This is a sub-$200 Android TV-powered streaming media player that is ideal for people who have a desire to customize and tweak it to make it run like a HTPC.

System NVIDIA SHIELD TV Highlights The best 4K HDR streaming box

Google Assistant and voice control

Supports KODI and Plex Media Server

Stream PC games with GeForce NOW Price Check Price Full Parts List

For a media only budget HTPC, I would recommend the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, which has replaced my previous custom budget HTPC build.

At this price point, I can’t build a custom budget HTPC that is as versatile and powerful as the NVIDIA SHIELD TV.

NVIDIA SHIELD TV does everything I wanted a budget HTPC to do, and it’s much smaller.

In order to store your media files, I would recommend getting an external hard drive enclosure and 1 to 6 TB Western Digital Blue hard disk.

Please note that SHIELD TV is a bit too underpowered to act as a media server for more demanding users. If you are looking for a media server that will also transcode your files and serve multiple users, I would recommend having a look at my Value HTPC or Performance HTPC build.

The following components have been tested and proven to be compatible in my test bench.

Required parts

Optional parts

Accessories

Recent changes

Track the most recent changes to my budget HTPC build.

February 18th, 2018 – Replaced custom HTPC system components with the NVIDIA SHIELD TV media player.

February 13th, 2016 – Asus AM1I-ITX mobo replaced with ASRock AM1H-ITX that has much better features.

October 31st, 2015 – Major upgrade released: added a new case Silverstone ML06, new power supply, fanless CPU cooler, larger 120GB SSD drive, 2TB media hard drive and Blu-ray drive.

May 10th, 2015 – Added HDHomeRun TV tuner recommendation after successfully tested it in my home theater.

November 16th, 2014 – Published the initial parts list for my budget HTPC build.