HTPC/Gaming Rig

[LarryDavid]

So I've been looking at adding a HTPC to my "home theater" set up. Right now if I want to stream some files from my laptop, I'll send it through my PS3 media server. And while this works ok, I'm intrigued by the possibility of using an HTPC as a DVR and a gaming system.

Anyone have any experience building/buying an HTPC with gaming capabilities? Doesn't have to be bleeding edge graphics wise, and I'm looking at a budget of under $1000.

[TDMVPDPOY]

u dont need 1000 to build a htpc

[DJR210]

Here you go.. Will play current games on high/ultra settings at 60 or near 60 FPS.. Of course you would need to get an OS, and possibly mouse and keyboard.

Motherboard - AsRock Z77 Extreme 3 - 109.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157330

Processor - Intel Core i5 3570k - 219.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

Graphics Card - MSI 7870 Ghz Edition - 239.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127722

RAM - Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1600 Mhz - 69.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180

Power Supply - Corsair 600W - 69.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

Hard Drive - 1TB Seagate Barracuda - 69.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Case - Rosewill Challenger ATX Mid Case - 49.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Optical Drive - Asus DVD/CD Burner - 19.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Grand Total - 843.00

This leaves a little more room in your budget for the OS, M&K, or maybe even an SSD.

[TDMVPDPOY]

hey u know t he wdtv or the appletv setup shit...

do you really need if you dl files hat are in 1080/720 format? all that little box does is upscale it to HD content if u dl stuff thats not hd right???

[PM5K]

People still make htpc's?

People still try to use keyboards and mice in their living rooms?

Damn whippersnappers.

[Cane]

Recent 3-page thread on this topic over @ another forum http://www.overclock.net/t/1404797/critique-this-gaming-htpc-1000-pulling-trigger-this-week

I'm a noob but I would wait until the new APU's are released for a medium 1080p HTPC. APU's combine both the graphics card and CPU, and AMD APU's are what drives the next gen consoles too. In the future AMD APU's will probably be optimized for most cross platform games, and AMD products generally have pretty good video game bundles so you can get both hardware and software for a decent price. Likely take up less space too, much like a slim console

[DJR210]

AMD APU's are what drives the next gen consoles

This isn't saying much.

[Cane]

This isn't saying much.

Actually from what I read it's basically a revolution in the making, even though it's a low end gaming rig compared to PC's. Hopefully 1080p and 60 fps becomes the minimum standard now

It's great for both PC and consoles because it allows for optimized cross platform games, and developers can now finally utilize multiple threads/cores/whatever. And it's power efficient so saves $$$ and also saves on space

Only people who might be screwed are Intel/Nvidia where they'll have to wait a few days for drivers like Tomb Raider

[illusioNtEk]

Get a Dell OptiPlex 780 Small Form Factor at ebay for $120 to $150

Then get this video card for $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002

happy gaming :)



Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0 GHz
4 GB DDR3
320 GB Hard Drive
AMD Radeon HD 7750

you will be able to play any game you throw at it with nice framrates

[LarryDavid]

People still try to use keyboards and mice in their living rooms?

Nah, my cell phone and tablet act as my remote for my current HTPC.

[TDMVPDPOY]

any of you clowns have a home karaoke system where you control/select the music with ur tablet/phones?

[DJR210]

Get a Dell OptiPlex 780 Small Form Factor at ebay for $120 to $150

Then get this video card for $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202002

happy gaming :)



Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0 GHz
4 GB DDR3
320 GB Hard Drive
AMD Radeon HD 7750

you will be able to play any game you throw at it with nice framrates

OP, please don't follow this advice if you plan on gaming. The PC he mentioned is COMPLETE GARBAGE, and the core 2 Duo barely meets minimum specs for games. The 7750 is extremely dated, and you're wasting your money with a 1gb graphics card these days. I guess you will be fine if you plan on playing N64 games..

[TDMVPDPOY]

if the OP is spending anything close to 1000 bucks, t hats a good mid high end system you can get with that sought of money

[illusioNtEk]

OP, please don't follow this advice if you plan on gaming. The PC he mentioned is COMPLETE GARBAGE, and the core 2 Duo barely meets minimum specs for games. The 7750 is extremely dated, and you're wasting your money with a 1gb graphics card these days. I guess you will be fine if you plan on playing N64 games..


LOL

This is a lowcost solution for a build... and actully this setup plays BF3 on high settings with 30 to 60 FPS

If you want to spend 1000 dollars theres other setups... but OP wants a low cost solution

dont talk if you dont know what your talking about

[leemajors]

LOL

This is a lowcost solution for a build... and actully this setup plays BF3 on high settings with 30 to 60 FPS

If you want to spend 1000 dollars theres other setups... but OP wants a low cost solution

dont talk if you dont know what your talking about

He didn't say low cost solution, he said he wanted to keep it under 1k. Big difference.

