Looking to build a htpc/midrange gaming pc
#1
I want to build a fairly serious gaming rig/htpc capable of 1080p gaming and video.

I cannot make up my mind on anything except the case. Silverstone ml03b.

My requirements are at least 2tb of storage. Full 1080p video/gaming via hdmi.

This will be run on win 7.

My budget is around 700 dollars.
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#2
Ub3rr4v3 Wrote:I want to build a fairly serious gaming rig/htpc capable of 1080p gaming and video.

I cannot make up my mind on anything except the case. Silverstone ml03b.

My requirements are at least 2tb of storage. Full 1080p video/gaming via hdmi.

This will be run on win 7.

My budget is around 700 dollars.
this might be your best choice then:

1. case: SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / 0.8mm SECC Grandia Series GD05B $104 shipped
2. cpu: Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) $190 shipped
3. mobo: ASRock Z68 PRO3-M LGA 1155 Intel Z68 $110 shipped
4. ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) $45 shipped
5. gpu: PowerColor AX6870 1GBD5-2DH Radeon HD 6870 $140 shipped
6. psu: SILVERSTONE Strider Essential series ST60F-ES 600W ATX12V $69 shipped
7. case fans: COOLER MASTER SickleFlow 120 R4-L2R-20AR-R1 120mm Silent operation Red LED case fan $18 (2) shipped

total- $676
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
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#3
I have a question on storage. I've got my eye on WD caviar greens for all my media.

But for the OS what benefits does an ssd give me?
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#4
http://www.samsung.com/us/article/top-te...its-of-ssd
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#5
eskro Wrote:http://www.samsung.com/us/article/top-te...its-of-ssd

Thanks. After looking at this I think an ssd for the os and xbmc makes sense.

I'm thinking a patriot torqx 32 gb

Sorry I can't link to specific model, on my phone right now.
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#6
32Gb SSD for windows 7 to game with is too small. Of course it will fit but nothing else will
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#7
Jetster Wrote:32Gb SSD for windows 7 to game with is too small. Of course it will fit but nothing else will

Well ill just use the ssd for windows and xbmc.

I plan on using 2 2tb or 3tb caviar greens for all my games and media.

If for whatever reason I can't use the ssd then its not to big of a deal to me. I'd much rather have the big storage.

I think I've decided on the silverstone gd05 as my case. So I'm wondering if 2 caviar greens and an ssd would even fit, not to mention connect to the mobo.
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#8
I have a silverstone gd05 and you can only put 2 internal drive on it, but if you're willing to go without s cd/dvd/bd drive, you can also use that space for a 3rd drive.

Yes, you can put the OS and XBMC on the SSD and all the other on the green drive.
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#9
Ub3rr4v3 Wrote:I have a question on storage. I've got my eye on WD caviar greens for all my media.

But for the OS what benefits does an ssd give me?
here are storage options:

1. ssd: Patriot Torqx 2 PT232GS25SSDR 2.5" 32GB SATA II Internal Solid State Drive (SSD). if you are short of money, you don't need it. the standard hd is not terribly bad either, and most of my htpc don't have ssd.
2. hd: Western Digital - Caviar Green 2TB Internal Serial ATA Hard Drive for Desktops
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#10
i guess you can install games on your green drive but,
usual idea is to run apps from SSD

oh yeah and, if u go i5,
definitely go for the $215 Intel Core i5-2500K!!

and for the rest well, user named bluray pretty much nailed it down for you.

maybe as motherboard, i'd go for this $105 ASRock H67M-GE/HT (B3)
as it comes bundled also with the Arock Smart Remote for Power ON your Gaming HTPC from ColdStart

my favorite Power Supply brand --> $65 SeaSonic S12II Bronze 520W
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#11
eskro Wrote:i guess you can install games on your green drive but,
usual idea is to run apps from SSD
if i have time to spend on this forum all the time, i should have plenty of time to wait for a slightly logner bootup time of the standard hard drive. Laugh

eskro Wrote:oh yeah and, if u go i5,
definitely go for the $215 Intel Core i5-2500K!!
i doubt it that it worth $25 more for gaming pc- Gaming Performance.
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#12
i5-2500K rocks!!
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#13
Thanks for all the suggestions from everyone. I decided to not to an ssd. I'd much rather just use that money towards 2 caviar greens.

I am pretty sure I'm going to do an i5 2500 (not k) which will allow me to shave some money off the build.

I have a random question though if you guys can answer. How does this rig stand up next to an amd a8 with a 6670 in dual graphics mode.

I ask because that route is a bit cheaper. Thanks again for all the help guys.

I've convinced the wife to give me an upper budget of 750 dollars. But I forgot to factor in a 100 dollar copy of win 7. So now looking at that is it still possible to do a fairly beefy gaming htpc for closer to 700 with 2 2tb caviar greens. I can do a regular dvd drive and am willing to do intel or amd. Thanks in advance for the tips.
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#14
i5-2500k definitely is stronger then the AMD A8-3850 APU...
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#15
If you do get the K make sure you get a P67 board though to take advantage of the K Big Grin
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