2012-08-05, 16:08
Hi
Thought I’d give an update on the build I finally went for after I started this thread.
I had a rethink as my build was really for a new solid Desktop PC which would also perform HT duties rather than a dedicated HTPC build. However it had to have the form factor of a HTPC and run quietly.
Build and prices I paid-
Case - Silverstone ML03 £60
PSU - Silverstone Strider SST-ST40F-ES £45
CPU - Intel Ivy Bridge i5 3570k (OEM) £167
RAM - Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB DDR3 £40
Mobo - ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M £97
SSD - Crucial M4 128GB £75
Cooler - Coolermaster Geminll M4 £25
Optical Drive - LG BH10LS38 £60
Remote - Rii N7 mini keyboard £24
I’m currently using my old Western Digital 640GB HDD as internal storage for my Media. Want to get NAS soon.
I'm using W7 and XBMC.
Thoughts - Extremely happy. The performance is fantastic with excellent video and audio. It sits nicely in my equipment rack and is extremely silent. I have the CPU fan set to speed 1 (about 945 rpm) with a CPU target temperature of 45C so everything is nice and cool. The HDD is configured to power down when not in use. I was surprised how noisy HDDs are when you’ve a quiet system.
The video is connected to my plasma TV via HDMI for HT duties and to my desktop screen via DVI for 'PC stuff' when I’m at my desk. The audio is connected via digital optical to my AV Receiver (old Denon unit without HDMI inputs) for when in HT / music mode (configured in XBMC and WMP) and also to my desktop speakers via 2 channel analogue stereo. W7 audio default is set to the desktop speakers. This is great as I do not need to keep switching the audio default config depending on what I’m doing.
I can turn it on from full off (S5) with the N7 remote while I’m sitting on my sofa or by using my old Logitech wireless keyboard when at my desk. Boots in about 20 seconds. Brilliant. The Android Smartphone App for XBMC also works excellently.
I had a couple of problems - I experienced terrible screen tearing. This was resolved by setting my Plasma TV as the Primary Display in the Intel Graphics.
And the Rii N7 remote is annoying – it can be working fine then it will just freeze. Aaarrrhhh.
Overall I’m very pleased indeed. It does everything I want and will no doubt be a solid machine for years to come.
Cheers.
Thought I’d give an update on the build I finally went for after I started this thread.
I had a rethink as my build was really for a new solid Desktop PC which would also perform HT duties rather than a dedicated HTPC build. However it had to have the form factor of a HTPC and run quietly.
Build and prices I paid-
Case - Silverstone ML03 £60
PSU - Silverstone Strider SST-ST40F-ES £45
CPU - Intel Ivy Bridge i5 3570k (OEM) £167
RAM - Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB DDR3 £40
Mobo - ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M £97
SSD - Crucial M4 128GB £75
Cooler - Coolermaster Geminll M4 £25
Optical Drive - LG BH10LS38 £60
Remote - Rii N7 mini keyboard £24
I’m currently using my old Western Digital 640GB HDD as internal storage for my Media. Want to get NAS soon.
I'm using W7 and XBMC.
Thoughts - Extremely happy. The performance is fantastic with excellent video and audio. It sits nicely in my equipment rack and is extremely silent. I have the CPU fan set to speed 1 (about 945 rpm) with a CPU target temperature of 45C so everything is nice and cool. The HDD is configured to power down when not in use. I was surprised how noisy HDDs are when you’ve a quiet system.
The video is connected to my plasma TV via HDMI for HT duties and to my desktop screen via DVI for 'PC stuff' when I’m at my desk. The audio is connected via digital optical to my AV Receiver (old Denon unit without HDMI inputs) for when in HT / music mode (configured in XBMC and WMP) and also to my desktop speakers via 2 channel analogue stereo. W7 audio default is set to the desktop speakers. This is great as I do not need to keep switching the audio default config depending on what I’m doing.
I can turn it on from full off (S5) with the N7 remote while I’m sitting on my sofa or by using my old Logitech wireless keyboard when at my desk. Boots in about 20 seconds. Brilliant. The Android Smartphone App for XBMC also works excellently.
I had a couple of problems - I experienced terrible screen tearing. This was resolved by setting my Plasma TV as the Primary Display in the Intel Graphics.
And the Rii N7 remote is annoying – it can be working fine then it will just freeze. Aaarrrhhh.
Overall I’m very pleased indeed. It does everything I want and will no doubt be a solid machine for years to come.
Cheers.