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2013-04-01, 04:05
(This post was last modified: 2013-04-01, 04:06 by TwistedNy.)
I want to build a cheap htpc for about $100. I know my price tag is to low but hear me out. I use xbmc to run live streams and play on demand content from addons.
I don't need a fancy set up with a ton of power and I will not need to connect to a nas or install a massive hardrive to play my own movie collection.
I just want to build something as minimal as possible. I know about the rasberry pi and it is not fast enough for me and by fast I mean the gui runs sluggish .
I just want something that will run xbmc (without being sluggish), have hdmi output, wifi and Ethernet capabilities.
Does anyone have suggestions? If possible i would prefer to run windows but its not a deal breaker if its a non windows machine.
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Maybe the Ouya when it comes out in June...$99
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$100 is totally doable even for a desktop type HTPC (x86), if you have some spare parts. A very well performing Celeron and motherboard can be had for under $80, add RAM, and a spare HDD or a USB thumb drive. Even if you had to also buy the case and powersupply, it's possible to keep the price under $150.
The ARM options, like Ouya, Pivos XIOS, and even the Game Stick, all look good and are at or near $100. Stuff like the Gbox, I would be cautious about, but even those guys will probably "get there" soon. There are some others that I hear are fairly decent too, but I haven't read much about them.
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nickr
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Also something like an ex lease hp dc7100 with a low profile nvidia graphics card makes avery cheap machine. Works fine for mythfrontend or xbmc under linux, woyld probably do windows.
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nickr
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The only really important component is the graphics chip. Everything else can be done in a relatively low power CPU like an atom.
I am not sure where in the world you are or what sort of $ you are discussing, but I have built an HTPC for NZ$150 approx with the kit I describe in post #6. Hardware is way more in NZ$ than US$ so I would be surprised if you can't get something for $100 along those lines.
Alternatively, any ION2 nettop will also do the trick.
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nickr
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True, but no one has mentioned that in this thread so far.
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The biggest file i will play will be 720p but most stream will not even be hd
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I am using a ASROCK ION 3D computer and are very satisfies. I have two of them.
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If the majority of stuff you'll be playing is not more than 720p, will a raspberry pi with Raspbmc not do the trick?
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