1080 movies without wrecking your cpu. With such cards, a Pentium 4 560 (3.6 GHz) was typically using about 20 per cent of cpu. Note that, at least in H.264 encoding, the Athlon 64 3000+ is about 50 per cent slower than the P4 560, so I wouldn't be surprised if its HD playback ability is similarly worse.

You should be able to buy an AGP-slot HD 2600 XT for about $100. Make sure all of your components comply with HDCP, otherwise protected Blu-ray content (ie Hollywood) won't play at full 1080p owing to DRM.

Your total system will probably be working much harder, putting out more heat, and making more noise (fans) than a more modern setup (like one based on AMD 780G). I realise you want to recycle the older hardware you already have, but it's far from ideal for an HTPC. Still, to answer your primary question, I think it is possible with the kit you have, by adding an H.264-decoding video card.

 

[ther00kie16]

for $100, he should get the 3650.
But I'm curious as to your setup cuz one of my boxes with Athlon XP 3200 and 9800pro can play HD.

 

[0roo0roo]

reasonably priced duo cores can playback "720p 1080p" content of type i assume he has. because i doubt he's streaming bluray over wireless. overcompressed internets hidef is no burden for modern cpus. fraction of bitrate of a full bluray..

 

[quizzelbuck]

I built a box with an 8600gt in it. It does play 1080p files flawlessly. But i havnt attempted a blue ray player, so all my files have been rips i had to prepair for my movie machine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814127296R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820609278
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16813131249R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103213

You can cheaply make a player that will play hi-def files, as long as youre willing to do the encoding your self. 98% of all movie files you can download from newsgroups or bit torrent wont work in a computer like the one i parted out above.

 

[CSMR]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrapby spending an extra $200 to upgrade to a new processor/mobo combo?

Sell the old system.

 

[cparker]

Another vote for a 780g based system as described above. I'd not get a sempron but pick up one of the a64 single or dual core 45 watt cpus. If you get single core I'd get an le-1640 for 50-60 dollars at newegg. They flip flop the price around, so if you wait a week when it's 60 it will drop to 50 in my experience. It's a 2.6 ghz cpu and should be just fine for htpc. Otherwise get the dual core 45 watter, will cost a little more unless you go for the 2.5 ghz model which goes for around 90. Also, pick up the earthwatts 380 ps that I believe is onsale right now for 30 bucks or so AR at newegg. It's quiet, very quiet, very efficient, and adequate for this kind of system. 2 gigs of ram is all you will need, 30-40 bucks or so for quality ram. So everything together will be in your budget. If you want one now, a blu ray drive might cost you maybe 125 or so I think. But the good news is that the 780g system will handle blu ray, so nothing more to get other than the drive. Not a bad deal for what you get.

 

[biostud]

is it socket 939 or 754?

 

[DeviousTrap]

Thanks for all of the feedback guys. The current system is socket 754.

A friend of mine is offering me his slightly used PCI-E HD2600xt. From what I've read that'll do all of the 1080p decoding without any real cpu usage, but I need to get a PCI-E slot to accommodate it. Therefore, how about this bundle for $80 at microcenter:

AMD® Boxed Sempron Processor LE-1200
GeForce6100SM-M2 (1.0A) nForce 405 AM2 mATX Motherboard
1GB PC-5300 DDR2 CL5 Memory Module

I know that processor is nothing special, but would it be enough combined with the 2600xt? I'm thinking I might have to throw in another gb of ram. The system will really do nothing other than have Vista Media Center open 24/7, but games or any other video tasks. They also have another bundle with a Celeron 430 and an ECS motherboard for the same price, but I think that the sempron will be faster?

 

[Winterpool]

Is your friend going to charge you for that HD 2600 XT?

Objectively speaking, $80 is probably okay for a bundle including cpu, board, and memory, but for some reason I feel uncomfortable spending that much money and ending up with 'only' the processing power of a $35 cpu. That Sempron is superior to a 3500+ (faster, quite a bit more cache) but is only 45 W, so it should be sufficient for HTPC duties with the hardware assist of the 2600 XT.

Usually the uber-cheap bundles at Fry's and Micro Centre come with ECS boards -- is that the case here? Make sure that the board supports whatever peripherals (especially audio) that you might require for HTPC duties.

And finally, is your friend's card HDCP-compliant?

 

[cparker]

The upside is that the 80 buck system might work. The downside is that you will have problems. Even if it does work you might get jerks and stutters and so forth. Then you've just thrown out 80 bucks not to mention the time and aggravation. You might check another forum geared to htpc kind of stuff. There is an av or avs forum somewhere that you shouldbe able to find with google search (try "htpc av forum 780g" as they seem to focus on 780g systems). There you'll probably find people who will be able to say just what minimum cpu you would most likely need. I recall that I read there or somewhere else that the semprons just don't have it to run smoothly. The le-1600 just, barely, makes it. The 1620 and 1640 seem to have good reports. But check the Newegg reviews on those cpus and you'll probably get the flavor of things. The semprons have smaller cache which may have something to do with their limitations, I suppose. Anyway, if you decide to be brave and go with the real cheap system please give a report as it will help others trying to put together a real cheap htpc. Me? I'd bite the bullet and go with something that's proven to be up to the task. The difference is probably less than a hundred dollars between the 100 buck (you have to add another gig of ram!) system and a 780g system with better ram, a proven cpu that's proven for htpc useage, blu ray compatible, etc.

 

[ther00kie16]

yea, that $80 combo is really old and will likely be slower than your current setup.
sempron & single core - ewww...
motherboard's integrated graphics is 2 generations old and if you are going to use the 2600xt it's pointless.
slow ram & slow CAS5
So either go with Keitero said or just get an agp 2000 or 3000 series ati card that will do the decoding just fine.

 

[Raduque]

Right now my bedroom HTPC is an AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512mb DDR, 6800NU. It does quite well for most 720p contents, even high bitrate ones. Moderate bitrate 1080p plays fine as well. High bitrate 1080p is a definite no-go. I'm using CoreAVC to play back x264.

This system cannot playback HDDVD. It plays in slow motion. I don't have a BRD drive, but it's probably much the same.

 

[0roo0roo]

i've played full 1080p rip of bluray on a e2200. hovered around 60% cpu usage.
it was using intel integrated graphics and core avc.
and no it wasn't recompress, it was 21+GB monster