Extreme Low Cost Hard to Beat HTPC!!

Hi guys!
I have a little story to share on custom builds!
Ok here it is ...

For some reason, my friend didn't want a ZOTAC/NETTOP box...
Because at first, since he was on an extreme tight budget,
I went ahead and suggested him the cheapest Dual-Core ION ZOTAC box he could get
which was the Zotac ZBOXHD-ND01-U ($238.50) ...

At that point, he was OK with the price tag although
knowing he still needs to buy some RAM and and a Hard Drive ....

Now i tried my best to find him a custom build
that would end-up costing him $238.50 (minus the ram and hdd of course)
without sacrificing any performance nor features ZOTAC boxes have ...

Anyhow, he finally agreed on the following HTPC build i proposed him!



[MOBO+CPU+GPU] ZOTAC IONITX-P-E Intel Celeron 1.2GHz Dual-Core ION1 Mini-ITX ($180 + Free Shipping)
[CASE+PSU] Sunbeam ACMI-P-T Mini-ITX 150W ($50 + $10)
TOTAL: ($240)


Whats great about that build is that,
it has a 1.2Ghz Dual-Core Celeron CPU,
accepts Dual-Channel DDR3 1066Mhz RAM modules,
has integrated WiFi N,
Max LAN Speed of 10/100/1000Mbps,
1 x eSATA II port,
1 x HDMI port,
1 x External 5.25" Drive Bay (perfect for a BD-Reader)
2 x 60mm front fans (reviews says their quiet and keep stuff cool)
Front Ports: USB / Audio / e-SATA

We all know that to have a 1.2Ghz Dual-Core Celeron CPU in a ZOTAC box
we have to pay $278.50 .... no RAM included and no HDD either ....

So his Final Build, adding the RAM and HDD in the mix,
looks like this!



[MOBO+CPU+GPU] ZOTAC IONITX-P-E Intel Celeron 1.2GHz Dual-Core ION1 Mini-ITX ($180 + Free Shipping)
[CASE+PSU] Sunbeam ACMI-P-T Mini-ITX 150W ($50 + $10)
[RAM] G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1066Mhz CL7 ($28 + $1)
[SSD] Patriot Torqx 2.5" 32GB SATA-II ($80 + $0)
TOTAL: ($349)


At that Price, i can't see which NETTOP can beat that!!

eskro Wrote:At that Price/performace/upgrade capability.
i can't see which NETTOP can beat that!!

For $20 more I would get the ND22 because is much better looking, takes very little space and is almost silent compared to this rig cooled by 4 small (and potentially noisy) fans. Performance I would expect to be the same.

actually the Zotac ZBOX ZBOXHD-ND22-U is $40 more...

and the case is very small, 6.7" x 6.7", and everybody has different tastes...

reviews do say fans are quiet...

anyhow, with the $40 extra, u can get nice fans

or a different case!

I guess I was trying to say is that if you decide to go the custom built route, perhaps something with a customisable CPU and a bit more power would be more desirable, otherwise, the already build Zboxes appear more appealing.

whats more appealing then choosing your own stuff?
Here's another example.... BareBone...


[MOBO+CPU+GPU] ZOTAC IONITX-P-E Intel Celeron 1.2GHz Dual-Core ION1 WiFi Mini-ITX ($200 + $0)
[CASE+PSU] Apex MI-100 Black mini-ITX 250W ($53 + $0)
[FAN] Scythe Slipstream 120mm 800RPM 40.17CFM 10.70dBA ($13 + $0)
TOTAL: ($266)

Possibility to add a BD-ROM and a GT430 video card later on if needed!
WiFi Built-in!!

There's a $304 DIY combo at newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundl...mbo.548994 Has everything you need, hd, ram, even a slim dvd drive, complete system. It's not the celeron 1.2 but an atom 1.8. I actually built that system for my brother. Very tight fit inside but it looks great under the TV. I ordered him 2 more gigs of ram because he wants to dual boot windows 7, but the included ram is more than good enough for XBMClive. Using DDS art everything is smooth as buttah!

Riffmaker Wrote:There's a $304 DIY combo at newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundl...mbo.548994 Has everything you need, hd, ram, even a slim dvd drive, complete system. It's not the celeron 1.2 but an atom 1.8. I actually built that system for my brother. Very tight fit inside but it looks great under the TV. I ordered him 2 more gigs of ram because he wants to dual boot windows 7, but the included ram is more than good enough for XBMClive. Using DDS art everything is smooth as buttah!

The celeron is more powerful than the atom, isn't it?

Over Kill.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Public...r=14740405

xecutionx Wrote:The celeron is more powerful than the atom, isn't it?

Ya it is, but the atom is enough power for xbmc(with an ion gpu that is)IMHO

Riffmaker Wrote:Ya it is, but the atom is enough power for xbmc(with an ion gpu that is)IMHO

There are certain skins which would certainly be more comfortable with a more powerful CPU. It is not obvious until you have something to compare it with but if I had a chance now, I would get the Celeron CPU instead of the Atom.