New build- Group 7 - silent slim case
#1
First of all hello to all of you for the amazing threads!

I have been looking for an HTPC since last year learking from a far distance only and yesterday I have read quite a lot here and my head is still spinning.

Personnaly I have seen XBMC in action (under windows on a HTPC and WOW!)

So here are my questions:

1- Eskro: I have looked at your private setup : http://ow.ly/1uizZd and I would like to know. If you have to build for yourself a new HTPC, what would you get

2- Based on my current setup what would I need to get everything working

My setup is :
NAS : QNAP TS-459 Pro II
Console : PS3
3DTV: Sony 46hx800
Network : 1 Gigabit cable connection & Wireless
TV signal : Antenna only
Amp : OLD yamaha ca-410
Speaker : 2 HPM60 Pionner speaker

Based on the information found in this thread, I beleive my situation is of a group 7.

What do I want! I want my HTPC boxe to be DEAD SILENT! So based on the your thread I am leaning towards:

Case: Lian Li PC-C37 or C39 or Antec Fusion V2 Silver or Antec – NSK2480B (I prefer slim case without too many light)
MOBO: ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX or ASRock A75 Pro4-M
CPUGPU: AMD A8-3870 or AMD A8-3850 4x2.9GHz HD6550D FM1 100W
SSD: CRUCIAL M4 64 GO SATA REVISION 3.0
Ram: Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (overkill) or
KINGSTON HyperX Plug n Play
OS : Windows 7 Home (since I heard Bluerays cant be read under Linux, I might be wrong here)
Remote: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid
BR/DVD: Pioneer BDR-206DBK Read:8X Write:12X Access Time:170ms Cache:4MB
Fans : To be define
PSU : To be define PicoPSU considered
Tuner : Might add one at a later stage

2.1 - Will I be able to play games like Diablo 3 (It is not a necessity)
2.2 - Could you please tell me if this setup is ok and what Fans, Cooler, PSU or PicoPSU I should get
2.3 - I dont have spare cables or such to connect all the piece in the HTPC box, what else do I need to buy

3.0 - I guess I will need a new amp... (I am tempted to use optical cables mostly and HDMI, I don't know much about this either )

4.0 Please note that I very new to all this and that I am open to suggestions

So thanks a lot for all your help, and please keep up the good work this thread is awesome

Best regards to all!
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#2
1) as of today, i'd go for the smaller/powerful'er HTPC i can get!

2) depending on the game u wanna play, this will change alot of things.

3) get an amp that accepts HDMi inputs.
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#3
@v8extra-
The Pico you want for your A8-3850 is this160W "PICOPSU-160-XT"....should be no noise.....

I like the "LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C39 Micro ATX" and "Scythe SCBSK-2100".......should be very silent....

For the amp, this "Onkyo TX-SR313" should do the job.....or step up to this "Onkyo HT-RC360 7.2-Channel Network Audio/Video Receiver".......with one of this receiver you can connects it this way- HTPC-->AVR-->HDTV via two HDMI cables....you'll have the best audio and video....
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
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#4
Well ok thanks for the reply

I think I will pass for the gaming option... (My PS3 is more then enough, time is missing).

So lets consider that my main use will be movie watching, TV, series and 3d Movies... So on those could you be more specific about smaller powerfuler HTPC you can get (dead silent please...)....

Thanks again...
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#5
example....

case/psu: ISK-110 VESA
apu: A6-3500
cooler: MeORB
ram: HyperX 2x2GB DDR3 1866Mhz
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#6
(2012-05-04, 06:06)eskro Wrote: example....

case/psu: ISK-110 VESA
apu: A6-3500
cooler: MeORB
ram: HyperX 2x2GB DDR3 1866Mhz

This case is exactly what I sent my ISK-300 65 back in exchange for. My A6-3500 system is going to be as small and compact as I can get it. However, from looking at the original post, it appears you want to have an optical blu-ray drive in your system. If that is the case (pun intended) then you will need to stay with a larger-ish cases that have the optical drive bay. The ISK-110 does not have an optical drive bay. My A8-3870K system will soon have a slot load blu-ray drive which is why I went with the larger Silverstone case for that system. If you want a small system with an optical drive, then the ISK-300 65 is about as small as I know of of that still takes a slim laptop drive.
HTPC 1 - AMD A8-3870K, ASRock A75M, Silverstone ML03B, Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR3 1866, Crucial M4 64GB SSD
HTPC 2 - HP Stream Mini, 6GB Ram
unRAID 6 Server - Intel Celeron G1610, 20TB Storage

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#7
Wow thanks for your quick answers

Thus the very compact solution without optical drive bay
case/psu: ISK-110 VESA (or I can change the case for ISK-300 or even ISK-350)
apu: A6-3500
cooler: MeORB
ram: HyperX 2x2GB DDR3 1866Mhz
SSD: CRUCIAL M4 64 GO SATA REVISION 3.0
My PS3 can do the reading...

or

Case: Lian Li PC-C37 or C39 (I heard bad comment about the C39 the IR receiver is not working well)
MOBO: ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX or ASRock A75 Pro4-MHuh
CPUGPU: AMD A8-3870 or AMD A8-3850 4x2.9GHz HD6550D FM1 100WHuh
SSD: CRUCIAL M4 64 GO SATA REVISION 3.0
Ram: Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (overkill) or
KINGSTON HyperX Plug n PlayHuh
Remote: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid
BR/DVD: Pioneer BDR-206DBK Read:8X Write:12X Access Time:170ms Cache:4MB
Fans : Scythe SCBSK-2100
PSU : PICOPSU-160-XT
Tuner : Might add one at a later stage

So I have to make up my mind.

