- Jul 11, 2002
- 2,262
- 7
- 81
Just finished building and burning in a new HTPC/Gaming rig, and wanted to post a build thread in case anyone else is interested in doing something similar (and/or just wants see some HTPC porn).
[Full Disclosure: I also posted this build at AVSForum, which I also frequent, but I'd like to discuss it here as well. Hopefully the "double post" doesn't offend anyone.]
The dual purposes of this build are, in no particular order, (1) to stream my recently ripped Bluray collection (and other media, including audio) to my home theater, and (2) to play the latest PC games that play better on a gamepad (imo, anything other than rts, fps, and some rpgs) on the big screen.
Parts list is as follows (some parts repurposed from earlier builds):
CPU : Intel i5 4670K (@4.0GHz)
MOBO : Asus Z87 Pro
RAM : 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) DDR3 PC3 12800 (@ 8-8-8-24)
GPU : EVGA GTX 760 SC ACX (02G-P4-3765-KR)
PSU : Corsair HX620W (subsequently replaced with Seasonic G550 -- see April post)
SSD : Intel 520 120GB
HDD : Samsung Spinpoint 500GB (HD501LJ)
OPTICAL : LG DVD-RW (no need for a Bluray drive, since everything will be streamed, and I can use the PS3 if I really need to load a disc)
CASE : Silverstone Grandia GD08B (including 3 120mm Silverstone intake fans -- will purpose option rack ears later this year)
CPU COOLER : Noctua NH-L12
FANS : Added 1xCM BladeMaster 120mm PWM intake fan and 2xArtic FM8 80mm exhaust fans (all three of these fans are daisy-chained with the 92mm and 120mm Noctua fans on the NH-L12, and are controlled using the same PWM header)
This new rig has been paired with the following existing equipment:
NAS : Synology 1511+ (w/ 5x2TB WD Caviar Black in SHR1 (8TB total))
SCREEN : Panasonic 55VT50
AVR : Onkyo TX-NR818
SPEAKERS : Polk Monitor II CS2, 70s, 60s, & 30s
SUB : 15" Titanic DIY Kit
Various and sundry classic gaming systems, as seen in final photos below (including original 1986 NES).
And now, without further ado, the build as graphic novel:
Some parts have arrived, waiting for the rest to start the build:
The case, unboxed. The brushed aluminum front looks fantastic...the picture doesn't do it justice.
The case is set up for positive pressure, and has room for three bottom-mounted 120mm intake fans. Two of those slots come with 120mm Silverstone fans installed. The third slot is used internally for cable management--they have a very smart solution for this, seen below--but if you load the case with HDDs and want more cooling, you can remove the cable-management box and install a third bottom intake fan.
On the right side (when looking at the front), towards the back where the CPU is installed, is a dual-intake opening for two more 120mm fans. One slot comes preinstalled with another 120mm Silverstone fan. I installed a CoolerMaster 120mm BladeMaster in the other slot. As with all fan openings in the case, there are easy-access mesh screens installed on the outside of the case to keep dust out.
Even the PSU intake opening has an easily removable mesh screen.
And a shot of the rear of the empty case. No thumbscrews on the removable top lid, but I replaced the factory screws with two thumbscrews I had laying around before completing the build (not seen here).
With the lid off, you can see the basic layout inside the case. The drive cage up front can hold eight (!!) 3.5" disks, two optical drives, and at least two 2.5" SSDs (more if you're creative). The entire cage is lined with high-density, anti-vibration foam. Just another quality touch provided by Silverstone. In these pictures you can see the empty case with and without the drive cage installed. In the third picture you can see the cable-management box below the two front fans after the drive cage has been removed.
[Full Disclosure: I also posted this build at AVSForum, which I also frequent, but I'd like to discuss it here as well. Hopefully the "double post" doesn't offend anyone.]
The dual purposes of this build are, in no particular order, (1) to stream my recently ripped Bluray collection (and other media, including audio) to my home theater, and (2) to play the latest PC games that play better on a gamepad (imo, anything other than rts, fps, and some rpgs) on the big screen.
Parts list is as follows (some parts repurposed from earlier builds):
CPU : Intel i5 4670K (@4.0GHz)
MOBO : Asus Z87 Pro
RAM : 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM) DDR3 PC3 12800 (@ 8-8-8-24)
GPU : EVGA GTX 760 SC ACX (02G-P4-3765-KR)
PSU : Corsair HX620W (subsequently replaced with Seasonic G550 -- see April post)
SSD : Intel 520 120GB
HDD : Samsung Spinpoint 500GB (HD501LJ)
OPTICAL : LG DVD-RW (no need for a Bluray drive, since everything will be streamed, and I can use the PS3 if I really need to load a disc)
CASE : Silverstone Grandia GD08B (including 3 120mm Silverstone intake fans -- will purpose option rack ears later this year)
CPU COOLER : Noctua NH-L12
FANS : Added 1xCM BladeMaster 120mm PWM intake fan and 2xArtic FM8 80mm exhaust fans (all three of these fans are daisy-chained with the 92mm and 120mm Noctua fans on the NH-L12, and are controlled using the same PWM header)
This new rig has been paired with the following existing equipment:
NAS : Synology 1511+ (w/ 5x2TB WD Caviar Black in SHR1 (8TB total))
SCREEN : Panasonic 55VT50
AVR : Onkyo TX-NR818
SPEAKERS : Polk Monitor II CS2, 70s, 60s, & 30s
SUB : 15" Titanic DIY Kit
Various and sundry classic gaming systems, as seen in final photos below (including original 1986 NES).
And now, without further ado, the build as graphic novel:
Some parts have arrived, waiting for the rest to start the build:
The case, unboxed. The brushed aluminum front looks fantastic...the picture doesn't do it justice.
The case is set up for positive pressure, and has room for three bottom-mounted 120mm intake fans. Two of those slots come with 120mm Silverstone fans installed. The third slot is used internally for cable management--they have a very smart solution for this, seen below--but if you load the case with HDDs and want more cooling, you can remove the cable-management box and install a third bottom intake fan.
On the right side (when looking at the front), towards the back where the CPU is installed, is a dual-intake opening for two more 120mm fans. One slot comes preinstalled with another 120mm Silverstone fan. I installed a CoolerMaster 120mm BladeMaster in the other slot. As with all fan openings in the case, there are easy-access mesh screens installed on the outside of the case to keep dust out.
Even the PSU intake opening has an easily removable mesh screen.
And a shot of the rear of the empty case. No thumbscrews on the removable top lid, but I replaced the factory screws with two thumbscrews I had laying around before completing the build (not seen here).
With the lid off, you can see the basic layout inside the case. The drive cage up front can hold eight (!!) 3.5" disks, two optical drives, and at least two 2.5" SSDs (more if you're creative). The entire cage is lined with high-density, anti-vibration foam. Just another quality touch provided by Silverstone. In these pictures you can see the empty case with and without the drive cage installed. In the third picture you can see the cable-management box below the two front fans after the drive cage has been removed.
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