HTPC build 2017
I’ve been using my old gaming PC as an HTPC for a couple of years now but I was never entirely satisfied with it. It’s a full size tower that I was hiding behind the TV and not as quiet as I would have liked. So I decided to build a new one, something small and quiet that would look good by the TV.
Summary and cost
| Case | Streacom F7CB Alpha | £80 |
|---|---|---|
| PSU | Streacom Nano 150W | £78 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte H270N-WIFI | £102 |
| CPU | Pentium G4600 | £75 |
| Cooler | Noctua NH-L9i | £29 |
| RAM | Corsair Vengence 8GB DDR4 2400MHz C14 | £53 |
| SSD | Samsung 850 EVO 250GB | £90* |
| OS | Ubuntu | £0 |
| Total cost | £507 | |
I used the SSD from my previous HTPC*.
Case
The Streacom F7CB Alpha certainly isn’t cheap but it’s small, well made from thick aluminium and has an understated aesthetic which works well in the living room.
Motherboard
This motherboard is probably more than I need.
Some of the reasons I chose it were:
- Availability at time of purchase.
- On-board WiFi and Bluetooth.
- Good hardware compatibility with Linux.
- Dual Intel NICs. This might become a router/gateway if I upgrade the HTPC in the future.
- M.2 slot for a smaller newer SSD in the future.
RAM
I’m not sure why so many are recommending 16GB as a minimum; 8GB seems sufficient for my needs.
Processor
Like the Kaby Lake i3s, the G4600 has two cores, hyperthreading and the same HD 630 GPU. So the extra cost for an i3 didn't seem worth it for basic HTPC duties.
CPU Cooler
I picked the Noctua NH-L9i as it is a quiet cooler which is also widely compatibility with small cases. The G4600 has a TDP of 51W which is well within the recommended maximum of 65W TDP.
Noise and power consumption
I can hear a faint noise of air moving when standing within arm's length. From my couch which is about six feet away I can’t hear anything, even when it's quiet at night.
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