1st HTPC Build Feedback
#1
Hi folks,

Well I've just about completed my research and think I have a decent machine but it's my first crack at putting together a PC from scratch in about 5 years so let me know if this looks alright:

CASE: $210
Moneual Black Aluminum MonCaso 312B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811280014

OR: $250
Moneual Black Aluminum MonCaso 320B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811280021


MOTHERBOARD: $110
ASUS F1A75-M PRO/CSM FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6813131782


CPU/GPU: $90
AMD A8-3850 Llano 2.9GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6550D AD3850WNZ43GX - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6819103994


MEMORY: $50
G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-8GAO
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6820231544

OR: $60
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820231455


POWER SUPPLY: $60
COOLER MASTER GX 450W RS450-ACAAD3-US 450W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817171060


HDD (OS): $65
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6820227725


HDD (STORAGE): $120
Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6822136514


BD DRIVE: $55
ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6827135247


TOTAL COST: $760-810

Planning to put Windows 7 (64-Bit) and XBMC on the SSD and I don't plan on using the system for much else in the short term, perhaps some light gaming (N64) in the future if I can get my hands on a couple old controllers.

For the case, I prefer the look of the 312 and I don't care either way about the display on the 320; However, I want a streamlined in case remote solution (trying to remove the mess of cables currently on my setup which consists of an old asus laptop and a series of external equipment.

I was wondering what sort of cooling you folks would recommend for a system like this.

Cheers,


Steven

EDIT: I suppose using flirc with the 312 would be a good (read: cheap) alternative.
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#2
Hi

I have the Moneual Moncaso 320 myself. There are two things I noticed:
- I recommend that you buy a modular PSU. It will be much easier to install the HDDs and if you want use all drive bays in future it's a must.
- The memory you listed has very large heatsinks. I'm not sure if it fits, because the Bluray drive is right over the ram slots of the mainboard. (See picture below) If you think you need the heatsink I would take the Ares and not the Ripjaws.

I don't know what CPU cooler is recommended for a A8-3850. The Scythe Shuriken SCSK-1100 is probably one of the largest CPU coolers that fits if you have a Bluray drive installed as you can see in the picture below. (At least in my configuration: Asus P8P67, Intel 1155 Socket)

Image

In a review of the Moneual Moncaso 320 they said the following about the IR receiver:
Quote:The IR receiver is functionally equivalent to the 312, but because of the larger display panel it does not exhibit the same issues with off-angle use.
So I'd recommend the 320 over the 312 for this reason (even if you don't need the display). The software problems that are mentioned in the review are fixed in a newer version but the display doesn't work with XBMC. It just shows the time, CPU load and system temperature. The software needs the explorer running and won't work if you run XBMC as a shell in Windows.
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#3
Thanks Carb0,

Good call on the PSU. I found this one that has fairly good reviews:

POWER SUPPLY: $45
RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Power Supply, New Version with Build-in LED Fan On/Off Switch
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817152028

Also, I took a look at the SCSK-1100 and it looks great. It should fit so I will add that to the build.

Does your system have wireless capability? If so what card did you use?
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#4
Even though it's not modular, this PSU is also a great solution for tight cases that take ATX power supplies:

FSP 80 PLUS Certified 300-Watt Micro ATX/SFX Power Supply FSP300-60GHS-R
http://www.amazon.com/FSP-Certified-300-...004VF4R4U/
$44.99 + free shipping

It comes with an adapter bracket to mount in an ATX PSU opening. Since the wattage rating is closer to load (you might be in the 20-30% range) it'll be more efficient as well.
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#5
What about this one? Modular, 400W, silenced (supposedly, seeing mixed reviews). It's a little more pricey:

PSU: $75.00
PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK III 400W Modular 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817703034
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#6
(2012-06-13, 18:43)stevenblanc Wrote: What about this one? Modular, 400W, silenced (supposedly, seeing mixed reviews). It's a little more pricey:

PSU: $75.00
PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK III 400W Modular 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817703034

Review here: http://www.anandtech.com/print/5844. If this is just a rebadged Seasonic then it's one of the best.

Just know with your components, you'll be hard pressed to hit 20% of load (where the 82% efficiency rating is measured) in normal usage.
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#7
Just to be clear: I don't know if the SCSK-1100 is good enough to cool a 100W CPU. I just wanted to show that you should pay attention to the width of the CPU cooler. The limited cooling options in the Moneual Moncaso 320 is the biggest disadvantage of this case. You're only able to install 3 40mm exhaust fans but they aren't very effective.

My system doesn't have wireless capability.
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#8
(2012-06-13, 18:43)stevenblanc Wrote: PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK III 400W Modular 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.asp...6817703034
PSU is most efficient when operate at 50% load.......for your A8-3850, you'll mostly operates <100W for regular HTPC usages (which is <25% of 400W PSU).......

How about this silent Pico PSU- picoPSU-160-XT + 192W Adapter Power Kit....it is tiny and no noise....!

(2012-06-13, 17:54)stevenblanc Wrote: Also, I took a look at the SCSK-1100 and it looks great. It should fit so I will add that to the build.
You should go for this instead- Scythe SCBSK-2100 120mm Sleeve BIG Shuriken 2 Rev. B CPU Cooler. It should be very good for 100W A8-3850.....

>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
(2012-06-13, 19:11)bluray Wrote: You should go for this instead- Scythe SCBSK-2100 120mm Sleeve BIG Shuriken 2 Rev. B CPU Cooler. It should be very good for 100W A8-3850.....

I'll have to get the board first and see if a 120mm fan would fit. I suppose I could survive with the stock cooling for a week or two.

With regards to the Power Supply I'd rather a full size psu, with the Moneual case the mini would leave a gaping hole in the back.

I was thinking to include wireless just for the time being, for xbmc metadata updates and so forth. Have any of you had any experience with these mini USB dongles?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6833166052

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#10
(2012-06-13, 19:42)stevenblanc Wrote: I was thinking to include wireless just for the time being, for xbmc metadata updates and so forth. Have any of you had any experience with these mini USB dongles?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6833166052
I have this "Cisco Linksys AE2500" 300mbps adapter, and it can stream Netflix/Vudu HD fine.....

>Alienware X51- do it all HTPC
>Simplify XBMC configurations
>HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC
I refused to watch movie without bitstreaming HD audio!
Reply
#11
(2012-06-13, 19:42)stevenblanc Wrote:
(2012-06-13, 19:11)bluray Wrote: You should go for this instead- Scythe SCBSK-2100 120mm Sleeve BIG Shuriken 2 Rev. B CPU Cooler. It should be very good for 100W A8-3850.....

I'll have to get the board first and see if a 120mm fan would fit. I suppose I could survive with the stock cooling for a week or two.

With regards to the Power Supply I'd rather a full size psu, with the Moneual case the mini would leave a gaping hole in the back.

I was thinking to include wireless just for the time being, for xbmc metadata updates and so forth. Have any of you had any experience with these mini USB dongles?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6833166052

There are blanking plates for mounting the picoPSU in the ATX power bay.
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