Small steam stream/emulator build

[Agent Orange 615]

My goal was to make a very small HTPC mainly for old console emulators and to steam stream. I can install windows 7 for free since I have a license and I can also use ubuntu since I'm versed in that, and I also have a spare SSD I'm not using thats 250gbs. Not shown in the part picker is an 80 watt pico psu with a breakout ac adapter, thats another 40$.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor ($44.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock AM1H-ITX Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard ($49.48 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Mini-Box M350 HTPC Case ($39.38 @ Amazon)
Total: $188.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-22 19:11 EDT-0400

I'll be streaming off the pc in my sig, that houses all my media as well. I use a roku already for my plex library, but I'd be open to HTPC software solutions once I'm settled with an htpc box that streams steam well. I know there's some issues with steam stream between AMD and INTEL, but i'm reading there's software that makes it work if there's an issue.

I'm taking the question to this forum since you all deal with the small form factor stuff, and this is falling more into the HTPC category than a small gaming system, since I'm not craming tons of stuff into this box.

I appreciate any suggestions of advice

 

[rhansen5_99]

Have you considered either using the onboard dc adapter, I thought that was the whole point of that Asrock board, might save you some cash on that front.

Also of note is that the AM1 platform is single channel, so you might look for a single 8gb stick ?

Also it might cost you a little more but take a look at this: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1855639
Basically a think itx i5 setup. The cpu might help you with the emulators, assuming you want to go past ps1.

 

[FnordMan]

Have you considered either using the onboard dc adapter, I thought that was the whole point of that Asrock board, might save you some cash on that front.

Also of note is that the AM1 platform is single channel, so you might look for a single 8gb stick ?

Also it might cost you a little more but take a look at this: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1855639
Basically a think itx i5 setup. The cpu might help you with the emulators, assuming you want to go past ps1.

I'll second the onboard DC adapter, if it's there why not use it. Looking at the board I do see what could be a SATA power socket so a SATA extension cable may work for an external HDD.

I wouldn't count on that doing past a PS1 personally. The PS2 emulator is rather hard on systems. You could maybe get away with Dolphin doing a Gamecube game without upscaling though.

 

[defaultluser]

I wouldn't count on that doing past a PS1 personally. The PS2 emulator is rather hard on systems. You could maybe get away with Dolphin doing a Gamecube game without upscaling though.

This is correct. The PS2 emulator only uses two CPUs, and you really need at least a Core 2 Duo at 3.0 GHz to get anything near playable.

Dolphin is also way too CPU-dependent. Anand did a benchmark of Dolphin, and the fastest AM1 processor was still less than half the speed of a native Wii:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8067/...athlon-53505150-and-sempron-38502650-tested/5

If you want a cheap/fast low-power emulation machine, if you want to attempt any system released beyond the year 2000, the best budget build is still an Intel Haswell Pentium, or Core i3 if you want to take advantage of the AVX2 performance boost. Very few emulators take advantage of four cores, and the newer platforms all need lots of processing power.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8595/...-d-gigabyte-j1900n-d3v-asus-j1900i-c-review/8

A similar Haswelll Pentium to the one that topped that benchmark can be purchased for just $55:

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Pentium-Processor-G3240-BX80646G3240/dp/B00J2LIECO/ref=dp_ob_title_ce