New HTPC - Ryzen vs. Coffee Lake

[snoopy7548]

Mods, please move this to the HTPC forum if you think it'd be better off there.

After a bunch of PC builds while sitting on my couch, it finally happened. I fubar'd my mobo. Today I took my HTPC apart to re-apply thermal paste, and after putting it back together it refused to POST with error 99. I tried everything, so... time for a new build!

It was working absolutely perfectly. Such a shame. I really only need a simple HTPC, but I do use madVR. I've been out of the loop for a while so I would appreciate some input. I was using an A6-6400k.

Here are my requirements:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
HTPC-use only. No gaming, no live TV. I will be playing only local content at 1080p. 4k performance would be nice, but I don't foresee that happening for a long time. I use Kodi as a front end and MPC-HC to play videos.
24Hz playback is an absolute must; I know Intel had issues with this for a long time but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
I will be using madVR - I currently run at medium/medium-high settings, but if I can go for the absolute highest at 1080p/24, that would be awesome.
Must be mini-ITX form factor with optical out.
Eventually, this PC may become a NAS, so low power would be nice.
No discrete GPU.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Ideally, $350 max for CPU, motherboard, and RAM (for an AMD build). An Intel build will have to include a low-profile heatsink. This was unexpected, but I have some bonus money set aside. I don't need anything else.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA. I have a Microcenter about an hour away from me, as well as Amazon Prime (and a $100 Amazon gift card).

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
For my desktop gaming PCs, I'm an Intel fanboy. For HTPC, I've had good luck with AMD. Love their APUs. I really don't care, though, as long as my requirements and budget are met.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Case - Node 304 (mini-ITX)
CPU cooler - Noctua L9a (if going AMD)
PSU - Antec Earthwatts 380W
2x4GB DDR3 RAM (would be very nice, but I know that's probably not likely)
Hard drives - one SSD, three 8TB Reds.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No overclocking.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1080p/24

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.
ASAP. If I could get it all at Microcenter after work tomorrow, that would be great. But I don't want to rush and end up with something less than "ideal" for me - I can make do without an HTPC for now; maybe I'll get some other projects done.

10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
No. Already have Windows 10 that I will transfer over.


After some brief searches, seems like the i3-7100 or Ryzen 3 1200 would fit the bill. Sort of leaning towards Ryzen as it has lower power consumption and seems to have better performance. I've briefly looked at the integrated systems with possibly a PicoPSU, but I would need to do a lot of research on those before making a decision.

Again, I appreciate any input. Thanks!

EDIT: Well I feel stupid. Ryzen does not have an iGPU. Guess that leaves i3-7100 or just keep it simple and look for a replacement FM2 motherboard. Hmm... Found one on Amazon for $102. Looks fine to me. https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-F2A88XN-WIFI-Bolton-Wi-Fi-Motherboard/dp/B00FYKNEVS?th=1

Mods, feel free to lock, or not. Geez, I'm sorry.

 

[whm1974]

I would wait until Intel produces more Coffee Lake CPUs in a month or two so the prices drop to MSRP. I don't know if the i5-8400 with six cores will be overkill or not with HTPCs. Or if there are any mITX boards out for Coffee Lake CPUs yet. Remember for CFL you will need a 300 series board for it.
EDIT:
Here is one mITX board:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157795

 

[VirtualLarry]

Here is one mITX board:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157795

I have that board. Don't really use it for much, though. Thought about a pfsense box.

 

[snoopy7548]

Thanks. I've decided to take apart my PC one last time, clean off the thermal compound, and see if I accidentally got it anywhere on the motherboard. If that doesn't work, I'm going to order the FM2 motherboard and then think about upgrading at some point next year.

That mITX board looks good, but it doesn't have optical out. Maybe it's not a big deal as my TV can just pass audio to my receiver via optical.

 

[snoopy7548]

Found the problem. When taking the motherboard out of the case, I knocked off an IC on the bottom side. Good news is I found the IC in my vacuum! Pins 6 and 7 are bent, but I can definitely put this sucker back on.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You folks are more daring than I am, I guess. I would write off the mobo as a loss, and use that as an excuse to upgrade.

 

[snoopy7548]

You folks are more daring than I am, I guess. I would write off the mobo as a loss, and use that as an excuse to upgrade.

You might be appalled to learn that I'm still using an 8800GT with an i5-2500k because I sold my HD6950 (since I don't game much at all anymore). Just getting me by until I decide to do a complete upgrade.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Not really appalled, just kind of curious, do current NV drivers even support the 8800GT any more? I thought that they retired any pre-Fermi support in their newest drivers. Hey, if it works for you, it works.

 

[snoopy7548]

Not really appalled, just kind of curious, do current NV drivers even support the 8800GT any more? I thought that they retired any pre-Fermi support in their newest drivers. Hey, if it works for you, it works.

Yep, seems like the last driver release was 12/2016. It's running well on Windows 10. I might fire up DOOM this weekend and see how it performs.

Soldered the IC back onto the motherboard, crossed my fingers, and booted up... It works!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hey, good job. You DA MAN!

 

[piasabird]

Last Mini-ITX motherboard I purchased was a cheap Gigabyte H110 motherboard. It has no special outputs like optical and no built-in Wifi. However, it was purchased at a Micro Center with a matching i-3 CPU. They were offering a $30 off deal on the motherboard which meant the motherboard would sell for around $39. I have it hooked up to a 32" Samsung TV with HDMI. It has a M2 slot for an SSD, on the back of the MB, but I didnt use that just one hard drive. It had no WIFI, so I just purchased a WIFI adapter and it works fine. My wife is Korean and she watches Korean Dramas and Korean shows on YouTube a lot.

Soldering the ic back on looks like it worked for you.

If you want all that stuff built in like optical outputs and wifi then you just pay more. I was surprised how well that USB Wifi adapter worked, so I purchased a second one.

One main reason I purchased this gigabyte H110 motherboard was that it had Multiple video types on the motherboard like SVGA, DVI, and HDMI all three. I used it with an old Dell Monitor for a while that only had the VGA plug.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Coffee Lake will run at lower power and faster single-core performance at stock speeds. Also, current Ryzen CPUs do not have an integrated GPU, you need a separate video card.

Right now you need to spend $100+ on a Z370 chipset motherboard for Coffee Lake. If your repair works, I'd wait until the cheaper chipsets come out. By then there might even be the A-series Ryzen CPUs with graphics as another choice.