$ave Money

How-To: Stream Live Cable TV On Your Computer For Free

What you will need:

-- PC w/ XBMC Server installed (download link: www.Kodi.tv)
-- internet connection

1) Download and install XBMC.
2) Follow this link and follow the instructions in order to install the add-on helper.
3) Follow this link to download and install the ProjectFreeTV add-on.
4) Follow this link and follow the instructions in order to add the ProjectFreeTV add-on to XBMC.
5) Optional: Connect your computer to your TV monitor via HDMI cable in order to watch on a larger monitor.


That's it. Now you can stream live TV straight to your computer for absolutely free.

Note: since XBMC is streaming from various different online sources, some of the shows that you click on may possess links that do not work.

How-To: Build A Powerful SFF Gaming PC for $700 (for dummies)

Looking to upgrade or replace your current desktop PC without breaking the bank in order to do so? Then you absolutely want to build your own custom PC, as it eliminates all of the extra costs for things that you do not need and the implicit cost you are paying for the brand name.

First, let me explain what I want out of my desktop computer. What I wanted was fairly simple: the fastest, most powerful machine that is capable of handling mid-high range gaming. Most importantly, I wanted it to do all of these things for the absolute lowest price. If this does not describe your similar intentions, then you may want to search elsewhere for certain components, which I will try to mention, as they may be unnecessary for your situation. 

Note: the custom PC that I chose to build is a SFF (small form factor). This means exactly what you'd think: it is smaller than the traditional, clunky desktop of the past. However, these are not quite as small in size as the NUC, but because I wanted to run games on high quality settings, I opted to not go with a NUC, because they simply are too small to pack the power necessary to do so. 

Build For Budget Mini-ATX Desktop PC:

1) Processor: Intel Core i5 4690k ($230)

The processor is the most important component in determining the performance of your computer. Therefore, it is essential that you determine the right processor to fit your needs. The Intel Core i5 4690k offers the greatest performance for the price (~$230). For any user who does not need extremely CPU-intensive processes (i.e. photo and video editing software), the core i5 is more than powerful enough to handle any tasks you would ever need. It is also very fast; the Geekbench benchmark test proved to be about 2.5 times as fast as my current 2012 Macbook Pro, which has an intel i7 quad-core 2.9 Ghz. processor. 

2) Motherboard: ASRock B75 Pro3-M ($100) 

I must admit, I have absolutely no idea about the intricacies of different types of motherboards. What I can say is that the only real difference is between which ports and connectivity options each offers, and whether or not all the other components are compatible with the specific motherboard that you choose. All I know is that this motherboard has all the necessary ports and fits the processor listed above, as well as any of the Intel processors. It is the recommended one on the website that I read tech. information about, so that's the one I chose.

3) Memory (RAM): 8GB Crucial Ballistix Sport ($60)

RAM is basically the amount of memory that your computer is able to utilize at any given time. When your computer slows and crashes because you opened too many programs or too many tabs, that is indicating to you that you have attempted to exceed the RAM capacity of your machine. For casual use, you could get away with 4GB if you are a person who simply wants to use their computer to check e-mail, browse the internet, etc. But generally, if you can afford it, I would recommend getting at least 8GB of RAM to be sure that your computer will consistently be able to handle any multi-tasking that you may have to do. Especially since I wanted to do limited gaming with my computer, I definitely needed the 8GB. 

4) Internal Memory (Hard Drive): 240GB Kingston SSD V300 ($85) & Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD ($50)

Obviously, internal memory is the amount of storage your computer will have. The important thing to note here is that the drive that I chose happens to be an SSD, instead of the traditional HDD of the past. The SSD option allows for significantly increased boot-up and program load times. Until now, they have been extremely expensive, and they are only recently becoming affordable for the everyday person who is not a tech guru. The reason that I included the 1TB HDD is so that I can have plenty of room for storing all of my files without having to put them all on the SSD, which would reduce it's speed. You could also opt for a hybrid drive, which combines both into one, if the motherboard that you choose only has one slot for internal memory. 

5) Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon 7770 ($100)

The graphics card is going to determine the quality of the graphics of your system. This is the main component that may differ if you do not want to use your computer for gaming. And there may be others with different preferences for cards, and they may be right, because I do not know anything regarding video cards, but I do know that this specific card is capable of performing high-quality gaming on very taxing games, such as Watch Dogs, and is also very affordable. Enough said.

6) Power Supply: Corsair CX430M ($50)

What matters here in determining what is best for you is the wattage output that your system will require. Below is a link to a website that you can input your CPU details and it will identify the needs of your system. If you are using the build with the parts I have listed above, this power supply will suffice.

      --Wattage Output Based on CPU: http://support.asus.com/PowerSupply.aspx?SLanguage=en

7) Case: Linkworld Blade Steel Body Mini ATX ($40)

This is the most subjective part of the build. It is truly a matter of personal preference to determine the right one for you. I chose this one because it was steel and I know that I am prone to tragedies, and I would be devastated if something happened to my new custom PC. Also, it looks pretty sweet.

Total Cost of Mini ATX Build: ~ $700

There you have it. Now just wait a couple of weeks to get all of your component pieces, and you've got an extremely powerful, yet portable, system that is capable of producing the same quality of graphics as a PS4 or Xbox One. The standalone cost of buying a current-gen gaming system and a computer with similar specs. could easily cost you $1200-$1500+. 

Total Money Saved: Somewhere between $500-$1000.