ATX build for a Home Theater PC

Alright, I could really use some help planning out a build like this.

I’m looking at picking up this monitor, and I want to pair it with a small form factor PC for web browsing, listening to music, watching movies from a disc, and streaming Netflix or YouTube in 4K. I need to know what parts I should grab. Ideally, I don't want to break the bank, it needs to handle everything I listed, and most importantly, it should be quiet.

Is about $300 enough for a build like this? I don't think I need a dedicated graphics card, so I'm assuming an APU-only setup will do the trick? Will an Intel Core i3 handle 4K video without any stuttering? I'm feeling a little lost because this isn't your standard mid-tower or large case build, so I'm struggling with component selection—especially since I'll probably need to watch out for physical dimensions and power draw—not to mention power supplies and all that other stuff. Help me out! 🙂

Buying it new isn't going to happen; your best bet is to look for used options on eBay

Just echoing what Alexander Moore67 laid out here.

CPU: Intel Pentium or Ryzen 3 2200g
Motherboard: https://www.newegg.com/motherboards...-ddr4-81961451
RAM: https://www.crucial.com/crucial-16g...ESEK-/product/
PSU: SFX 300-400W

You're looking at roughly $1000 total, excluding the case.

*edit - you could probably trim the RAM budget a bit. I threw 16GB in there just because it was such a steal, but honestly, 8GB would get the job done just fine.

Don't even bother trying to build a Home Theater PC from scratch. Motherboards are scarce and overpriced; definitely not worth it for an APU-only setup.

This!
It comes with a power brick, and the case itself is smaller than any standard chassis where the PSU sits inside. I think it supports any Ryzen up to 65W.

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...300-mini-pc-pc

It's about $180 including shipping to the US, and they have PayPal Express Checkout.

+ Intel Pentium $133
+ 2x4GB RAM roughly $100
+ 2.5" HDD about $167

Around $0.83 for the whole thing in a tiny footprint.

$67It'll be more if you opt for the 2200G, but personally, I’d grab it.

P.S.

The Ryzen Stealth cooler bundled with those chips fits inside.

The same site has the 3000G for about $133, which is a bit faster than the Intel Pentium. Just gotta check if it needs a BIOS update since it came out after this unit.

Check out this kind of mini PC. That specific SOC is what caught my eye because according to the benchmarks, it handles 4K at 60fps without any issues, including Netflix 4K. It doesn't support HDR, though, which might be a dealbreaker depending on what you need. Web browsing seems pretty smooth too, I guess.

I doubt those processors can handle H.265 decoding, whereas AMD's APU-only setup should be able to pull it off via the integrated graphics.

It’s a decent enough solution if you're looking to save some cash, but honestly, I'd probably just go with an Intel Core i3 instead.

How could it not when the hardware actually supports it? I guess you might see that i3 stuttering, though, since it lacks hardware decoding.

wiredotter14 said:Honestly, there's no point in messing around trying to build a Home Theater PC from scratch like that. Motherboards are super scarce and way too expensive. For an APU-only setup, it’s just not worth the headache.

Exactly!
It comes with its own power brick, and the case itself is smaller than any standard tower where the PSU sits inside. From what I know, it supports all Ryzen chips up to 65W.

https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/...300-mini-pc-pc

It’s about $180 including shipping to the US, and they have PayPal Express Checkout.

Add the Intel Pentium $133
plus about $100
for 2x4GB RAM plus a 2.5" HDD for around $167

That puts you at roughly $0.83 for a complete, ultra-compact solution.

$67If you step up to the Intel Core i3, it’ll cost more, but personally, I’d grab this.

P.S.

The Ryzen Stealth cooler that comes with those chips fits perfectly inside.

The same site also has the 3000G for about $133, which is a bit faster than the Intel Pentium. You just need to check if it needs a BIOS update since it came out after this unit was released.

I really dig this. I see they're even available in some local shops around Washington, D.C., so I'll go check them out. Thanks for the tip! 😁

I watched a few reviews on YouTube, and man, seeing that the power supply is basically the same size as a standard PC one is hilarious. Genius. 😁

Ryan Hayes82 said:How can it not when there's hardware support? I'd say that Intel Core i3 would just choke because it lacks HW decoding.

Does his iGPU actually support it?
Yeah, those older Intel Core i3 chips definitely don't, and they'd be struggling with software decoding alone.

Richard Walker38 said:I really liked this. Looks like they're even available in some local shops here in Washington, D.C. I'll check them out, thanks for the tip.😁

Checked out some reviews on YouTube. Turns out the size is basically the same as a standard PC power supply lol. Genius.😁

Yeah, it's a cube the size of a beefy PSU.

It supports up to 65W, so anything up to a 2400/3400G.
You can actually run a decent game with those.

Haven't seen any mention of it being available anywhere in the US online.

Newegg

Richard Walker38 said:So, I really need some help planning a build like this.

I’m looking at getting this monitor, and I want to pair it with a Small Form Factor PC for browsing, music, watching movies from discs, Netflix, and YouTube in 4K. I need to know what components I’ll need. Ideally, it shouldn't be super expensive, needs to handle everything listed above, and should be as quiet as possible.

Is about $300 enough for a build like this? I don't think I need a dedicated GPU, so an APU should do the trick, right? Is an Intel Core i3 sufficient for smooth 4K playback? I'm a bit lost since this isn't a standard mid-tower setup, so I'm struggling with part selection—especially regarding dimensions, power draw, power supplies, and all that. Help! 🙂

An Android TV box from $133could handle all of that, maybe even easier.