[illusioNtEk]

He didn't say low cost solution, he said he wanted to keep it under 1k. Big difference.


you failed to see where he compared this setup to the nintendo 64 lol fuking troll

[leemajors]

you failed to see where he compared this setup to the nintendo 64 lol fuking troll

You provided a shit Dell rig and deserved mockery tbh

[DJR210]

LOL

This is a lowcost solution for a build... and actully this setup plays BF3 on high settings with 30 to 60 FPS

If you want to spend 1000 dollars theres other setups... but OP wants a low cost solution

dont talk if you dont know what your talking about

LMFAO @ accusing someone that they "don't know what they are talking about" when you just told him to buy a fucking DELL OPTIPLEX?!? A Dell fucking OPTIPLEX.

http://www.pctechoutlet.com/images/Dell/dell-optigx-desktop%20gx%20280.jpg
Does that POS even have a PSU worthy of discrete graphics???

Second, the 7700 series GPU's are fucking three generations old at this point. The 8000 series are right around the corner. The 7870 that I recommended is more than your 7750, but has a hell of a lot more horsepower.

Here's a link to a 7750 benchmark for BF3.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/02/15/amd-radeon-hd-7750-1gb-review/4

22 FPS on average? Mind you, this is a 22 FPS average on one of the most highly optimized current gen PC titles available. Mind you again, 22 FPS is pushing console FPS, it's fucking horrible. If you have to disable AA, why even get a PC to game on? Sorry, but drops to 17 FPS in a multiplayer shooter doesn't sound like a good time bro. Just to smear it in your face that much more, I'm gonna guarantee the processor used for this benchmark sure as hell isn't a Core 2 Duo.

Also, since your not the most adept to sensing sarcasm, I'll confirm for you that the N64 reference was sarcastic.

[vander]

I just put an i7-870 in my old HTPC/Gaming rig and it's running a little HOT (55C doing just internet stuff, up to 95C running 3DMark)

I bought it used from ebay, but the fan had never been used, so I wonder, could the thermal compound on the heat-sink have gone bad while it just sat around for a year or 2? or do I just need to wait a bit while it spreads around on the chip?

[ChumpDumper]

any of you clowns have a home karaoke system where you control/select the music with ur tablet/phones?No. I've seen phones play the files but all the actual show programs I've seen are pc. Could be some out there though.

[leemajors]

I just put an i7-870 in my old HTPC/Gaming rig and it's running a little HOT (55C doing just internet stuff, up to 95C running 3DMark)

I bought it used from ebay, but the fan had never been used, so I wonder, could the thermal compound on the heat-sink have gone bad while it just sat around for a year or 2? or do I just need to wait a bit while it spreads around on the chip?

You may want to get an aftermarket cooler, i think they shut off at 100. They arent terribly expensive and just reapply some new paste should be fine.

[DJR210]

I just put an i7-870 in my old HTPC/Gaming rig and it's running a little HOT (55C doing just internet stuff, up to 95C running 3DMark)

I bought it used from ebay, but the fan had never been used, so I wonder, could the thermal compound on the heat-sink have gone bad while it just sat around for a year or 2? or do I just need to wait a bit while it spreads around on the chip?

Hey Vander, not sure if thermal compound goes bad on the shelf. Like leemajors said, I'd recommend a cheap after market cooler. Get this one, it's 33.99 on Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

http://c1.neweggimages.com/BizIntell/item/35/103/35-103-099/hyper212_002.jpg

I have my 3570k overclocked to 4.5 Ghz, this cooler keeps me in the mid to high 40's while gaming. It was a painless install as well.

[vander]

yeah, everywhere i see people recommending the hyper 212. but I also read that intel stock coolers are supposed to be very good and more than adequate for non-overclocking situations. don't know why mine is being so inadequate, but I guess i'll try some new thermal paste first, then try my other stock intel fan, then get the 212 if necessary.

[DJR210]

yeah, everywhere i see people recommending the hyper 212. but I also read that intel stock coolers are supposed to be very good and more than adequate for non-overclocking situations. don't know why mine is being so inadequate, but I guess i'll try some new thermal paste first, then try my other stock intel fan, then get the 212 if necessary.

I'm willing to bet the high temps are the result of a seating or dust issue. Take off the cooler, clean the heatsink fins, and re-seat it and see if there is a difference.

The Intel coolers aren't necessarily good coolers, but they are adequate for non-overclocked processors. They are a pain in the ass as they clog with dust pretty bad though, which also might be the issue with your temps.