Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start?

Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - Printable Version

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- PeaPodDoggy - 2011-03-23 19:00

eskro Wrote:was it a 120mm x 35mm fan ??

It was this: Scythe "S-FLEX" S-FDB 120mm Quiet Fan

- eskro - 2011-03-23 22:17

ok but, the case is not APEX MI-100 right?
cuz i know they fit on it!

- PeaPodDoggy - 2011-03-23 22:20

eskro Wrote:ok but, the case is not APEX MI-100 right?
cuz i know they fit on it!

It sure is. Believe me, I tried. It "fit," but VERY snugly. If I pulled up on the top rail fairly hard the fan blade would begin to spin. As soon as I let go blade was stopped. Those hard disk mounting dimples even left scratch marks on the top of the fan frame from when I inserted it.

- eskro - 2011-03-23 22:24

see here http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1033449471&postcount=8

- PeaPodDoggy - 2011-03-23 22:46

Thanks for the link.

I dunno what the issue is. On one hand it's obvious that others have the fan running fine. On the other there wasn't any way the fan was going to work correctly.

One interesting thing is that in this picture you can see how the fan frame is bowed down from the HD mounting dimple. Now, with the stock PS in place, you couldn't even fit the fan that far back, so that's not a realistic placement for most. But even with the fan centered on the two dimples - where they should lest impact the frame - I was getting too much frame pressure to allow the blade to spin.

I'm going to try another fan and see. I'm convinced it should fit and I'm determined to figure out how I can make it, or at least why it won't.

- eskro - 2011-03-23 22:58

it should eventually fit PeaPodDoggy, good luck!
keep it up Smile

the one i was recommending tho is this one
[FAN] Scythe Slipstream 120mm 800RPM 40.17CFM 10.70dBA ($13 + $0)
[Image: qGCDS.jpg]

- Superorb - 2011-03-23 23:27

There's an AMD Fusion board out right now that is cheaper and performs MUCH better than an Atom +ION system for around $115 shipped. There's a post on Slickdeals about it.

- Crytone - 2011-03-26 10:17

Curious about opinions about building new versus recycling old.

My current desktop needs an upgrade (specs: Intel E6600, Gigabyte atx mobo, 4gb DDR2, ati 4890. 620w corsair modular PSU) which is going to happen this spring. I figured if I recycled my old stuff I'd likely only need to get a new matx mobo and SSD, just to keep the form factor to an acceptable size. Plans for the HTPC are XBMC, obviously, and emulators (perhaps including PCSX2/Dolphin, would be nice!).

So, is it worth it to save my current parts or am I better off maybe salvaging what I can from it (PSU & vid card maybe?) and selling the rest off? And before anyone suggests building a NAS with the parts, I already built myself a (currently) 10TB NAS last year with new parts, but would likely steal the 4gb RAM to swap into that.

Power savings would be nice (fixed power cost so not a huge deal atm) and newer tech is never a bad thing either. I've thought of maybe getting an i3 2100, 4gb DDR3 and a decent matx mobo, might be a better option.

- Subliminal Aura - 2011-03-26 11:13

Superorb Wrote:There's an AMD Fusion board out right now that is cheaper and performs MUCH better than an Atom +ION system for around $115 shipped. There's a post on Slickdeals about it.

Have you got a link to the article making the claim ? I'd be interested in reading it.

Crytone Wrote:Plans for the HTPC are XBMC, obviously, and emulators (perhaps including PCSX2/Dolphin, would be nice!).

Never heard of these emulators until you mentioned them but am interested... Do they run fine on your e6600 ?

Seems like they need a fast platform to run on.

http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-Will-PCSX2-run-fast-on-my-computer-copy

http://forums.dolphin-emulator.com/showthread.php?tid=15932

- poofyhairguy - 2011-03-26 20:28

Crytone Wrote:Power savings would be nice (fixed power cost so not a huge deal atm) and newer tech is never a bad thing either. I've thought of maybe getting an i3 2100, 4gb DDR3 and a decent matx mobo, might be a better option.

My main HTPC is basically your old rig and it works fine. but if you want an i3 you will find emulators easier to handle. I say price what the upgrade will cost and if you can afford it do it otherwise rebuild the old tech.