[Dannywallace]

So I've been reading and reading and reading the forums now and changed my mind so many times on what to buy / build that I'm just at a loss !! If anyone could recommend some potential systems to buy or build to meet my needs that would be amazing.

I was originally going to build one, then buy one but after seeing different reports that buying a system may not meet my needs I am back to the idea of building one.

What I need is as follows:
- Flawless 1080p playback
- Perfect XBMC movie / menu transitions even on the most powerful of skins
- Something that is quiet ... I don't want to be trying to watch something while it sounds like there is a plane landing in the room .. Minimal (or even better) no visible fan noise would be perfect
- A remote control which can operate and control the system (no mouse or complicated operations as the wife also has to use it). However, the Harmony one often recommend is very expensive it seems ..
- A reasonably sized case (the smaller the better really)
- USB 3.0 etc would be nice so as to have some futureproofing but not essential if it compromises on other elements

I will be purchasing a Synology NAS (one thing I will buy readymade) which I will be loading with a couple of 3TB hard drives and running on a non-3D TV with wired streaming over the house via a router / network switch. I am not planning to play games, just watch 1080p movies over the network.

I'd rather go overkill than risk not having full functionality or things not working as well as I would like so keep that in mind. I've also never built one of these things so don't fully understand how I will get XBMC live to work with a remote ... If it ends up costing $500 but works perfectly thats better than spending $200 at a risk.

I plan to run XBMC Live - This system is solely being built for XBMC I'd also rather use a SSD than a HDD as Eskro always recommends

Thanks so much - I know you guys will pull through

[eskro]

Dannywallace my friend, Your the perfect candidate for this build here:


[cpu] Intel Pentium E5700 3.0GHz Dual-Core LGA-775 65W ($66 + $0)
[MOBO+iGPU] ZOTAC GF9300-K-E LGA-775 WiFi-G Mini-ITX ($100 + $0)
[CASE+PSU] Apex MI-008 Black mini-ITX 250W ($40 + $0)
[FAN] SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm 800RPM 38CFM 9dBA ($13 + $0)
TOTAL: ($219)

add 2GB of RAM --> Here ($13 x 2)

if your planning on using XBMC Live,
use this 16GB SSD --> Here ($45 after rebate)

or if your planning on using OpenELEC version of XBMC (based on Linux too),
buy this 4GB USB Flash Drive instead of the 16GB SSD --> Here ($14)

then as remote --> Here ($19 and works with Linux!)

that build will eat 1080P for breakfest!
you'll experience Lightning fast menu transitions even with Heaviest XBMC skins!

you wont feel like an airplane is landing in your living room
PSU is reviewed as really quiet,
the SilenX fan is among the quietest on earth!
and the CPU HeatSinkFAN can always be swap'ed if you find it noisy!
If ever, swap it with this HeatSinkFAN --> http://ow.ly/1sUpYD ($38)

the rest is history!!

make sure you shoot some pictures and a tiny video for us to see!!

anything else?

[teaguecl]

no visible fan noise would be perfect

If your fan noise is visible, then you really must have a large fan!

[Dupestep]

Quick question about this build,

Is there any way, at all, to fit a laptop or 3.5 internal drive in this in addition to the SSD?

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on this one but Im concerned about swapping my external drives with it all the time

[eskro]

Dupestep, read what this guy says at the end of his post Here

"I can fit four 3.5" HDD's in there along with the mATX psu
and 5.25" optical drive with not too much modding"

so answer is yes!

[Dannywallace]

Thanks alot for all your help Eskro.

As I'm based in the UK I'm looking for the UK equivalent sites which sell the products you suggested - Can you confirm these are all the correct items?

CPU - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/234790
Motherboard - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/228933
Case fan - http://www.purecoolpc.co.uk/buynow-id-10...e-fan.html
RAM - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169489
SSD - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/248353?utm...m=products
Remote - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Noah-Company-Med...roduct_top

The major one I'm struggling to track down (and possibly the most important) however, is the case ... I can't seem to find any UK sellers - There appears to be one site which looks like an importer (http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Ape...cid=133635) but it doesn't make clear if it comes with a UK power supply etc.

Do you have a suitable alternative case which would work and I can purchase from a reputable UK site (i.e. ebuyer / amazon etc)? The case is one of the most important things for me and I don't want anything too large

Thanks again for your help !

[eskro]

--> http://ow.ly/1tMx8L

or

--> http://ow.ly/1tMxal

or

--> http://ow.ly/1tMxem

just be carefull not to buy the SilenX ixtrema case fan for nothing,,,,

[Dannywallace]

Wow i do like all those cases! May be a hard choice to decide

This may be me lacking the technical knowledge of building systems, but what do you mean about the fan? Were you saying i won't need it with the 3 cases you just suggested? Is there anything i need instead?

Once i understand a bit better i'll decide on a case and get the ordering underway!! Think i will choose the second case down as looks like the one you recommended originally

[eskro]

what i mean is, the 120mm fan,
depending on the case, it might not fit in,,,
like the first Foxconn case, that 120mm fan wont fit in it,,,

[Dannywallace]

Thanks Eskro - Totally hadn't thought about that in my naivity. After a good night's sleep to think I've decided to go for the following case which holds an 80mm fan.

Case: http://www.maplin.co.uk/black-mini-itx-c...0&t=module
SilenX Fan: http://www.purecoolpc.co.uk/buynow-id-10...n=products

One last stupid question before I make the purchase - I assume the SilenX fan I've linked to which is 80mm is to replace the existing fan which is in the case and not as an additional fan? Sorry if thats a dumb question but I've never purchased a PC before I've got to build myself and I don't want to be pulling things apart I'm not supposed to !

If this is all good I'll purchase everything this evening

[eskro]

well it says --> Cooling - Space for 1 x 80mm front fan, Vent holes on rear and sides

so, i think it doesnt have a fan, you have to buy one

[Dannywallace]

well it says --> Cooling - Space for 1 x 80mm front fan, Vent holes on rear and sides

so, i think it doesnt have a fan, you have to buy one

Ah I see ! Well by picking the 80mm SilenX fan will be perfect then yes? or no? I assume you don't need 2 fans in this HPTC?

[eskro]

should be fine

[durojaiye]

Will this build also have lightning fast menu transitions in heavy skins using XBMC on Windows 7?

[eskro]

oh yeah!!