HTPC? Who's built one?

In reply to asoduk :

Agree on the hardwire.  Wifi simply isn't capable of streaming usable video.  Gigabit ethernet is, and it's rock-solid reliable.

Never used netflix.  Roku was a big disappointment.  Still looking to figure out how to supplement OTA programming with web-sourced material.  Anybody have experience with youtube TV?

I have an HTPC/Gaming rig for my living room. I run KODI on it. I don't do OtA (over the air) with a tuner card or anything like that. I use a dumb blu-ray, and the built in Netflix and prime video apps on my "smart" TV. It's mostly used with a lot of blu-ray rips and as a Steam device to play my games.

I think right now you're biggest expenses will be the video card and RAm, thanks to all the digital currency miners jacking up prices.

Here's the specs on my unit.

• AMD A8 7600 3.1ghz quad core
• 16GB RAM
• Radeon NITRO Rx 470 4GB GDDR5 - Was $169 back in July of last year, now is $400+
• 240GB SSD for OS and Games
• 1TB HDD for Storage
• Gigabyte FM2+ Micro ITX MB
• Fractal Designs Node case. About the size of an XBox 360.

It'll run GTA5 with the graphics cranked way up there, and Skyrim SE is modded out the ass on it.

In reply to t25torx :

For the purposes of an HTPC, I find that the built-in Intel Graphics, trash though they may be, are adequate.  Currency miners are a mixed blessing to me, since I've got some NVDA stock that I picked up cheap years ago.  I like the A-series processors.  I built both my sons' rigs around them, and they've been good.  I put a cheapo video card in one thinking it would boost the framerate on minecraft, and it was trash next to the built in graphics.

I bought a huge-ass case (turned out to be bigger than I expected--a Silverstone HTPC case).  It's built like a battleship.  I rather like the idea of a much smaller one.  Any issues getting the blu-ray and HDD in the little case?  Half-height cards only?

I already have some pieces for my next build.  It'll be a gaming rig for my older son.  AMD Ryzen processor.  INTC thinks way too much of their CPU's for me to buy them, but I do own their stock. :-)

MythTV is an amazing piece of software, but it was a long and winding road to success.  I was close to giving up and going with KODI.

You know you can just hook your phone up to your tv now, it’s not 2011 anymore. :)