I wanted to build a small PC to stream Netflix and Youtube on a TV. Looking into options, I first looked at purpose-built dongles, PCs. I didn’t like how stripped down their OS was, limited to certain “apps”, locked out of admin privileges. I decided to build my own x86 based HTPC. This would provide the most customization potential.
The build had to be compact, low-cost, powerful enough for video, and energy efficient.
Compact – Same size as other set-top boxes
Powerful – At least a quad-core processor at over 1.5GHz
Energy efficient – Consume under 50W
| Part | Manufacturer | Part Number | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motherboard (Used) | ECS | ECS BAT-I2/J1900 V1.0 | $40.00 |
| Case | Mini-Box | M350 | $40.00 |
| Mounting bracket | Mini-Box | N/A | $2.00 |
| Ram (used) | ADATA | AM1L16BC8R2-B1JS | $30.00 |
| HDD (found) | OCZ | OCZSSD2-2VTX60G | $25.00 |
| 19V Power supply (used) | N/A | N/A | $10.00 |
| Female-Female SATA Cable | N/A | N/A | $4.75 |
| SATA Cable (found) | N/A | N/A | $2.00 |
| 40mm Silent case fan | Blacknoise | Noise Blocker XM2 | $11.00 |
| Total | $164.75 |