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Started By
Message
1
Posted on 2/2/14 at 8:22 am to Mr Gardoki
quote:
I think the op is showing us why steam boxes are good for valve. It's raising interests even if it doesn't make sense to us.
I'm still intrigued to see how these do. From the small sample I've gathered, everyone on here thinks they're useless.
Posted on 2/2/14 at 9:28 am to BuckeyeFan87
The beauty of it for valve is that it raises awareness and brings people to their platform without them building these machines and spending money. So basically they could bomb but they still win.
Posted on 2/2/14 at 10:51 am to ILikeLSUToo
So where do you start building one for your living room? What kind of prices to complete? Not looking to drop $800+
This post was edited on 2/2/14 at 10:52 am
Posted on 2/2/14 at 1:22 pm to Books
Im a professional on HTPCs. Have built 5 in the last year.
How big van you have the unit? The good HTPC/Steam box cases haven't hit market yet. You can always put your parts in something else.
Edt: What is your budget?
How big van you have the unit? The good HTPC/Steam box cases haven't hit market yet. You can always put your parts in something else.
Edt: What is your budget?
This post was edited on 2/2/14 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 2/2/14 at 2:36 pm to LSU Coyote
Not really limited to size bc it's gonna go on the side of my tv console not on a shelf. Budget I would like to keep under $800, which it looks like will be tough from reading a few articles online. This is one of the draws to the consoles
Posted on 2/2/14 at 2:51 pm to Books
$800 budget is incredibly easy. I think the fact that some of the initial steambox beta/prototypes were shipping with "overkill" hardware are confusing the masses.
Posted on 2/2/14 at 3:00 pm to ILikeLSUToo
How out of date would this build be?
I realize it's a yr old but it seems like a decent walk through
LINK
I realize it's a yr old but it seems like a decent walk through
LINK
Posted on 2/2/14 at 3:32 pm to Books
quote:
How out of date would this build be?
quote:
I realize it's a yr old
its crap
Posted on 2/2/14 at 3:35 pm to Books
quote:
How out of date would this build be?
That's not out of date. It has previous gen stuff that'll run games very well. For $650ish we could build you something very nice
quote:
it's crap
That build isn't close to crap.
Posted on 2/2/14 at 4:07 pm to bluebarracuda
i glanced through it and it did not look like a good build for $1600.
Posted on 2/2/14 at 4:10 pm to Finn
quote:
it did not look like a good build for $1600.
I just looked at the parts. For that price, that build sucks!
Posted on 2/2/14 at 4:22 pm to bluebarracuda
During the SuperBowl I will put you together a few HTPC builds. Give me like 2-3hrs from now.
Posted on 2/2/14 at 5:24 pm to Finn
quote:
i glanced through it and it did not look like a good build for $1600.
Good god
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:43 pm to Books
anyone have a list or link to some good HTPC builds for under $800 or so?
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 12:43 pm
Posted on 2/3/14 at 2:24 pm to Books
A couple of options I put together:
1. If you don't need it to sit on a media shelf, you can get best bang for buck out of a mid-tower build. This is an $800 setup with a pretty high-end video card (GTX 770). You can save $100 by going with the 760 instead if you want, since this is just 1080p/60hz living room gaming.
PCPartPicker part list: LINK
Price breakdown by merchant: LINK /
Benchmarks: LINK /
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($148.37 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.98 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $784.97
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 14:51 EST-0500)
2. Mini-TX option -- if you want compact. The case measures 9.4" x 8.2" x 15.8". A bit pricier for CPU because the form factor requires us to go Intel, so the GPU got bumped down to a GTX 760. The true "steam-box" size cases and a decent selection of small form factor internal PSUs haven't really hit the market (there are a few more expensive options though).
PCPartPicker part list: LINK
Price breakdown by merchant: LINK /
Benchmarks: LINK /
CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Vortex Plus 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $769.59
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 15:19 EST-0500)
1. If you don't need it to sit on a media shelf, you can get best bang for buck out of a mid-tower build. This is an $800 setup with a pretty high-end video card (GTX 770). You can save $100 by going with the 760 instead if you want, since this is just 1080p/60hz living room gaming.