Before this day I have never heard of Onkyo... I will definitely look into this.
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#8
(2012-05-04, 16:21)v8extra Wrote: Case: Lian Li PC-C37 or C39 (I heard bad comment about the C39 the IR receiver is not working well)
MOBO: ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX or ASRock A75 Pro4-MHuh
CPUGPU: AMD A8-3870 or AMD A8-3850 4x2.9GHz HD6550D FM1 100WHuh
SSD: CRUCIAL M4 64 GO SATA REVISION 3.0
Ram: Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (overkill) or
KINGSTON HyperX Plug n PlayHuh
Remote: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid
BR/DVD: Pioneer BDR-206DBK Read:8X Write:12X Access Time:170ms Cache:4MB
Fans : Scythe SCBSK-2100
PSU : PICOPSU-160-XT
Tuner : Might add one at a later stage

So I have to make up my mind.

Before this day I have never heard of Onkyo... I will definitely look into this.
I'm always doing blu-ray rip/transcode and video editing while watching movie. The A8 package is my selection, because it'll get all the above done with ease and faster. Since I never build or buy any PC without BD-ROM, it got my vote. HD TV tuner got my vote too.....because I enjoy watching HD OTA live TV on my computer......

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
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#9
Well you have a point there. So ok I made my mind. I will go for the more flexible and more powerful setup with the BD-rom.

1- case: Lian Li PC-C37 (I am selecting this over the PC-C39 because I heard bad comment about it integrated IR receiver)
2- mobo: Huh ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX or ASRock A75 Pro4-M
3- cpugpu: Huh AMD A8-3870 or AMD A8-3850 4x2.9GHz HD6550D FM1 100W
4- ssd: CRUCIAL M4 64 GO SATA REVISION 3.0
5- ram: Huh Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (overkill) or KINGSTON HyperX 2x2GB DDR3 1866Mhz
6- remote: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid
7- bd-rom: Huh Pioneer BDR-206DBK Read:8X Write:12X Access Time:170ms Cache:4MB
8- fans : Scythe SCBSK-2100
9- psu : PICOPSU-160-XT
10- tuner : Huh Suggestion

I would need advice over the point 2, point 3, point 5, point 7 and point 10 after that I will be all set for an other all from Canada!
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#10
(2012-05-04, 17:11)v8extra Wrote: Well you have a point there. So ok I made my mind. I will go for the more flexible and more powerful setup with the BD-rom.

1- case: Lian Li PC-C37 (I am selecting this over the PC-C39 because I heard bad comment about it integrated IR receiver)
I agreed, and it looks sleeker too....
(2012-05-04, 17:11)v8extra Wrote: 2- mobo: Huh ASRock A75M FM1 CIR USB3.0 SATAIII UEFI μATX or ASRock A75 Pro4-M
A75M should be fine....
(2012-05-04, 17:11)v8extra Wrote: 3- cpugpu: Huh AMD A8-3870 or AMD A8-3850 4x2.9GHz HD6550D FM1 100W
A8-3850 should be fine.....
(2012-05-04, 17:11)v8extra Wrote: 5- ram: Huh Corsair Dominator GT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (overkill) or KINGSTON HyperX 2x2GB DDR3 1866Mhz
2x2GB Kingston should be fine...
(2012-05-04, 17:11)v8extra Wrote: 7- bd-rom: Huh Pioneer BDR-206DBK Read:8X Write:12X Access Time:170ms Cache:4MB
It should be a good one.....
(2012-05-04, 17:11)v8extra Wrote: 10- tuner : Huh Suggestion
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250.....here is the review on it- 2012 Best TV Tuner Card Comparisons and Reviews
>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
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#11
Cool I can go shopping now!

I guess I wont need anything else to set this up...

Thanks a again to all I will make sure to post the end results...
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#12
i vote for ISK110. why?

easy, once my htpc is hooked to my HDTV,
at that point, i dont need it to do anything else then be an HTPC.

all the transcoding /ripping /converting can all be done using my desktop computer...

i really dont need my HTPC to have an optical drive slot.

and if someday i feel i want a bluray player,
they are nice external ones out there with stylish looks!

pricey now, but price will drop by the time i feel i need one...
which probably will be never Tongue
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#13
That is exactly what I was thinking about you all about fashion Smile

I agree the small box looks good but in either case I will be stuck with a big amp system for speakers and so forth...

Thus as long as the Li-lian is about the same size as the amp I am ok...

Now regarding the DISK issue it is useful when you what to install from disk... and the real reason is mostly because I am laim... I like to get my PS3 games to remain in it, it pisses me off when I realized they were change for a movie... (girlfriend's impact)... Wink

V8
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#14
(2012-05-04, 19:24)eskro Wrote: pricey now, but price will drop by the time i feel i need one...
which probably will be never Tongue
It'll be very tough to find any A8 after Trinity hit the market this quarter, and they are starting to phase it out now.....you cannot upgrade it with a Trinity either because the socket is different....

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#15
Ok I have decided to leave the optical drive out and keep using the PS3, thus this is my final decision unless one of you guys says it doesnt work

Plus my 2 last questions.

CASE : Wesena HTPC-ITX5-Silver
MOBO: ASRock Socket FM1/AMD A75 FCH/SATA3&USB3.0/A&G Mini--ITX
CPUGPU: A6-3500 (since no more optical drive and no games)
SSD: CRUCIAL M4 64 GO SATA REVISION 3.0
RAM: KINGSTON HyperX 2x2GB DDR3 1866Mhz
REMOTE: Motorola NYXboard Hybrid
FANS: Huh MeOrb CLP0527 or Scythe SCBSK-2100
PSU: Huh PICOPSU-160-XT or any other suggestion you may have
TUNER: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 PCI Express TV Tuner for Windows (White Box)
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