HTPC build, need to make cheaper

VenomIreland

Item|Price
Thermaltake Element Q, mini-ITX, 200W-Netzteil|€51.72
Intel Core i3-2100T Box, LGA1155, 35W TDP|€115.40
4GB Kingston ValueRAM PC3-8500U CL7|€19.19
Seagate Barracuda 7200 2000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€102.99
HIS HD 7750 iCooler GDDR5 1024MB DP/DVI/HDMI|€91.73
Samsung SH-B123L Retail|€55.67
ASUS P8H61-I Rev 3.0, Intel Sockel 1155, ITX|€73.43
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (SB-Version)|€78.54
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€607.66

I need to make this cheaper so as to make my dad more likely to want it, any help?

It will be used for some gaming as well, which is why the 7750 is there, but I'm wondering if I can safely cut back on the processor.

Nollog

A recent Atom+Ion motherboard would save you a lot of money, keeping 1080p possible.
for example, http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=35706&agid=1391
Would save you 115.40+91.73+73.54-143.82 = €136.85

Also, don't get Windows 7, install something like XMBC with linux under it, unless you want a PC.

M00lers

Hard to see where you could make any massive saving really but you can pick up Windows 7 from softwareforstudents.ie for 45ish euro.

If you had a spare HDD knocking about that you could use until prices come down to pre flood levels, that would save another few quid.

VenomIreland

/\/ollog wrote: »

A recent Atom+Ion motherboard would save you a lot of money, keeping 1080p possible.

Yeah, but then there's the issue of not being able to run any game decently, now that I look over the build I can't think of ways myself to make it cheaper, other than wait a bit longer for the HDD prices to return to normal.

Nollog

VenomIreland wrote: »

Yeah, but then there's the issue of not being able to run any game decently, now that I look over the build I can't think of ways myself to make it cheaper, other than wait a bit longer for the HDD prices to return to normal.

Oh, so you want a PC.

Eboggles

Put in a Celeron G530.

VenomIreland

/\/ollog wrote: »

Oh, so you want a PC.

But a HTPC is a PC anyway?

Eboggles wrote: »

Put in a Celeron G530.

How well do they perform compared to the i3's? I'm having a bit of difficulty finding benchmarks for it with regards to gaming.

Nollog

My idea of a HTPC is Home Theatre, meaning it plays movies.
you can make a pretty super box for that from as little as 150 euro if you shop around enough, and it'd be tidy with the psu on the plug.

VenomIreland

/\/ollog wrote: »

My idea of a HTPC is Home Theatre, meaning it plays movies.
you can make a pretty super box for that from as little as 150 euro if you shop around enough, and it'd be tidy with the psu on the plug.

You have a point, I'll wait till my dad is home and ask him what his budget is, if his budget allows for it, I'll go for my build, if not, I'll go with whatever ye lads can help me come up with.

armitage_skanks

For the lightish gaming you'd be doing on a 7750, G530 might be enough. You'd probably be gaming at 720p on that card would you?

Only 36 on HVS too, surprised how cheap that is.

Got an Element Q i was going to stick up on adverts for 40 if you want to knock a tenner off your build :pac:

Monotype

moolers2000 wrote: »

Hard to see where you could make any massive saving really but you can pick up Windows 7 from softwareforstudents.ie for 45ish euro. €54.95

Fixed your post, but I agree it's that it's cheaper alternative to go for.

Eboggles wrote: »

Put in a Celeron G530.

I agree.

VenomIreland wrote: »

How well do they perform compared to the i3's? I'm having a bit of difficulty finding benchmarks for it with regards to gaming.

The i3s have got hyperthreading which doesn't make that big a difference in games. There's different on-chip graphics too which won't make any difference with a graphics card. Aside from that, the i3s usually have a bit more cache and a higher clock speed. This particular i3 that you picked is a low power one so the clock speed is 2.5GHz - a mere 0.1GHz higher than the celeron G530. There should be very little difference in these two CPUs - certainly nowhere near the difference the extra cost would suggest.

You could save a bit with a different motherboard.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=50896


Are you sure that that graphics card fits into that case?

Serephucus

Waaaay overkill for a HTPC. If the hardest thing it has to do is play a 1080p file, then a G530 should do that fine. I also don't know why there's a graphics card in there.

Edit: Missed the some gaming bit. You could still stick that GPU in this and it would be fine.

Item|Price
Thermaltake Element Q, mini-ITX, 200W-Netzteil|€51.72
Intel Celeron G530 Box, LGA1155|€35.99
4GB Kingston ValueRAM PC3-8500U CL7|€19.19
Seagate Barracuda 7200 2000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€102.99
Samsung SH-B123L Retail|€55.67
ASUS P8H61-I Rev 3.0, Intel Sockel 1155, ITX|€73.43
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (SB-Version)|€78.54
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€436.52

VenomIreland

Monotype wrote: »

Are you sure that that graphics card fits into that case?

Good question, I'm not sure now, could get a taller case if my dad agrees to move a shelf.

Serephucus wrote: »

Waaaay overkill for a HTPC. If the hardest thing it has to do is play a 1080p file, then a G530 should do that fine. I also don't know why there's a graphics card in there.

Edit: Missed the some gaming bit. You could still stick that GPU in this and it would be fine.

Item|Price
Thermaltake Element Q, mini-ITX, 200W-Netzteil|€51.72
Intel Celeron G530 Box, LGA1155|€35.99
4GB Kingston ValueRAM PC3-8500U CL7|€19.19
Seagate Barracuda 7200 2000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€102.99
Samsung SH-B123L Retail|€55.67
ASUS P8H61-I Rev 3.0, Intel Sockel 1155, ITX|€73.43
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (SB-Version)|€78.54
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€436.52

Deadly, thanks.

gomamochi1

Hey, what spec woudl I need ot make a media player like you mentioned? Cheers