Please help me build my first PC!

[schreibman]

This will be my first attempt at building any PC, let alone an HTPC,  so I would really appreciate any insight anyone has, especially if any of the components seem incompatible.  I am concerned that since it’s my first attempt, and as I have 10 thumbs, will I have challenges getting everything including the Ceton into the case.

[font=Verdana][size=100][size=100][size=100][b]Some background on my objectives:[/b][/size][/size][/size][/font]
o No intention of using the box for other than WMC
o Verizon Fios provides my programming. 
o I use NAS storage, and need the HTPCs SSD to record a days’ worth of content.(will copy to NAS ‘afterhours’).
o Would like to use the mobo/cpu integrated/stock NIC/Video/Sound and cooling, (hence the pico power supply).
o Will connect to the LAN via a gigabit switch
o Extender 1 Xbox 360 4GB built in WiFi N
o Extender 2 Hard wire to an older 360
o Installing 8 gigs ram via 2 4 gig modules – eliminate page file & keep 2 open slots “just in case”
o SSD for performance, noise and heat considerations.

[font=Verdana][size=100][b]Here are the components I have in mind for my first HTPC. [/b][/size][/font]
• CPU –  [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115068/]Intel Core i3-560 Clarkdale 3.33GHz $149.99[/url]
• Tuner- [url=https://www.fluiddigitalmedia.com/orders/new/]Ceton InfinitTV 4  $399.00[/url]
• Case – [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204040/]nMEDIAPC Black  HTPC 1080P Micro ATX Case $79.99[/url]
• Power Supply -[url=http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT-102-power-kit%20/]picoPSU-150-XT + 102W Adapter Power Kit $69.50[/url]
• Motherboard -[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121394/]Intel XDH55TC H55 HDMI Micro ATX  Motherboard  $89.99[/url]
• Drive -[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167031/]Intel X25-M 2.5″ 80GB SATA II MLC Solid State Drive (SSD) $214.99[/url]
• Memory –  [url=http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=F04A1727A5CA7304/]Crucial  8GB (2 * 4GB) DDR3 PC3-10600 memory modules$219.99[/url]
• Blu-ray Drive – [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136181/]LG Black 10X Blu-ray Burner -SATA WH10LS30 LightScribe $99.99[/url]

All in I am looking at about $1,400 after shipping and miscellaneous.

[b][i]
Again, any and all feedback, comments, and critiques would be greatly appreciated.[/i][/b]

[mikinho]

[quote=”schreibman”]
o I use NAS storage, and need the HTPCs SSD to record a days’ worth of content.(will copy to NAS ‘afterhours’).
[/quote]

I would recommend not doing this unless you limit your TV recordingviewing to less than an hour or possible two depending on your SSD size.  Here is the reviewreference on why I suggest that: [url=http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1233/1/]http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1233/1/[/url].  Even at 256GB drives ~42GB/day isn’t a lot for a primary DVR.

The data is based on the WD SiliconEdge Blue which isn’t the highest rated SSD but it gives you a good idea for comparable drives.

[quote]The operational lifespan on the drive is unlimited when it comes to read, but the write lifespan varies depending on the size drive you have as the larger the capacity the more writes you can do as there are more MLC NAND Flash chips. WD used LifeEst methodology to figure out how many writes per day a drive can do in a typical five year service span, which is interesting as our readers are always interested in how long an SSD will last.

Write Operational Lifespans:
256GB – 42.1GB/Day
128GB – 21.0GB/Day
64GB – 10.5GB/Day

These aren’t bad figures and most consumers today are not writing that much data to their drives on a daily basis even with all your browser caching! Let’s take a look inside the drive and see what makes it tick.[/quote]

[quote=”schreibman”]
o   Installing 8 gigs ram via 2 4 gig modules – eliminate page file & keep 2 open slots “just in case”
[/quote]

Since you mention this being your first PC, make sure to insert the modules in the proper pairing (I’m assuming you will be purchasing dual channel DDR3).

I also would recommend not eliminating your page file.  Whats the point?  It will only be used if needed and for crash dumps so why not leave it there?  SSD are great for page files as well.

[quote=”schreibman”]
o   SSD for performance, noise and heat considerations.
[/quote]

Make sure to set AHCI mode in the BIOS before installing Windows to fully benefit from the SSD speed.

