2012-11-08, 06:56
The following is a quiet, compact entertainment computer. It allows for moderate gaming and will take care of any XBMC need you have, from pictures and music to 3D videos and surround sound.
GOAL:
The main idea behind this setup is to allow me to play Skyrim (or similarly demanding game) at 720p on at least HIGH settings with a low profile machine. Click here for proof that playable FPS is possible with the integrated graphics. I understand this will not have the best graphics imaginable, but this is meant to be compact and quiet.
You can take this computer with you quite easily if you travel, or just play video games in your living without lugging our your monster of a gaming machine from your office.
CURRENT GAMING ABILITIES:
PC
Runs great! Obviously there is lots of tweaking to be done to get it looking just right, but it looks better than it did on my old PS2!
Dolphin Emulator
Runs great, looks better than my actual Wii!
I decided to just splice a USB cable into a sensor bar ($6 for the bar and I had a cable laying around). Now I don't have to worry about batteries any more!
SPECS:
[APU] $127 A10-5700, 65W
[COOLER] $36 Scythe Kozuti
[CASE FANS]$24 2 x Noctua 80mm Case Fans
[PASTE] $11 PK-1 Thermal Paste
Total: $533 + ~$35 PSU (exact pricing still up in the air for PSU upgrade) + shipping (if any)
All prices are not including any coupons, combo deals, or substitutions.
IMPORTANT INFO FOR THIS BUILD, PLEASE READ
This motherboard CANNOT undervolt, but with the fans and heatsink I suggested you will keep everything quite cool.
I used CoreTemp to monitor my core temps. Newer AMD processors will give you the TCTL readings, which will show ambient temp as 0C. DON’T FREAK OUT, THIS IS OKAY. They set up a scale for the temps so they can customize them for each processor. All you need to know is the max operating temp is 70C (based on TCTL, NOT actual temps), and you should stay at least 20C below that. Shoot for 50C at most, my build is currently running between 35-40C according to CoreTemp while running Prime95. The following explains it a LOT better:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1330946/amd-t...ture-guide
The Kozuti heatsink was VERY difficult to install. I had to have my wife help me by holding the board while I mounted everything.
USEFUL LINKS:
Low Profile Heatsink Rankings
A10-5700 Review (Various Benchmarks, Game FPS Comparison, Power Consumption, Overclock Capabilities)
SIMILAR BUILDS:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1265368
PICS: (They're a little big, I may try to downsize them a tad later)
(Also as uploading these I noticed I had the flash on my phone on, oops)
QUESTIONS DURING THE BUILD:
ANSWERED QUESTIONS - THANKS!
GOAL:
- 720p HIGH settings on modern games
- Small case (less than 500 in^3)
- Low noise generation
The main idea behind this setup is to allow me to play Skyrim (or similarly demanding game) at 720p on at least HIGH settings with a low profile machine. Click here for proof that playable FPS is possible with the integrated graphics. I understand this will not have the best graphics imaginable, but this is meant to be compact and quiet.
You can take this computer with you quite easily if you travel, or just play video games in your living without lugging our your monster of a gaming machine from your office.
CURRENT GAMING ABILITIES:
PC
- Guild Wars 2: 720p, all medium-high settings (30-60 FPS)
- Constantly over 30 FPS except in a few meta events with way too many people around, but you can still move.
- Because I play this on a TV I use XPADDER and AutoHotkey (for "Combat Mode", google it), both of which makes playing with a controller much friendlier
- Constantly over 30 FPS except in a few meta events with way too many people around, but you can still move.
- Portal 2: 1080p, all high settings (30-60 FPS)
- Constantly over 30 FPS, it dipped down to 10 FPS once when one of the cubes was coated in blue goo. Aside from that super smooth.
- Borderlands 2: 720p, all low settings (30-40 FPS standing still)
- High lag in large battles (10-20 FPS)
- Will possibly be fixed soon, this processor is quite new and updates improving performance will happen
- High lag in large battles (10-20 FPS)
- Skyrim: 720p, all high settings (30-60 FPS)
- Plays great, over 30 FPS contantly
- Handles the steam workshop water and tree mods quite well
- Plays great, over 30 FPS contantly
Runs great! Obviously there is lots of tweaking to be done to get it looking just right, but it looks better than it did on my old PS2!