PCPartPicker part list: LINK
Price breakdown by merchant: LINK /
Benchmarks: LINK /
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($148.37 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.98 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $784.97
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 14:51 EST-0500)
2. Mini-TX option -- if you want compact. The case measures 9.4" x 8.2" x 15.8". A bit pricier for CPU because the form factor requires us to go Intel, so the GPU got bumped down to a GTX 760. The true "steam-box" size cases and a decent selection of small form factor internal PSUs haven't really hit the market (there are a few more expensive options though).
PCPartPicker part list: LINK
Price breakdown by merchant: LINK /
Benchmarks: LINK /
CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Vortex Plus 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Mwave)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $769.59
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 15:19 EST-0500)
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 2:27 pm
Posted on 2/3/14 at 3:03 pm to ILikeLSUToo
appreciate the info, most of this might as well be in another language to me
by not going ITX, it'd allow upgrades and more flexibility and better value, correct?
also, what about the OS? Strictly Windows 8?
Would these work with whichever game controllers?
by not going ITX, it'd allow upgrades and more flexibility and better value, correct?
also, what about the OS? Strictly Windows 8?
Would these work with whichever game controllers?
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 3:14 pm
Posted on 2/3/14 at 3:34 pm to Books
Correct, ATX gives you more room for upgrades/expansion, especially with the GPU. I can swap a few things out and you'd have a build with a little more "future proofing" -- for example, you could add a second 770 (or 760, if you go with that card instead) down the road instead of having to buy a new GPU and go through the hassle of selling the old one.
This build uses the GTX 760 with a slightly more expensive motherboard that would allow SLI (using two Nvidia cards at once) later on. I also bumped up to the power supply to a much higher quality, higher wattage unit that will allow for a second 760 later. And I added an aftermarket CPU cooler, because I forgot to do that initially.
PCPartPicker part list: LINK
Price breakdown by merchant: LINK
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($148.37 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.98 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80+ Silver Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $795.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 16:17 EST-0500)
You can use Windows 8/8.1, but Windows 7 is much easier to "acquire" for free, and there's no real benefit you get with Windows 8 vs. 7.
As far as controllers go, I know for sure you can use an XBox controller, and a PS3 controller with the help of some drivers. There are also other controllers that are designed for the PC specifically, like this one from logitech:
Steelseries has one:
I think most people who use a controller with a PC just use a 360 controller. Beyond that, I'm a little limited on controller knowledge because I've been a PC gamer for over 20 years, with occasional Nintendo games thrown in.
By the way, if you live in BR, I'll gladly show you the build/assembly process and get it put together (and I have every version of Win 7 on a flash drive).
This build uses the GTX 760 with a slightly more expensive motherboard that would allow SLI (using two Nvidia cards at once) later on. I also bumped up to the power supply to a much higher quality, higher wattage unit that will allow for a second 760 later. And I added an aftermarket CPU cooler, because I forgot to do that initially.
PCPartPicker part list: LINK
Price breakdown by merchant: LINK
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($148.37 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.66 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($42.98 @ Best Buy)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 750W 80+ Silver Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $795.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-03 16:17 EST-0500)
You can use Windows 8/8.1, but Windows 7 is much easier to "acquire" for free, and there's no real benefit you get with Windows 8 vs. 7.
As far as controllers go, I know for sure you can use an XBox controller, and a PS3 controller with the help of some drivers. There are also other controllers that are designed for the PC specifically, like this one from logitech:
Steelseries has one:
I think most people who use a controller with a PC just use a 360 controller. Beyond that, I'm a little limited on controller knowledge because I've been a PC gamer for over 20 years, with occasional Nintendo games thrown in.
By the way, if you live in BR, I'll gladly show you the build/assembly process and get it put together (and I have every version of Win 7 on a flash drive).
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