HTPC help?

[Mossy Snake]

So I've been tasked with making an HTPC for $500 (preferrably less) capable of streaming Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime/Crunchyroll/BritBox (BBC) in 4k

I know nothing about HTPCs, so here's my parts list so far:

CPU: AMD A10-9700e
Before anyone flips and says I should get the Pentium G4600, here's my reasoning:
This CPU's iGPU is noticeably more powerful than the HD 630 in the Pentium, and since this PC will never be doing anything where processing performance matters, the iGPU's performance is more important. Also this CPU is only 35W, which is nice.

MB: Asrock B350 Gaming ITX/ac
Integrated Wi-Fi is a godsend in a small case from what I understand

RAM: 1x8 stick, whatever's cheap and not from TEAM group

Storage: 1TB WD Blue, the standard (Will be used to store some photos, so whatever)

PSU: Haven't decided yet, probably a Corsair CX450 or something cheap and low-wattage

Case: I actually need help with this one. I was looking at the Silverstone SUGO since it can fit full-sized ATX PSUs and is dirt cheap (and I like how the white variant looks like a Star Trek device), but I hear the airflow is lacking.

OS: Here's the part that I really need help with. I was planning on using Ubuntu, but that would require the use of a keyboard to function. While Kodi exists and can be controlled with a controller, I hear it has compatability issues with Netflix and Amazon Prime.

How is this list? Any tips?

[⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧]

The cx is rly low-end
I would go with the bitfenix whisper. *a nice have for itx, full modular.
And why not a normal b250 itx mobo + wlan card like a tp-link adapter?
Ram, the cheapest with atleast quality, the normal crucial.
And case, I only found the sugo with a $100 price tag, if so, the coolermaster elite is way cheaper with $36
Also maybe a decent ssd.

[Omega]

A simple I-GPU is powerful enough for 4k streaming. A Celeron or Pentium G is would be more then capable of doing that.

I say replace the 1tb HDD with a 120gb SSD.

Since you are doing 4k streaming I recommend connecting to the internet via cable.

With some minor tweaking the Steam controller should work fine on Ubuntu/Mint. You could look around on the web for something like a Rii K16 or Rii i8. I got a Rii i8 it is a decent keyboard and touchpad combo for the price.

This PC should run on 200w.

If you like the look of the Silverstone SUGO sure go ahead and get that one.

I say get Kodi, I heard that most of the issues with Netflix have been fixed now.

[Mossy Snake]

Escrito originalmente por ⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧:

The cx is rly low-end :wizard:
I would go with the bitfenix whisper.
And why not a normal b250 itx mobo + wlan card like a tp-link adapter?
Ram, the cheapest with atleast quality, the normal crucial.
And case, I only found the sugo with a $100 price tag, if so, the coolermaster elite is way cheaper with $36

The Sugo I saw on Newegg was $40.

Let me check again, I may have gotten the name wrong.
It's the Sugo SG05

A B350 ITX Mobo + AC card would cost more

Escrito originalmente por Omega:

A simple I-GPU is powerfull enough for 4k streaming. A Celeron or Pentium G is would be more then capable of doing that.

I say replace the 1tb HDD with a 120gb SSD.

With some minor tweaking the Steam controller should work fine on Ubuntu/Mint. You could look around on the web for something like a Rii K16 or Rii i8. I got a Rii i8 it is a decent keyboard and touchpad combo for the price.

This PC should run on 200w.

If you like the look of the Silverstone SUGO sure go ahead and get that one.

I say get Kodi, I heard that most of the issues with Netflix have been fixed now.

This is an idiotic question, I know, but is there some kind of "PC Controller" that acts at least kind of like a TV remote? This is going to be plugged into a TV.

[Omega]

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

Escrito originalmente por Omega:

A simple I-GPU is powerfull enough for 4k streaming. A Celeron or Pentium G is would be more then capable of doing that.

I say replace the 1tb HDD with a 120gb SSD.

With some minor tweaking the Steam controller should work fine on Ubuntu/Mint. You could look around on the web for something like a Rii K16 or Rii i8. I got a Rii i8 it is a decent keyboard and touchpad combo for the price.

This PC should run on 200w.

If you like the look of the Silverstone SUGO sure go ahead and get that one.

I say get Kodi, I heard that most of the issues with Netflix have been fixed now.

This is an idiotic question, I know, but is there some kind of "PC Controller" that acts at least kind of like a TV remote? This is going to be plugged into a TV.

Rii i8 it's only $20.

[⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧]

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

Escrito originalmente por ⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧:

The cx is rly low-end
I would go with the bitfenix whisper.
And why not a normal b250 itx mobo + wlan card like a tp-link adapter?
Ram, the cheapest with atleast quality, the normal crucial.
And case, I only found the sugo with a $100 price tag, if so, the coolermaster elite is way cheaper with $36

The Sugo I saw on Newegg was $40.

Let me check again, I may have gotten the name wrong.

A B350 ITX Mobo + AC card would cost more

Maybe I'm totally wrong, but the only sugo I found is up for 100 bucks, also the mobo is round about $115.

[Mossy Snake]

Escrito originalmente por Omega:

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

This is an idiotic question, I know, but is there some kind of "PC Controller" that acts at least kind of like a TV remote? This is going to be plugged into a TV.

Rii i8 it's only $20.

That thing looks like a Blackberry!

I think I'll just use one of my old PS4 remotes if possible..

[Omega]

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

Escrito originalmente por Omega:

Rii i8 it's only $20.

That thing looks like a Blackberry!

I think I'll just use one of my old PS4 remotes if possible..

Yeah but it is small, has a build-in touch pad and a keyboard. So you could do some internet browsing with it.

If you get something like the Rii i8 you could install Mint or Ubuntu on the machine. For a more desktop like experience.

[Mossy Snake]

Escrito originalmente por Omega:

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

That thing looks like a Blackberry!

I think I'll just use one of my old PS4 remotes if possible..

Yeah but it is small, has a build-in touch pad and a keyboard. So you could do some internet browsing with it.

If you get something like the Rii i8 you could install Mint or Ubuntu on the machine. For a more desktop like experience.

I'll consider it, but I don't know if my family (specifically the older members) would like to use a "keyboard" that small.

They want this to be as user-friendly as possible.

[vadim]

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

RAM: 1x8 stick, whatever's cheap and not from TEAM group

Integrated graphics gains a lot from dual-channel RAM.
In this forum people often look at the width of the memory bus of the video card. A dual-channel memory has a width of this bus 128 bits versus 64 for a single-channel memory.

[Mossy Snake]

Escrito originalmente por vadim:

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

RAM: 1x8 stick, whatever's cheap and not from TEAM group

Integrated graphics gains a lot from dual-channel RAM.
In this forum people often look at the width of the memory bus of the video card. A dual-channel memory has a width of this bus 128 bits versus 64 for a single-channel memory.

I will go dual-channel if I can get it cheap, but the issue is cost.

I'll look for some cheaper dual-channel kits.

[⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧]

Here something like that one, dual-channel etc.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/V77z3F
*And yes, newegg and amazon has the sugo, but wasn't here.

Would maybe grab a 300w psu, since u will never use 450, but found no lower w psu with the modular feature.
Anyway here is one with 300w
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151086

[Omega]

Escrito originalmente por MossyRathalos:

Escrito originalmente por vadim:

Integrated graphics gains a lot from dual-channel RAM.
In this forum people often look at the width of the memory bus of the video card. A dual-channel memory has a width of this bus 128 bits versus 64 for a single-channel memory.

I will go dual-channel if I can get it cheap, but the issue is cost.

I'll look for some cheaper dual-channel kits.

2x4gb will cost just as much as 1x8gb. So that should not be a issue.

[vadim]

When I bought laptop, which I use to write this post, it had single 8GB DIMM. Later I added 8GB more. Difference in IGP perfoamance is huge.

[Omega]

Escrito originalmente por ⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧:

Here something like that one, dual-channel etc.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/V77z3F
*And yes, newegg and amazon has the sugo, but wasn't here.

Would maybe grab a 300w psu, since u will never use 450, but found no lower w psu with the modular feature.
Anyway here is one with 300w
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151086

I would get the Pentium G4600 instead. For the more powerfull I-GPU. THe G4600 is only $8 more.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/V77z3F

[Mossy Snake]

Escrito originalmente por vadim:

When I bought laptop, which I use to write this post, it had single 8GB DIMM. Later I added 8GB more. Difference in IGP perfoamance is huge.

Alright, I found some 2x8GB Crucial sticks for $70, which is a little more expensive but only by a small margin.

Escrito originalmente por ⛧EyMi Mayhem⛧:

Here something like that one, dual-channel etc.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/V77z3F
*And yes, newegg and amazon has the sugo, but wasn't here.

Would maybe grab a 300w psu, since u will never use 450, but found no lower w psu with the modular feature.
Anyway here is one with 300w
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151086

Looks good, but I really like the low TDP and iGPU of the Athlon more, as they're more important for this. I'll consider it.