ERU�s �cheap� Home Theatre PC (HTPC) build

**ERU** · 2nd September 2013

With the demise of Blockbuster and advent of Netflix, it seems I need to move into the 21st century. I currently have an old CRT TV, a DVD player and donated Freeview box. I have started to use BlinkBox on my laptop and I like what I see. So, I�ve decided to buy a HTPC (possibly to use as a NAS/backup) and look at getting a better TV in the not so distant future.
I�m aware HTPCs can be a bit of a minefield and I�ll need to pay particular attention to heat/airflow and noise. Hence this post �

Ok, here is where I'm at - this time with realtime links to online retailers:

Case: Silverstone Milo ML04B USB 3.0 HPTC Black Case without PSU �67.82

PSU: Corsair CP-9020058-UK CXM Builder series 430W Power Supply �41.32

CPU: AMD A-Series A4 4000 Trinity Socket FM2 3GHz 1MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor �29.49

Mobo: Asus F2A55-M LK Socket FM2 VGA DVI 8 Channel Audio mATX Motherboard �45.99

GFX: Integrated AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series Graphics in A-series APU

TV tuner card: tbc (may not be needed)

SFX: Integrated Realtek ALC887 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC

Speakers: I plan to use some old creative 5:1�s - if I can find stands for them ... I'd love to move onto an AMP/speaker setup at some point.

HDD: I got a green 2 gig one already, but might add a SSD.

DDR: Corsair Memory Desktop 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 11 Dual Channel Desktop �53.76

TOTAL: �238.38

I'd like to get this under the �200 mark. What components can I swap in/out, or shave off, comfortably? Or get cheaper else where?

**evilsatan** · 2nd September 2013

I was considering building my own one but decided to stick with my revo which has xbmc connected to my NAS and microserver with sickbeard as a pvr and couchpotato. I also have a Humax fox HDR t2 which wasn't necessary but my BT vision box stopped working so went for a good set top box.

**DejaVu** · 3rd September 2013

From a CRT/Freeview Box/DVD Player to that is a huge jump!

Depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go I suppose.
The spec of that is far better than my Revo I bought for �299 3 years ago - but you can pick them up for about �100 nowadays.

It's not so much the spec you'll need to worry about, that thing will be a superb HTPC, you should however take into consideration the noise from it (Water Cooler like a H80i perhaps) and power consumption if you plan on leaving it on 24/7 for the likes of Sickbeard or CouchPotato. This is the reason I went for the Revo - which I know own 3 of them which stream from my Home made 'NAS' system.

**{{909}}** · 4th September 2013

If you want to go cheap then use s/h parts, a core2duo and even the feeblest of grapics card can play 1080 with ease.

You may want to upgrade that 2gig HDD though...

**lagigolo** · 4th September 2013

I bought a complete second hand shuttle, you can pick them up fairly cheap, has the core2duo and semi decent graphics card.

Bought a dvi to hdmi lead and had a wireless keyboard/touchpad.

They were quite low power in their day and still quite upgradeable. Still loading it up with htpc software as i feel the need to use it, but seems to play everything pretty well so far.

**ERU** · 21st September 2013

Here's what I went for in the end - just in case anyone is trying a similar investment. I bought the following:

HP Microserver N54L �97.94 (after cashback)

Toshiba 40L1333 40" Full HD 1080P LED TV (Argos eBay refurb. with 12mth warranty) �229.99