HTPC Draft Build – Pick the design apart

[VanceFox]

Ok… All equipment, for ease of posting, is found on Newegg’s website.  I will purchase after searching for the best deals, of course.

This build will be for standard HTPC use: Live stream, webcam, HD movies, Netflix stream, standard computer use, light (not graphic intense) gaming.

Other equipment:

Olevia 42″ 1080i LCD TV
xBox 360

[b]HTPC Build:[/b]

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112186]LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017]OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131406]ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103846]AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277]G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233122]Corsair Nova CSSD-V32GB2-BRKT 2.5″ 32GB SATA II Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136513]Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS 1.5TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5″ Internal Hard Drive[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136183]LG Black 10X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Disc Combo Model UH10LS20 LightScribe Support[/url]

[b]Input Devices:[/b]

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823191009]SIIG JK-WR0412-S1 Black 81 Normal Keys 14 Function Keys USB RF Wireless Mini Multimedia Keyboard[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880111034]Logitech 915-000114 Universal Harmony 650 Remote[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104385]Logitech C910 USB 2.0 1080p HD Pro Webcam[/url]

The SSD would be for the OS and program software loads, if I include it.  I’m still not sure if it would be worth it to include a SSD but the “instant on” os load is very attractive…

Pick it apart, please.  Let me know if I missed anything…

[Mike Garcen]

ok, i understand your hesitation for using the separate SSD, but TRUST ME, you’ll be so happy!!! everything just works so much peppier. Not sure if you use resume from sleep, but that goes so much faster with SSD.

Only a couple comments–
1. 600 Watts is probably overkill given your specs. I suppose it doesn’t hurt, but you will be wasting some power given i’d guesstimate your system really could live off a 300watt draw (if even)
2. I’d suggest the Dinovo Mini over the SIIG. it’s bluetooth instead of RF, but it’s so tiny and just an awesome coffee table piece. I know it’s a bit more than the SIIG, but not that much.

[mikinho]

From your description I would not recommend a 32GB SSD drive.  Even for a pure HTPC 32GB is fairly tight after updates, caches, ….  You start with 15GB-18GB free and in ~6 months you’ll have 1GB free. 

If you plan to do light gaming and “standard computer” it just won’t be enough.  Most people with a 32GB SSD will move caches, the pagefile and other system folders to their data drive which really limits the usefulness of a SSD.  Spend a little extra and get a 60GB or 64GB drive.

[LowTech]

My 2¢ (though probably not even worth that much) –

I see the need for a modular PSU since you’ve chosen the Lian Li case but if it were me I’d opt for the 520W Seasonic unit.  Seasonics have an excellent reputation for their performance, reliability and quiet operation.  In such a small case there is always a fear of the PSU fan having to ramp up its speed to help remove building heat and this is where the Seasonic should really outshine the competition. 

While I’m spending your money I might as well address the CPU.  Overall I have no real issue with your choice but again since heat dissipation is a concern in SFF cases you might consider the Phemon II X4 910e if for no other reason than the 65W rating (plus I’m a four core kind of guy).  Yeah this would double your CPU investment but this CPU should run cooler for you (and give you four core boasting rights, FWIW). 

Moving along I noticed your choice of RAM comes with those wild looking heat spreaders.  The idea behind them is sound until you realize that maybe your stock CPU cooler just isn’t up to snuff in the noise department (I didn’t see an aftermarket CPU cooler listed).  With that low profile case your CPU cooler choices are going to be pretty limited.  What you will find are going to be wide heatsinks that will interfere with your RAM.  Based on the assumption that you may not utilize your stock CPU cooler I would suggest that you look for RAM without all that stuff sticking up and find some standard profile RAM instead.

Good luck with the build and keep us posted on your progress.

[autoboy]

And don’t try to peel off the heatspreaders to make it fit.  I got the heatspreader off, but I also got a RAM chip along with it.  Lucky for me I bought it at my local Frys and I could take it back.  😉

I don’t see anything wrong with the Phenom X2.  At idle it will be just as efficient, and they don’t really use all 95W that they are rated at since it has 2 disabled cores.  It’s also pretty likely that you will be able to unlock a core or two if you want to.  Not that I would in a HTPC.

[Andrew Van Til]

[quote=”Mikinho”]
From your description I would not recommend a 32GB SSD drive.  Even for a pure HTPC 32GB is fairly tight after updates, caches, ….  You start with 15GB-18GB free and in ~6 months you’ll have 1GB free. 

If you plan to do light gaming and “standard computer” it just won’t be enough.  Most people with a 32GB SSD will move caches, the pagefile and other system folders to their data drive which really limits the usefulness of a SSD.  Spend a little extra and get a 60GB or 64GB drive.
[/quote]

+1

32GB isn’t enough

[DavidStein]

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139132&cm_re=SSDNow_V_series-_-20-139-132-_-Product]this one is well regarded for a value 64GB drive[/url]

[Meester.Rip]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550&cm_re=ocz_vertex_2-_-20-227-550-_-Product

I run these in Raid 0 but even 1 is much faster than the Kingston. It is about 10 bucks more and read and writes are 70 – 80Mbps faster.

[Author]

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