Need Suggestions for HTPC Build

[leelaprasad]

1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run? (Stupid answers like 'gaming' or 'office work' will not work. Be exact. Which games? Which applications? Avoid the word 'et cetera.')
Ans: HTPC, will be using XMBC to watch 1080p movies, skype video chatting and little browsing some times

2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans: Max 50K (The build doesn't need to meet 50K, i need a balanced and future proof machine)

3. Planning to overclock?
Ans: no

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans: Windows 8 Pro

5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans: 4 TB at least

6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.
Ans: No, i will connect it to my Panasonic Plasma over HDMI

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans: Monitor/TV, Keyboard Mouse, OS (I already have a license)

8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans: in 1 month max

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans: Yes, will assemble all my self

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans: Hyderabad, 100% online as i am too lazy to go to shops bargain and carry them back on my 2 wheeler

11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans: This build needs to look cool in appearance as it will be in living room.Should be able to stream movies,audio over network to my other devices like PC,Android and windows Phones. and And i want the build to be future proof like being able to play 3D blurays when i upgrade my TV in a year or 2

Note: I am strictly looking for a Mini-ITX build. Sorry for not mentioning this in the start of the post

 

[draco21]

What will you be doing on this computer??

will you not use things like photoshop or maya too heavily ??

will you not game at all?? Not even in upcoming 1-2 years??

will you not go to resolutions higher than 1980*1080??

will you just watch movies and browse the net??

are you conscious about budget??

if all answers are yes, then something like this....

GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 1GB DDR5 Graphics Card - Sapphire: Flipkart.com

Core i3 3220 @ 7.1K
Gigabyte GA-B75M-D2H @ 4.2K
Corsair Vengeance 1600 MHz 8GB X 1 CL9 DDR3 @ 2.7K
NZXT Source 210 Elite (1 Front USB 3.0 port) @ 2.6K
Corsair VS450 PSU @ 2.2K
some UPS = 3K
Total 27.4K ( approx)

If no please mention which feature you would want

 

[leelaprasad]

What will you be doing on this computer??
Ans : as of now for purely watching movies and little browsing I already own a pc for daily usage
will you not use things like photoshop or maya too heavily ??
Not on this pc
will you not game at all?? Not even in upcoming 1-2 years??
May be yes may be no. I have a XBOX 360 for gaming
will you not go to resolutions higher than 1980*1080??
I guess as of now there are no tvs with more than that resolution
will you just watch movies and browse the net??
Yes
are you conscious about budget??
I am flexible on budget

I am looking for a good looking htpc with a mini-itx board

 

[draco21]

So you may game??

Forget that config. i will suggest a new one...

Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WiFi Socket 1155 Mini-ITX board with Dual LAN, 4x SATA and 802.11 WiFi

*www.flipkart.com/bitfenix-outlaw-a...YN5C&ref=137b0c9e-3a06-4a54-a230-8e3404baa75a

*www.flipkart.com/corsair-xms3-ddr3...d=RAMDFB24HUX4RDHE&icmpid=reco_pp_cross_ram_3

*www.flipkart.com/intel-3-4-ghz-lga...88G&icmpid=reco_pp_same_processor_processor_2

*www.flipkart.com/wd-2-tb-black-des...FCHH&ref=2087d89f-c18e-4d0b-8e36-d43d41ba5e86

HD 4000 will allow you to game on low settings...... also black's are the best known HDD's so go for it rather than 2*2TB green as they almost half as good as black[black has better speed and lasts longer]

 

[Cilus]

Buddy, please specify the maximum amount you willing to pay for this rig. Also you have mentioned gaming....is it going to be for dedicated gaming use or casual gaming.

Draco21, just for getting HD 4000, suggesting one a i5 3570K, costing 14K, who doesn't want to overclock.....is really very very bad idea. He can get a good AMD/Intel Processor with a 4K Graphics card within 14K

 

[draco21]

Actually i suggested z77 mobo so overclocking in distant future will remain a possibility if OP wants to do it.

also rare gaming would mean not much use of GPU ...

 

[nginx]

Actually i suggested z77 mobo so overclocking in distant future will remain a possibility if OP wants to do it.

also rare gaming would mean not much use of GPU ...

Buddy this is a HTPC we are talking about. There is no point in suggesting excessively high end parts to support overclocking and what not. It's simply not required because people who want an HTPC usually already have a high end PC to take care of their other needs. Low Power consumption & good video performance are the only key factors in HTPC. With that in mind here is my suggestion:

AMD A6-3500 Processor
GIGABYTE GA-A55M DS2 Motherboard
4GB G-Skill RipjawsX DDR3 RAM (or 4GB Corsair Vengeance)
2x2TB WD Caviar Green Hard Drive
Seasonic SS400BT PSU (or Corsair VS350)

That leaves us with just the Cabinet which I leave for you to choose. Get the smallest cabinet you can find to make a compact HTPC. If you want you can add a DVD Writer too for 1k. I am not giving any links but I think you can easily get all these parts by searching on Flipkart and ebay.

I think you can accomplish this build easily under 30k, out of which 11k will go towards the hard drive alone. This HTPC will idle at 30W or so. You can undervolt to get as low as 13W idle.

Note: No need to buy graphics card since the AMD processor has a very powerful IGP in it which will effortlessly play any HD content you throw at it. Its also great for light gaming.

 

[Cilus]

I wouldn't recommend older Llano based config as they are EOLed and completely dismiss any upgrade path in future. A10-5800K based config will provide OP good balance between performance and price. It will let him use it as HTPC with good level of GPU accelerated improvements in Video quality, good level of CPU performance and decent level of gaming capabilities.Also upgrade path is very good as the next generation APU will be compatible with FM2 socket.

 

[Sainatarajan]

+1 to that Cilus. A10 5800K is a very good option considering its price. 7660D can handle games in low to mid settings.

 

[leelaprasad]

Buddy, please specify the maximum amount you willing to pay for this rig. Also you have mentioned gaming....is it going to be for dedicated gaming use or casual gaming.

Draco21, just for getting HD 4000, suggesting one a i5 3570K, costing 14K, who doesn't want to overclock.....is really very very bad idea. He can get a good AMD/Intel Processor with a 4K Graphics card within 14K

Updated initial post with the budget.
And regarding gaming it will be casual gaming. And i am looking for a Mini-ITX build as this is a HTPC

 

[leelaprasad]

bump as i need some suggestions