Dolphin Emulator
Runs great, looks better than my actual Wii!
I decided to just splice a USB cable into a sensor bar ($6 for the bar and I had a cable laying around). Now I don't have to worry about batteries any more!
- Strip the wires on the USB cable, hook red up to red, and the silver sheeth wire surrounding the other wires to yellow/not-red.
- I also took off the transparent black covers over the IR LED lights on the sensor bar. DRAMATIC performance boost, I can get ANY angle from the TV now and still get an accurate reading.
- Works quite well with the Wiimotes.
- At first it was a little laggy but after a day or two or playing games the Wiimote lag went away. I'm assuming it adjusted it's frequency based on other wireless signals around it.
SPECS:
[APU] $127 A10-5700, 65W
[COOLER] $36 Scythe Kozuti
[CASE FANS]$24 2 x Noctua 80mm Case Fans
- The PWM version of the fans allows for automatic fan control at a slightly higher price (~$2 more), the ones linked above are the regular ones where you simply put in an included adapter that puts the fan at a constant speed.
- Currently unavailable, keep an eye on Newegg and mwave if you want this mobo. Note: YOU CANNOT CURRENTLY UNDERVOLT WITH THIS MOBO
- (Better RAM means better graphic performance with APUs, get at least 1866, lower CAS is better)
[PASTE] $11 PK-1 Thermal Paste
- PK-1 did the trick for me, if you try to get by with a smaller heatsink or less fans you may try Indigo Xtreme - Main Site, best thermal compound on the market.
- Popular options for SSD include: Intel 330, Samsung 830, Samsung 840 Pro (NOT REGULAR), Kingston HyperX, OCZ Agility 4
Total: $533 + ~$35 PSU (exact pricing still up in the air for PSU upgrade) + shipping (if any)
All prices are not including any coupons, combo deals, or substitutions.
IMPORTANT INFO FOR THIS BUILD, PLEASE READ
This motherboard CANNOT undervolt, but with the fans and heatsink I suggested you will keep everything quite cool.
- Upon downloading AMD Overdrive, it looks like undervolting outside of the bios is possible. BUT upon installing AMD Overdrive my WiFi and Bluetooth STOPPED WORKING until I uninstalled it again.
I used CoreTemp to monitor my core temps. Newer AMD processors will give you the TCTL readings, which will show ambient temp as 0C. DON’T FREAK OUT, THIS IS OKAY. They set up a scale for the temps so they can customize them for each processor. All you need to know is the max operating temp is 70C (based on TCTL, NOT actual temps), and you should stay at least 20C below that. Shoot for 50C at most, my build is currently running between 35-40C according to CoreTemp while running Prime95. The following explains it a LOT better:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1330946/amd-t...ture-guide
The Kozuti heatsink was VERY difficult to install. I had to have my wife help me by holding the board while I mounted everything.
USEFUL LINKS:
Low Profile Heatsink Rankings
A10-5700 Review (Various Benchmarks, Game FPS Comparison, Power Consumption, Overclock Capabilities)
SIMILAR BUILDS:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1265368
PICS: (They're a little big, I may try to downsize them a tad later)
(Also as uploading these I noticed I had the flash on my phone on, oops)
QUESTIONS DURING THE BUILD:
- Does anyone have other Case recommendations that would suit my needs? I am willing to get an external bluray player since I hardly ever use them anymore as is.
- Answered for the most part, but I'm still up for suggestions! (E-I7 and ISK 300 are the top contenders right now)
ANSWERED QUESTIONS - THANKS!
- This processor (A10-5800K) puts out a fair amount of heat, which is why I opted for an aftermarket cooler and the best thermal compound I could find. Will that be enough to keep temps at a "reasonable" amount whilst gaming? (Under 70C)
- Current suggestions: Add more fans, change case, switch to a lower TDP processor (e.g. 65W A10-5700)
- Current suggestions: Add more fans, change case, switch to a lower TDP processor (e.g. 65W A10-5700)
- The PicoPSU Adapter is rated for 192W, but the picoPSU-160-XT portion of it is rated at 160W. I know no PSU is 100% efficient (this one says it is 96%), but doesn't this mean I would only get 160W max to my computer?
- Thanks eskro and Dougie Fresh
- Thanks eskro and Dougie Fresh