+- Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv)
+-- Forum: Discussions (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=222)
+--- Forum: Hardware (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=112)
+--- Thread: A6-3500 Mini-ITX First HTPC Build - Thoughts? (/showthread.php?tid=119385)
Pages:
1
2
A6-3500 Mini-ITX First HTPC Build - Thoughts? - mikepegg - 2012-01-09
Hello People of XBMC wisdom.
Been lurking a good deal and decided after looking at several Zotac Boxes to build my own to get a bit more power for the money. I decided to base my build off eskro's build here. As I am based in the UK several of the components needed to be changed as they weren't available.
Info: I have no need for a BR Drive or similar as I plan to stream media from a NAS but couldn't find a case without a slot that was reasonable.
So, any thoughts on this selection?
CPU= AMD A6-3500 - £62.05
MOBO= ASROCK A75M-ITX - £73.50
CASE&PSU= Thermaltake Element Q Black with 200W PSU - £47.98
SSD= Corsair 60GB Force 3A SSD - 2.5"" SATA-III 6Gb/s - £80.00
RAM= Kingston HyperX Blu 2GB (1x2GB) Memory Module DDR3 1333MHz - £8.03
Total: 271.53
- eskro - 2012-01-09
i'd go for 2x2gb ram 1600Mhz ddr3
- mikepegg - 2012-01-09
fair comment, will change it to Kingston HyperX Blu 2GB (2x2GB) Memory Kit 1600MHz DDR3 - £15.60
- eskro - 2012-01-09
now were talking
- cwide - 2012-01-09
This is essentially the exact build I am thinking about doing (with a different case).
Interested to see how this goes for you.
The unfortunate part with my build is that I also need to save up for NAS to go with it. Bummer.
EDIT: http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/HTPC-ITX2-Black-Ultra-small-aluminum-chassis-HTPC-ITX2-B.htm
That's the case I am thinking about. Gets a little pricey once you add the PS and adapter though...
- mikepegg - 2012-01-09
cwide Wrote:EDIT: http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/HTPC-ITX2-Black-Ultra-small-aluminum-chassis-HTPC-ITX2-B.htm
That's the case I am thinking about. Gets a little pricey once you add the PS and adapter though...
Nice looking case, personally I think I'd rather save the money but can see the lure
- TeKo - 2012-01-09
Hmm 60$ istn that much for a case.
And +60$ for a 120w pico and +12$ for IR is also ok.
- ubiquitous_rich - 2012-01-09
Nice build Mike. I am thinking of the pretty much the same setup as you, with a few differences.
I quite like the home theater cases, and this one looks really nice + includes a remote:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/cases/mediacentrecases/nov-vision.html
Also, was going to nick the Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz ram from my gaming rig, and take the opportunity to upgrade to 8gig in that.
I take it your planning on running Win7 with XBMC on top of that?
- Mallet21 - 2012-01-09
mikepegg Wrote:So, any thoughts on this selection?
You'll probably need a low-profile heatsink/fan as there is very little room between the mobo and psu. I had an i3-540 cooler that touched the bottom of the PSU. I'm not sure how your stock A6 cooler compares height-wise.
- mikepegg - 2012-01-10
TeKo Wrote:Hmm 60$ istn that much for a case.
And +60$ for a 120w pico and +12$ for IR is also ok.
True, but I'd rather not import in case it has an issue. the other case is fine
ubiquitous_rich Wrote:I take it your planning on running Win7 with XBMC on top of that?
Yeah Win 7 with full XBMC. pity about the issues with OpenElec but no issue, CPU is powerful enough.
Mallet21 Wrote:You'll probably need a low-profile heatsink/fan as there is very little room between the mobo and psu. I had an i3-540 cooler that touched the bottom of the PSU. I'm not sure how your stock A6 cooler compares height-wise.
thanks for the heads up, will check it out.
- saitrix - 2012-01-10
ubiquitous_rich Wrote:Nice build Mike. I am thinking of the pretty much the same setup as you, with a few differences.
I quite like the home theater cases, and this one looks really nice + includes a remote:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/cases/mediacentrecases/nov-vision.html
Also, was going to nick the Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz ram from my gaming rig, and take the opportunity to upgrade to 8gig in that.
I take it your planning on running Win7 with XBMC on top of that?
Let me know how you get on with cooling/noise with the A6-3500 in that case. I do like the case but I am worried about how quiet I could get the cpu cooler as I would run it with a picopsu (would allow a lot more hard drives).
- TeKo - 2012-01-10
The case is also sold as mstech and techsolo I think I really liked the desing but the reviews I read said that the PSU is really shitty and loud and the case it self isnt that good.
- mikepegg - 2012-01-10
Firstly thanks for the comments guys.
Ordered components with the Thermaltake Element Q case. Will update how the build went.
- eskro - 2012-01-10
right on!
- mikepegg - 2012-01-12
Received all my gear and as Windows installs with give some first impressions and some pics.
The Thermaltake Element Q case is longer than I expected it to be. As this is my first Micro-ATX build maybe this is usual but at 33cm/13 inches it just seems unnecessarily long.
Secondly it also only comes with an american power cable, good job I had a spare UK one.
Thirdly the space between the PSU and CPU fan is slightly worrying.
Might buy a 120mm fan for the side of the case to aid with air flow and possibly a caddy for a 3.5" drive to fit in the 5.25" drive slot.
Other than that all boots up and seemingly working OK so far.
Front of the case
Top down of the case
Top down with the case removed
Distance between PSU and CPU fan
Distance from side view
From the other side
