£200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - Printable Version

£200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - Printable Version

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£200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - filthycatbox - 2012-04-14 15:32

Ok, firstly many thanks to all the posters here (especially Eskro) who helped educate me as to how to build my first HTPC.

I was looking for a long time at the Revo R3700 and Lenovo Q180, but was put off by the many reviews talking about the limitations of these devices as an htpc. So, after reading exhaustively on here, I decided to take the plunge and managed to build a pretty decent htpc for about the same price that these two are going for which looks great. Bear in mind, this is the first time I've ever built a PC or even attempted anything like this which should illustrate that anyone can do this simple build. I could have shaved another £50 off of the build, but I really liked the case.

The build took about an hour and a half once all the parts were recieved.

Case - Lian Li PC-09fb - £70.65
Motherboard - ASrock H61M-ITX - £52.80
Proccesor - Intel Pentium G620 2.60ghz Dual Core - £48.52
Memory - Patriot 4GB Signature DDR3 1333/9.0/1.5v - £15.59
Postage - £12.79
------------------
Total - £200.30

I've gone and added an ASrock Smart Remote, Rapoo keyboard, Logitech C270 webcam,30GB Nova SSD plus a windows 7 copy I already had which has pushed the price up another £100, but honestly I could have just run this with the android remote app as I had originally intended running XBMCUbuntu off of a spare usb stick.

I'll post photos soon, this sits comfortably under the TV quiet as a mouse for now and I'm very pleased with the performance for bang on £200.

RE: £200 Mini HTPC - filthycatbox - 2012-04-15 21:47

Not the prettiest job internally, but for a first timer I think it's ok. I detatched the front power led due to it being obnoxiously bright.

Has so far played everything 1080p I've thrown at it. I'm not sure how this build would compare to the ION based nettops, but this runs great with a 4.2 Graphics score on the Windows Experience rating.

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - eskro - 2012-04-15 22:01

Hey thanks for sharing your system with us!

these are the threads i like to see!

someone new to this hobby creating his 1st project by following my HTPC guide!

congratz! its a fantastic system and you'll be happy with it!

i like the case, very nice!

feel free to add to my reputation when u can! thx

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - filthycatbox - 2012-04-15 22:27

Thanks again for your invaluable guides man.
It is a beautiful case, may be able to add a low profile graphics card in there if II get a pico psu. Just not sure if the airflow would be restricted too much.

Anyway, would love to add to your rep.....if I could figure out how to Big Grin

Where the hell is the "add to rep" option??

RE: £200 Mini HTPC - bluray - 2012-04-15 22:45

(2012-04-15 21:47)filthycatbox Wrote: Has so far played everything 1080p I've thrown at it. I'm not sure how this build would compare to the ION based nettops, but this runs great with a 4.2 Graphics score on the Windows Experience rating.

Intel G620Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz + HD2000 should be better than ION nettops......you'll enjoy it for a long time.

If you're planning to build a very low power in the future, this "Intel Core i3-2120T Sandy Bridge 2.6GHz LGA 1155 35W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000" probably the best 35W all-in-one CPU ever made......

(2012-04-15 21:47)filthycatbox Wrote:

Congrat...! Bigger case is always better....and there is plenty of room in there......it seem that you have enough room for this "HIS Radeon HD 6570 2 GB" discrete GPU.....

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - eskro - 2012-04-15 22:48

(2012-04-15 22:27)filthycatbox Wrote: Where the hell is the "add to rep" option??

http://i.imgur.com/r6PjZ.png

see the +/- blue button next to FIND button?

u might need around 10 posts before u can do that

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - filthycatbox - 2012-04-16 01:43

(2012-04-15 22:48)eskro Wrote:
(2012-04-15 22:27)filthycatbox Wrote: Where the hell is the "add to rep" option??

http://i.imgur.com/r6PjZ.png

see the +/- blue button next to FIND button?

u might need around 10 posts before u can do that

I guess that's why I couldn't find it then. I'll add as soon as I can.
Thanks Smile

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - eskro - 2012-04-16 04:50

thanks for that!!

love your case btw

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - filthycatbox - 2012-04-19 12:59

Would a 120w Pico PSU be enough for this build?

I want to replace the CPU cooler with a low profile Shuriken or Gelid and make it as silent as possible by getting rid of the flex psu.

RE: £200 Noob Mini HTPC Build - eskro - 2012-04-19 15:37

yeah, that the Lian Li PC-09 version has a PicoLike PSU by default.

while your version comes with a flex PSU.

even 90w is enough for you.