Welcome to another edition of a guide series that covers the components required to build a HTPC with a specific objective in mind.
This week, we present a Celeron HTPC Build for under $275
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Objective: Our goal today is to build a custom Celeron HTPC build or under $275.00 |
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Components required:
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Assumptions:
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Product |
Price |
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$57.21 |
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Motherboard: ECS B75H2-M3 Micro-ITX Mboard |
$44.99 ($15 Rebate) |
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$59.99 |
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Processor: Intel G530 2.40 Ghz |
$43.99 |
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$19.99 |
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Video Card: Build in with motherboard |
$0.00 |
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PSU: Antec VP450 – 450W |
$38.99
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Cooling: 2x 80 MM Fans |
$5.18 |
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Total Price: $270.34 |
Points to make:
- Perfect for anyone on a tight budget.
- 500 GB is most likely not enough for those with a good amount of media.
- Price subject to change with daily Newegg/Amazon price fluctuations.
What are your thoughts on this HTPC build? Comment below.
Have a custom built HTPC you’d like to show off? Let us know and we will feature it on TotalHTPC.com. Hit us up!
We can now pick from a variety of dedicated HT boxes ranging for $40-150, why would anyone build something with a large footprint, or noisy fans. BTW, you forgot to tack-on $40 for a (dreadfully cheap looking) remote.
There are a number of reasons why someone would prefer a dedicated HTPC over a Roku or Apple TV.
-Can use it as a regular PC – Browse the web with a wireless keyboard/mouse.
-Gaming – This build isn’t exactly build for gaming, but other builds can handle it no problem. PC games on the big screen look great.
-More control over the software – Want to use PLEX or XBMC? You decide.
-Media is stored locally – No need to worry about issue streaming
-DVR Capabilities
This is a brief list, but I hope you can see that there are uses for a dedicated HTPC.
This configuration is so much better than anything prebuilt, you could buy for 300$.
Sabnzbd+ and all the other nice tools are just not possible on something cheaper.
And the powerconsumption of this setup isn’t going to be nowhere near the 450w of the power supply. There are no Powersupplys in the sub 400w are.
I highly doubt that this machine would use anymore than 80w while playing back a HD- Movie
I’m guessing Juliensth’s comment was intended to troll because the benefits of a real computer should be immediately obvious. Sounds like he/she just wants to say “HTPC’s suck” because they probably don’t fit his/her personal situation. Oh, small-minded people …
I would strongly consider switching from intel to amd either socket FM1 or FM2. You should be able to go low to mid range of the newer fm2 trinity series for exactly what your planning on buying except with trinity your going to have on-board graphics that support everything up to gaming on their own. Since FM1 came out AMD made it possible to use less power, gain real full 3d onboard graphics, and they cost just as much as the Intel budget line. Here is a link to the low end at $65 with the radeon 7400 built in http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113283
This is definetely a micro-ATX build (mini-ITX is a 17 square cm motherboard with only one pci-e expansion slot)
While I appreciate the article, you haven’t really built an HTPC, rather you’ve built a PC by most definitions. Typically an HTPC at bare minimum needs some sort of wireless keyboard/mouse combo like the Lenovo Mini Keyboard 5902 http://bit.ly/nIfFdp to aid in the 10ft viewing experience.
A HTPC should also take advantage of DVR and Guide capabilities with Media Center or Media Portal, which means either a Hauppauge HVR-2250 MCE Kit or HD Home Run Dual for OTA or Cento InfiniTV 4 for Cable. With the later two, you still need to add IR, because it sucks not having IR control over the PC for Media Center or Media Portal.
The total above also does not include tax. In Toronto, this build with a 1 TB HDD would cost me $358 after tax without an Optical Drive, OS or unified warranty and although it’s sort of fun, I woud still have to put it together. However, if I just go to Best Buy I can pickup an Acer Aspire Core i3 3.4GHz, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB HDD, Win 8, 16X SuperMulti Optical Drive, Keyboard and Mouse, plus a 1 Year warranty for $415 tax in. The Aspire line is quiet, small and work well on their sides. If I want Win 8 Pro with Media Center, it will cost me and additional $110 + tax or if I want Win 7 Home with Media Center, it will cost me and additional $104 + tax. If I just want to add Media Portal then I’m good to go with v1.3.0
For a good steaming experience without building, installing anything or being locked to Apple, the Sony NSZ-GS7 is a great buy at $199. Google Prime Time is a killer app and the NSZ-GS7 also supports PLEX. You get a gentle introduction to cord cutting because it has pass through HDMI, and the remote is programmable via the GUI so you can control your TV, cable box and home theater amplifier, even if they’re not Sony branded. It’s a great way to introduce people into a cable-free lifestyle because it feels integrated and helps ease the transition.
It looks making very big computer, HTPC should be smart in size and also come with media center system, check this celeron HTPC: http://goo.gl/gLO7Pv
Simple enough for a HTPC. I did a HTPC not too long ago (12/15) for about 315
parts list
Celeron G1820 2.7Ghz Dual Core – 39$
ASRock H97M Pro 4 – 68$
Patriot 4gb DDR3 – 20$
WD Green 3Tb HDD – 100$
Fractal Design Core 1100 – 30$
Fractal Design Integra M 450w – 45$
I understand its a bit bulky of a case and most other HTPC’s have dedicated cases that are very similar in size to say a TiVo. but visually my case works for the entertainment center I have. the argument of you can have a Roku is invalid. as license holder on amazon, google play, and apple tv. none of those companies play together so comparitevly you could get a Nvidia shield pro for 300$ but you miss your apple and amazon media. so grab an apple tv (200$ for 32gb) right? no, because you will lose your google media. so you buy both and with those cost differentials you could have built 1 device with an OS.
its easy enough with a HTPC to save money just on