HTPC/Home Build, will this work?

bur

hi, put this together on amazon and just wanted to make sure it's compatible before I buy or any changes I should make. thanks.

Coyler

Hi bur, use PC partpicker. Just build your list and you can export it as BB code for forums like so:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor (£129.97 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B450M-A Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard (£64.98 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Crucial 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-2400 CL17 Memory (£29.76 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 500 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive (£56.99 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: be quiet! System Power 9 400 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£48.29 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £329.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-10-27 14:59 GMT+0000

Single channel memory is leaving a lot of performance behind for next to no cost saving. That said, what is your use case? Just a media server?

No GPU and no case? Just making sure. The standard Ryzens don't have a iGPU. The Intel CPU are very cost effective as media server chips for this reason.

bur

Coyler wrote: »

Hi bur, use PC partpicker. Just build your list and you can export it as BB code for forums like so:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor (£129.97 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B450M-A Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard (£64.98 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Crucial 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR4-2400 CL17 Memory (£29.76 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 500 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive (£56.99 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: be quiet! System Power 9 400 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£48.29 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £329.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-10-27 14:59 GMT+0000

Single channel memory is leaving a lot of performance behind for next to no cost saving. That said, what is your use case? Just a media server?

No GPU and no case? Just making sure. The standard Ryzens don't have a iGPU. The Intel CPU are very cost effective as media server chips for this reason.

thanks, yes I have a case and a few other bits from an old build. I just want a windows machine for Internet, file storage/sharing etc.
Might add a budget GPU at some point for indie/retro gaming.

Overheal

Do not do that CPU. At all.

Use this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Ryzen-3400G-Processor-Graphics/dp/B07SXNDKNM/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Ryzen+5+3400G&qid=1603812551&sr=8-3

It's slightly cheaper, a generation newer and has an iGPU and CPU performance that is almost identical: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/AMD-Ryzen-5-3400G-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-2600/m825156vs3955 (despite 2 fewer cores)

It will fit the AM4 socket and won't exclude you from buying a discrete graphics card later.

It's also a really good idea to fill up your 2nd slot of memory. If you really just need 8GB for your application, buy 2 4GB sticks. Dual Channel performance shouldn't be left on the table. And, actually that board has 4 slots, so no reason to pack it in with a single DIMM, you can fill your first 2 channels now and worry about the rest later.

For file storage you may want a lot more than that WD drive but that can be figured out later.

BloodBath

It's not actually a generation newer. The 3400g is the same as 2000 series Ryzen despite the naming. AMD screwed that up.

It does have integrated graphics though which you will need. You won't be able to use the 2600 without a graphics card.

Overheal

Wow they really did toss that up. Jaysus I'm still confused then.

Alright, but for your bang and buck it's the better choice of the 2 CPUs here, you'll want that iGPU it will save you hundreds on this build and will still play a lot of titles respectably. For just indie and retro gaming it shouldn't have any trouble.

Overheal

Oh - the other thing you could honestly consider is buying a USED CPU. There will be people looking to upgrade, and you might just find a good deal on a used Zen 2 CPU that nets you more cost:performance.

Coyler

Overheal wrote: »

Wow they really did toss that up. Jaysus I'm still confused then.

Yeah, it why they jump straight to 5000 for Zen 3 from 3000 for Zen 2. Needed to tidy up that mess.

Homelander

The Ryzen 2600 is a hex-core processor. The 3400G is a quad core and basically a cut-down 2600 from a performance POV.

Now, granted, the 3400G makes more sense for a simple HTPC as it has integrated graphics.

Bit dramatic to say the iGPU will "save you hundreds" though. With fast dual channel DDR4 it's roughly the same performance as a GT1030 which is a £60 card at this stage (and pretty crap for most games).

You're talking similar performance here to a GTX750/750Ti, which was a budget card in 2014.

If there is no gaming involved, and it's purely office/media usage, you can easily afford to go much cheaper.

The Ryzen-based 3000G is just £50 and has integrated graphics too, perfect for office, netflix, etc. Same socket type so in a few years you can easily upgrade it to a better CPU, which at that point will probably cost peanuts.

Inviere

Homelander wrote: »

If there is no gaming involved, and it's purely office/media usage, you can easily afford to go much cheaper.

Very much agreed. Here's my thoughts, as someone who's been down the HTPC route a few times...(if the above statement fits your use-case)

Rather than an 'under the tv' HTPC....consider a small desktop pc hidden away somewhere in the house instead. It'll be much neater, totally silent (in that it's not audible), and it would be a centralised place where you could watch media from any room in your house. Further to that, you could give friends/family access to it also, in a very secure way.

To do this, it wouldn't cost that much extra when compared to an under the tv solution. The only additional cost would be media boxes/players for each room that you would want to watch media from the server on.

For the CPU, buy an Intel i3 10100. The reason being, is that there's an integrated GPU that can very easily be used to transcode video...and it's a more effective solution than a discreet card, from a power useage point of view.

For the OS, buy a basic Unraid license. Follow my journey with it from last year - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=110298678 - I'm SO glad I went this route. The only mistake I made with it was going Ryzen....because now I'm wanting to look at transcoding media for external users, and it's just a lot more efficient/cost effective with a basic Intel cpu. I've built another Unraid server for someone else there last week, went with an i3 10100, and no discreet gpu....the built in QuickSync transcoding works incredibly well. Later in the year I think I'll sell my 2700, mobo & ram....and change to Intel for the server.

The backend for your media would be Emby, running on a docker on your server. Very easy to set up, and from there, create a few users, connect their local emby accounts with actual Emby accounts...and boom, they've instant access to the media library on the server. The i3 will transcode only if needed, meaning those with access can install Emby on anything from their phones, to an Xbox One, and enjoy the library in perfect quality...from anywhere in the world. An Emby license is €5 per month, but there is a lifetime option too for €120.

As for media players, something like a Firestick would be a basic but very functional option (install Emby on it from the store), and an Nvidia Shield would be a higher end option (expensive though.)

That's my advice, and you can add more & more storage to it as your needs grow. Again though, if you want gaming or more intensive use...this might not be the option for you.