Note: This build is from 2011. The parts, prices, and retailer links below are long gone, and the goal itself (a cheap box for 1080p streaming) is basically solved by any current mini PC. The general shopping logic (spend on CPU/GPU, keep it small and quiet) still holds if you’re building something similar today, just not this exact parts list.

So you want an HTPC (Home Theater PC / Media Center) but you’re not Mr. Money Bags? That’s fine — you can still build a great one.

The goal of this build was to play HD content streamed over the network to an HDTV. The requirements were:

  • Powerful enough to handle 1080p Blu-ray rips
  • Fairly compact
  • Fairly quiet
  • Inexpensive

The Parts

Barebone System: Foxconn R10-G3 — $80

This kit comes with an HTPC case, 250W PSU, and an LGA775 motherboard. It’s a great value — the board has a gigabit Ethernet port (essential for streaming HD over a network), 6-channel S/PDIF audio out, and includes 2 SATA cables. Build quality is solid.

CPU: Intel Celeron Dual-Core E3300 — $53

LGA775 to match the board, plenty of power for 1080p Blu-ray rips, and cheap. The E3400 is a fine alternative as well.

Video: PowerColor HD3450 Low Profile — $30

The motherboard’s integrated graphics was weak and only offered VGA output. Any low-profile GPU with HDMI out will work — it just needs to fit the case. This one was not only cheap but completely silent (passive heatsink, no fan). Other options to look at: ATI 5450s and Nvidia 8400s.

RAM: G.Skill 2GB DDR2-800 — $30

2GB is the right amount for a box like this. If you find a deal on 4GB, grab it — but note the motherboard only has a single RAM slot.

Hard Drive: Western Digital 250GB Caviar Blue — $50

Any 7200RPM drive works. For this build, media is streamed over the network from a separate media server, so local storage only needs to hold the OS and software. If you’re storing everything locally, go larger.

Total: $243

Prices were current in the weeks leading up to this post and will vary.

The Software

OS: Windows or Linux

I had a spare Windows 7 license, so that’s what I went with. Linux is a solid free alternative — Ubuntu is a good starting point if you’re new to it.

Media Center: XBMC or Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is Windows-only and limited to certain editions. XBMC is free, cross-platform, and far more capable — it fetches cover art, metadata, and episode info automatically with no extra plugins needed. Its skin system gives it a polished look on any TV.

I went with XBMC inside Windows instead of Windows Media Center and never looked back.

The Result

This HTPC hit every target: compact, quiet, cheap, and fast. It handles 1080p x264 .mkv files without breaking a sweat.