[quote=”schreibman”]
• CPU –  [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115068/]Intel Core i3-560 Clarkdale 3.33GHz $149.99[/url]
• Tuner- [url=https://www.fluiddigitalmedia.com/orders/new/]Ceton InfinitTV 4  $399.00[/url]
• Case – [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204040/]nMEDIAPC Black  HTPC 1080P Micro ATX Case $79.99[/url]
• Power Supply -[url=http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT-102-power-kit%20/]picoPSU-150-XT + 102W Adapter Power Kit $69.50[/url]
• Motherboard -[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121394/]Intel XDH55TC H55 HDMI Micro ATX  Motherboard  $89.99[/url]
• Drive -[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167031/]Intel X25-M 2.5″ 80GB SATA II MLC Solid State Drive (SSD) $214.99[/url]
• Memory –  [url=http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=F04A1727A5CA7304/]Crucial  8GB (2 * 4GB) DDR3 PC3-10600 memory modules$219.99[/url]
• Blu-ray Drive – [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136181/]LG Black 10X Blu-ray Burner -SATA WH10LS30 LightScribe $99.99[/url]

All in I am looking at about $1,400 after shipping and miscellaneous.
[/quote]

All your component look great.  My only recommendation would be a different SSD.  I have several X25-M and they served me well but there are newer, faster drivers available now that also support TRIM.

I would look at the [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148358]Crucial RealSSD[/url] or [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233124]Corsair Force[/url] myself.  Their read and write speeds exceed the Intel X25-M.  The Intel Solid State Toolbox is a nice utility but the price saving and performance benefit of new drivers win  ;D

[schreibman]

[quote=”Mikinho”]
[quote=”schreibman”]
o I use NAS storage, and need the HTPCs SSD to record a days’ worth of content.(will copy to NAS ‘afterhours’).
[/quote]

I would recommend not doing this unless you limit your TV recordingviewing to less than an hour or possible two depending on your SSD size.  Here is the reviewreference on why I suggest that: [url=http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1233/1/]http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1233/1/[/url]. 
[/quote]

AWESOME FEEDBACK THANKS !
So, I will be adding a 1 TB hard drive in addition to the SSD, now, all I need to do make sure to be able to squeeze it all in there and get it wired up!

Thanks Mikinho ! 

[frijones]

You may run into an issue with power.  With the i3 proc running at full load, the motherboard, two sticks of ram and just one 2.5″ drive, you will be running at the full load of your power brick and you haven’t even added the Ceton tuner or the blu-ray drive.
You could opt for the larger 150W power brick (http://www.mini-box.com/12v-12-5A-AC-DC-Power-Adapter) but you still may come up short on power.

You could also try going with either a quiet ATX power supply, lower power CPU or both.  I built up (on paper) a system similar to yours with a quad-core 45W AMD proc, 880G based MB, a seasonic S12II power supply, and the Corsair SSD Mikinho suggested for about $825 no tincluding the Ceton.  Dunno if this link will work, but here is the wishlist I saved it to: https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=14087725

-Aaron

[autoboy]

You’re going to be short on power.  That’s a powerful system for a Pico.  The Ceton card alone is said to use 25W.  And you don’t know which voltage that is pulled on.  The Pico provides very little power on the 5V rails.  The Pico is a cool PSU, but I would recommend you walk before you run. 

Fans in your system can be extremely quiet if you pick the right ones, optimize airflow, and enable fan speed control.  Don’t shy away from fanned power supplies.  There are some that are incredibly quiet.  Check out SilentPCReview for their latest recommendation on power supplies.  They won’t steer you wrong over there.  The rest of the build seems great, if a little ambitious for a first try.  I’m not sure you need 8GB of ram coupled with a SSD, 2GB is enough for a dedicated HTPC, but it can never hurt.

[schreibman]

frijones, autoboy:
Got it!
The Pico is out, and I am looking at the alternative PSU’s!

[mikinho]

FWIW I have an Intel DH57JG, Intel Core i3-540, 8GB RAM, X25-M 160GB and Ceton InfiniTV4 powered by the picoPSU-150-XT + 102W without issue.  It idles at ~26W and during Blu-ray playback I haven’t seen it go over 52W.

[htpc_user]

It’s true about the power supply.  I have a Seasonic in my HTPC and an Antec in my main PC; I have to get right up beside them to hear them running.

[Author]

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