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Mission impossible? Budget gaming HTPC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim

Good morning everyone.

I've got a good friend who wants to get into PC gaming, but will only do so if we can do it "the right way".

He would like something along the lines of an Alienware X51, or an HTPC style case, and has a strict budget of $700.00. I would like to recommend him an HTPC style system that he can use for gaming and still get the best bang for his $700.00. The reason I'm thinking HTPC style is so that he can get the most possible use out of it and feel like his investment was a worthy one. Things that are completely out of the question for him is anything that isn't really 100% upgradeable in the future (like the Alienware X51), mid tower/mini tower cases, or "anything more gaudy looking than an Alienware X51".

Help me out with a build here? Need suggestions for every aspect of this build.

Thanks guys/gals.
 
So, he'd prefer a case like this?
11-163-256-TS


To a more brick-shaped case like this one in [thread=2391850]cbn's recent build[/thread]?
C283-ELITE120A_chiclet01_gfv_mn_7838765.jpg
 
So, [thread=80121]the usual questions[/thread] apply. Also, is he expecting a slim-line DVD or blu-ray drive? Those are expensive! Edit: And WiFi - does he need it?
 
Ken g6 said:
apply. Also, is he expecting a slim-line DVD or blu-ray drive? Those are expensive! Edit: And WiFi - does he need it?
Click to expand...

If he decides to get a mATX form factor HTPC case then a standard size blue ray will fit. Even the milo you showed above has 5.25 drive slot. One of the few mITX to have it. The problem with mITX is the $700.- budget. It can be done, but a mATX might offer lower cost allowing for better gear. Footprint isn't much different.
 
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monkeydelmagico said:
If he decides to get a mATX form factor HTPC case then a standard size blue ray will fit. Even the milo you showed above has 5.25 drive slot. One of the few mITX to have it. The problem with mITX is the $700.- budget. It can be done, but a mATX might offer lower cost allowing for better gear. Footprint isn't much different.
Click to expand...

I was about to post something similar. A good case labeled "Media Center" will really hurt the budget. If something small is all we are after, there are some great, more affordable MicroATX options available.
 
In the SFF space, with that 4.09" x 15.04" x 13.78" case (where the X51 is 13.504 (H) x 12.52 (D) x 3.74 (W) inches) this is the best I could do:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Rosewill RCX-Z775-LP 33.5 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.95 @ Mwave)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Silverstone ML07B HTPC Case ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Certified SFX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: Lite-On DL-8A4SH-01 DVD/CD Writer ($53.56 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Scythe Slipstream 110.3 CFM 120mm Fan ($10.96 @ OutletPC)
Other: StarTech SLSATAADAP Female Slimline SATA to SATA Adapter with Power ($7.99)
Total: $697.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-08 11:44 EDT-0400

PCPartPicker gripes about the slim CPU cooler not fitting, but Newegg says it should be fine. And if it's not, the stock cooler might work.

A larger case would open up many more options for $700. If he needs an OS, KB, mouse, or monitor, fitting a case this small into the budget gets even harder.
 
^ won't you need a low profile GPU for that Silverstone case?

Nice work getting a SSD into the build.
 
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Ken g6 said:
A larger case would open up many more options for $700. If he needs an OS, KB, mouse, or monitor, fitting a case this small into the budget gets even harder.
Click to expand...


In that case, can you make a better recommendation based off of the more brick style case you posted earlier? Thanks for your time!

Also, an OS is definitely going to be of need. He is going to want to run Steam at the least. I'm going to spoon feed him with all of the other things he's going to be able to do with the box once he gets it.

Edit: I'm going to try hard to talk him into the better bang for his buck here, it would be foolish for him to limit himself based on a case...
 
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theplaidfad said:
In that case, can you make a better recommendation based off of the more brick style case you posted earlier? Thanks for your time!

Also, an OS is definitely going to be of need. He is going to want to run Steam at the least. I'm going to spoon feed him with all of the other things he's going to be able to do with the box once he gets it.

Edit: I'm going to try hard to talk him into the better bang for his buck here, it would be foolish for him to limit himself based on a case...
Click to expand...

A brick style case would allow for normal sized GPU's and power supplies. The Cooler master case Ken pictured above is a way better choice. With that as an option we can exceed the performance of the Dell x51 for about the same $$$

Here's how I would build it if it were mine:

i3 4150 for $116. - shipped
ASRock mITX mobo w/ wifi for $73.-
Cooler Master elite 120 case for $40.- after rebate
Corsair CX500 bronze PSU - for $30.- AR
Sapphire R9 270 for $145.- AR
team vulcan 2x4 gb memory kit for $72.-
1tb WD HD for $60.-
Win 8.1 for around $100.-

Total: $636.-

There's a bit of room left for an SSD or wireless keyboard/mouse depending on priorities. If should outperform the $700.- X51 in every way.
 
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Here's the "brick" build. I was about $5 away from that R9 270, and another $5 away from Win8.1.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.95 @ Mwave)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 265 2GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($39.94 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair CSM 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $698.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-08 14:58 EDT-0400

I also wanted to see what it would cost to add Windows to the smaller case. Answer: An SSD and a video card level.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4150 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Rosewill RCX-Z775-LP 33.5 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Momentus 7200.4 500GB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($39.95 @ Mwave)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R7 260X 1GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone ML07B HTPC Case ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Certified SFX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: Lite-On DL-8A4SH-01 DVD/CD Writer ($53.56 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Scythe Slipstream 110.3 CFM 120mm Fan ($10.96 @ OutletPC)
Other: StarTech SLSATAADAP Female Slimline SATA to SATA Adapter with Power ($7.99)
Total: $697.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-08 15:35 EDT-0400

P.S. People have been reporting issues with Haswell Refresh being used on 8x series boards without BIOS updates. Why, I don't know - they're practically the same chips - but they have been.
 
Don't worry guys, the stock Intel cooler will fit in the ML07. But the OP should probably go with the Raven RVZ01B instead, as it includes a case fan. No need to buy the extra 120mm fan included in the parts list above.

As for the brick build, the Elite 120 is on sale for a reason. It's a pretty bad design. Very poor airflow. The Elite 130 is far superior, and is just a bit more expensive (currently nice rebate on it at Newegg).
 
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