Work in Progress Entertainment Box Build (i3-3225) - Suggestions

Thanks everyone! That did the trick! Everything is working like a charm now and I already start enjoying it---even though I am still setting up W7, don't even have a HDTV yet and still have the IR/remote hassle in front of me

A few questions for those of you familiar with ASRock motherboards:
- There is a bunch of optional tools on the ASRock DVD such as "FastBoot", "THXsomething", etc. Should I install these things or would it just be overhead?
- How can I optimize the CPU fan? It's running on full-speed by default, but I don't know how to configure it properly: There are options to define a target temperature and target levels (1-9). Any best practices?
- I really enjoy my SSD. It's booting really fast. Nice! Unfortunately, there is an ASRock logo blinking for half second or so when booting. Any chance to disable that`?

(2013-02-19 21:20)jaochoo Wrote:  - How can I optimize the CPU fan? It's running on full-speed by default, but I don't know how to configure it properly: There are options to define a target temperature and target levels (1-9). Any best practices?

I usually set it to Level 4 but that's my tolerance for noise. I would just try each of the levels and when you find the one that is quiet enough without temperatures going too high, that's the one for you! I usually don't touch the temperature setting.

(2013-02-19 21:20)jaochoo Wrote:  Thanks everyone! That did the trick! Everything is working like a charm now and I already start enjoying it---even though I am still setting up W7, don't even have a HDTV yet and still have the IR/remote hassle in front of me

A few questions for those of you familiar with ASRock motherboards:
- There is a bunch of optional tools on the ASRock DVD such as "FastBoot", "THXsomething", etc. Should I install these things or would it just be overhead?

You don't need it....FastBoot will never shut down your computer completely and THX will be handled by your AVR after HTPC bitstreamed raw codec to it for decoding....

(2013-02-19 21:20)jaochoo Wrote:  - How can I optimize the CPU fan? It's running on full-speed by default, but I don't know how to configure it properly: There are options to define a target temperature and target levels (1-9). Any best practices?

You can simply set CPU to "Cool ‘n’ Quiet" in Bios Advance tab and set the CPU operating temperature to 50 degrees in Bios Hardware/Health Monitor tab....and you can set both CPU and case fans to level 5-

(2013-02-19 21:20)jaochoo Wrote:  I really enjoy my SSD. It's booting really fast. Nice! Unfortunately, there is an ASRock logo blinking for half second or so when booting. Any chance to disable that`?

Navigating menu should be snappier too....

(2013-02-20 00:09)bluray Wrote:  

(2013-02-19 21:20)jaochoo Wrote:  - How can I optimize the CPU fan? It's running on full-speed by default, but I don't know how to configure it properly: There are options to define a target temperature and target levels (1-9). Any best practices?

You can simply set CPU to "Cool ‘n’ Quiet" in Bios Advance tab and set the CPU operating temperature to 50 degrees in Bios Hardware/Health Monitor tab....and you can set both CPU and case fans to level 5-

AFAIR there isn't such option but only to set a target temperature and fan level. I will check again; otherwise I will just set it to the recommended settings here.

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Apart from that I'm making good progress and really enjoy how things go so far.

After building everything and installing Windows I customized Windows a bit and installed XBMCLauncher. Powering on it boots directly into XBMC making it look and feel like a native media center. Only thing I need to fix here is the ASRock logo during booting. Suggestions welcome here. Anyone know how to do it?

Boot time is okay but I was hoping for even more. Takes 21sec to the XBMC logo.

Reached another milestone by getting the remote working. First thought this would be the biggest hassle of all but surprisingly the built in case IR solution works like a charm both with the Harmony as well as with the case remote. I can completely power on/off the HTPC using the remote, not only from/into one of the S states. (While I actually always wanted that, I am now thinking whether it would be better to actually use the S states, thinking about life cycle of the SSD).
Also want to know how I can change the configuration of the buttons on the case. There are 4-5 buttons on the case but currently they all open WMC. I would like to make then open/close XBMC, open/close PowerDVD, etc. Does anyone know how to change the case buttons assignment?

I also spend some time on cable management so everything looks pretty in the case and won't disturb air flow too much.

Am now working on Live TV. Bought a second hand Hauppauge HVR-4400 from eBay supporting DVB-T, DVB-S, and DVB-S2. A bit of a hassle so far. I don't get many channels and the connection with MediaPortal backend isn't working well either.

Next will be getting BluRay/DVD disc playback working.

Finally I will install a karaoke software that I brought from Thailand and some emulators and low-performance games.

Pictures and final build report coming soon.

Another question I just had: Figured that I would need a wifi card in order to control XBMC using an iPad/iPhone app. Does anyone know a low power consuming wifi card (PCI Express)? Only have a 150W PicoPSU, which already provides power to CPU, MB, ODD, SSD, and TV Tuner card.