Plex/htpc rig for living room - £500 budget

SidewinderINC · 7 Oct 2013 at 07:36

Hi all,

I've been out of the computer building gig for the best part of 6 years now, really haven't kept up with what's going on...

I turned my old 2007 macbook pro into a media server and plex machine in the living room plugged into the TV... It's finally died

What I liked about it was that it was very cheap to run 24/7 and did everything I needed it to with plex and streaming media.

My current plan is to replace it with the 2.5Ghz i5 Mac mini at £500 for the unit.

What could be built to outperform the Mac at a lower price?
Musts:
Be low profile, I don't want a cube or upright case
Be low power
Be controlled by a remote
Able to handle 1080p easily and 720p to multiple clients
Under £500 for the unit.

I'm not adverse to building it, just have no idea on components

Can anyone help me out?

Cheers

Sinc

HighlandeR · 7 Oct 2013 at 20:58

have u seen this one here:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18547362

its a htpc for 525 quid....looks insane powerful and way worth the cost parts alone

SidewinderINC · 7 Oct 2013 at 21:34

Unfortunately I don't have the cash upfront so second hand isn't an option

I've been looking at the Intel NUC systems, there seems to be a bit of interest around the new one due out soon.

EddScott · 8 Oct 2013 at 13:49

I've just bought the NUC 225i

It will be used for the online streaming services, internet while on the sofa and streaming from the house server for films, music and stuff.

SidewinderINC · 8 Oct 2013 at 17:47

I'm hoping to run it as a server too - with a usb3 storage drive.

The price of the new NUC will sway me or an HTPC/server build around the Silverstone Ml03 case.