Andre S. Veteran Posted February 20, 2015 Veteran Share Posted February 20, 2015 My friend is looking to buy a PC for the living room. It'll be plugged on a 1080p TV. Purpose: browse the web and watch DVDs. No gaming. Characteristics: - runs Windows 7 or 8. - less than 500$. - support wireless internet - Has a DVD drive - doesn't sound like a vacuum cleaner. - isn't absurdly slow Really inexpensive here is key, the cheaper the better, as long as it accomplishes the above functions. Integrated graphics is fine. Any type of case is fine, smaller is better of course but he's not picky. I've spotted this Dell Inspiron which looks like it could do the trick for 300$, just a bit worried about the CPU, don't want another AMD E1 (been there done that). +E.Worm Jimmy 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted February 20, 2015 Moderator Share Posted February 20, 2015 Why not use a NUC, or the Corsair alternative? (brings up a blank) +E.Worm Jimmy 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctebah Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Could be build one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneKnee Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Raspiberry 2 + Kodi + External DVD drive might do it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted February 21, 2015 Moderator Share Posted February 21, 2015 Unless he wants Windows 10, Raspberry only runs on ARM processor, previous Windows OS's don't run on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹ Posted February 21, 2015 Subscriber¹ Share Posted February 21, 2015 there are some small barebones pcs, you have to add stuff to it yourself. lots of nice small cases available. are you willing to do it (or your friend? or for your friend?) there is also stuff like this http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=1157&item_id=072952 but as with many small form pcs that look good, it does not include a optical drive. no one includes DVDs nowadays, as they are mostly outdated if you want a nice look unit that will fit well under you tv, and dont look out of place, its better to get HTPC case you like and fill it yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre S. Veteran Posted February 21, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted February 21, 2015 I don't see how I could get something for around 300$ like that Dell PC, including a copy of Windows, by building it from parts. Windows alone is 110$, that leaves very little budget for hardware. Feel free to prove me wrong though. Very small computers like an Intel NUC do not include a DVD drive. Space is not much of a concern here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherITguy Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Hope this helps, and it sneaks in under your budget. http://www.dell.com/ca/p/inspiron-3647-small-desktop/pd?oc=di670s_ftsb_s313e&model_id=inspiron-3647-small-desktop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Overlord Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 $382.70 is the best I can come up with (Minus OS) AMD Build http://www.amazon.ca/Amd-A6--5400k-3-6-Cache/dp/B0095VPBFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424490000&sr=8-1&keywords=amd+processor http://www.amazon.ca/ASUS-Micro-DDR3-Motherboard-A78M-/dp/B00IB9P0NY/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424490229&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=fm2+mocro+motherboard http://www.amazon.ca/Crucial-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-240-Pin-CT51264BA160B/dp/B006YG89Q6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424490401&sr=8-2&keywords=ddr3+ram http://www.amazon.ca/Rosewill-Micro-ATX-Tower-Computer-Line-M/dp/B00AAJ0ZGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424490491&sr=8-1&keywords=micro+atx+case http://www.amazon.ca/Certified-300-Watt-Micro-Supply-FSP300-60GHS-R/dp/B004VF4R4U/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1424490625&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=micro+atx+psu http://www.amazon.ca/LG-Internal-UH12NS30-Blu-ray-Optical/dp/B00DVTBM2W/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424491509&sr=1-2&keywords=blu+ray+drive PM incoming.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryoken Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Most people are going to talk about a bunch of small computers, and building it yourself, and such. But another alternative is just to hit up the local Staples, Futureshop, BestBuy, etc, for any cheap laptops in the Clearance section. I use an older laptop and it works great. Quiet, fits almost anywhere, more than enough power to play any videos these days. Bonus is that it's a laptop, can still walk away with it, leave stuff on it and take it on trips, whatever you want. The Evil Overlord 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Overlord Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Most people are going to talk about a bunch of small computers, and building it yourself, and such. But another alternative is just to hit up the local Staples, Futureshop, BestBuy, etc, for any cheap laptops in the Clearance section. I use an older laptop and it works great. Quiet, fits almost anywhere, more than enough power to play any videos these days. Bonus is that it's a laptop, can still walk away with it, leave stuff on it and take it on trips, whatever you want. Actually, I hadn't thought of that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blerk Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 What about a HP Stream mini, an extra stick of RAM and an external Blu-Ray drive? That's pretty cheap (a quick glance at the prices seems to come out at ~280), though a two-part solution doesn't have quite the same elegance as a single box. I would also take a peek around the dell outlet. A laptop like this seems like it might do the trick. 369CAD for an i5, 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Pro (therefore comes with Media Center), 250GB HDD, and with a DVD drive. Edit: as soon as I post, I see that someone else has also suggested a cheap laptop Andre S. 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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