HTPC

[Gamingphreek]

I know we all are fed up with guides and people asking how is this, but hey even us oldies need to make sure of somethings ... I did do a search and found advice on what to get, so here it is:

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton (Already have (spare))

A7N8X-E Deluxe (Already have (spare))

512mb DDR333 PNY 333 (49.99 @ Bestbuy)

Antec Overture Case w/ 380Watt PSU

Refurbished: Samsung 12x DVD+-RW Drive (45.00 @ Newegg)

Happauge PVR-TV150

Onboard Soundstorm Audio outputting to Sony Reciever via SPDIF (5.1 DD)

80Gig Seagate Barracuda IDE HDD (Buying WD and putting spare Seagte in HTPC (WD=29.99 @ BestBuy)

Speeze Falcon Rock CPU Cooler

-Kevin

 

[blodhi74]

from my experience cheap alternatives are not very reliable or quite .... I would highly recomend this

 

[DaveSimmons]

Zalman -alcu will be nice and quiet, but expensive of course.

You can save a few dollars by buying a Samsung Spinpoint instead of a Seagate. Spinpoints are just as quiet.

Most people are recommending the NEC 3500a / 3520 as the DVD burner to get.

 

[ts3433]

Get a cheap Speeze (something like this, perhaps). They make one for around $11 for Socket A/370 that's supposed to be at least somewhat quiet.

I might go with a little more RAM (a 512MB stick of DDR400 isn't too much more).

 

[Todd33]

A lot like my HTPC.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well i will garauntee you that i will not be getting a Thermaltake cooler. Dont mean to be rude but it aint happening.

I was looking at those Speeze coolers, they are supposed to be good quiet Entry level coolers. I mean this is a HTPC i dont need anythign fancy just something to keep it from overheating and keep it quiet.

I will look at the DVD Burner... i dont know much about optical drives, im the HW type of guy

I will also look at the HDD but im leaning towards the Seagate. They have a better reputation than Samsung in HDD and generally perform better.

-Kevin

 

[wisdomtooth]

Gamingfreek:

I would avoid the Antec Overture.

The thing uses a TFX-form factor PSU, and there are no additional ventilation provisions at the back of the case.

You should look for something that can take an ATX-standard PSU and has additional vents in the back for additional fans, especially if your HTPC will be in a component rack environment.

HTH.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Oh, i didn't know that. I will have to look around. Can anyone recommend me a good case around $100. This is going in a component Rack on an Entertainement Center.

-Kevin

 

[ts3433]

I was thinking the same about the Overture as well. The thing is apparently as big as a mid-tower anyway, just on its side. I'd prefer the Sonata, if you have room and don't need it in a rack (unfortunately, a Shuttle, Antec Aria, or other SFF is out of the question if you want to use that A7N8X-E Deluxe).

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well unfortunatley that is all i have ... what would my options be right now.

-Kevin

 

[wisdomtooth]

You might want to check out Silverstone and Ahanix's offerings. They make full-ATX HTPC cases, some of which will take standard ATX PSUs and have good ventilation.

Right now I am using a Silverstone LC03. It takes a standard ATX PSU (not included) and has one additional 60mm fan grill in the back. It runs reasonably cool with the right PSU (I'm using a Seasonic Super Tornado 350).

IF you want more ventilation, try the bigger ones like the LC10 (two 80mm grills in the back). Or the Ahanix D.Vine series (D4, D5, D6).

They are all a bit pricey yes, but worth it in the end for quietness, cool-running, ability to take standard PSUs, and appearance.

HTH!

 

[Gamingphreek]

bump and update

 

[wisdomtooth]

Now that you have decided, let us know how it turns out!

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well i haven't decided yet. Can someone recommend a case. The overture is about my only option as of right now as i need support for a full-atx board.

-Kevin

 

[wisdomtooth]

The following are HTPC cases which will take a full ATX board as you desired:

Arisetec HT200

ATech 4000EX

Digitalis HTPC cases (very funny name... At least to cardiologists, heh. Nice cases though)

UNeed DIGN series

Ahanix D.Vine series

And Wisdomtooth's recommended cases:

Silverstone LC02 - the smallest case available that will take a full ATX board

Silverstone LC03 series - also available with a VFD display. Takes full ATX board and PSUs.

Antec Overture your only option? Hell no.

 

[cpars]

Where is your video card ? did I overlook something ?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Ah we are just using an old spare Geforce 2Ti.

BTW: THANKS for all those cases... that really helped out a lot!

-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

bump... how is this

 

[imported_Kiwi]

About "quiet hsf's" I have one of each of the two small ones, and the Silent Boost actually cools some. The Falcon Rock is noisier and less effective. I didn't look up the Speeze/Spires unit at Frosty Tech until after I bought mine. The charts there show how much better a Silent Boost is over the other. There were only two sub-$100, full-ATX HTPC boxes that I found a month ago when I was surfing the case availability, and I ordered the Casedge from Directron for myself, because it was black. The Enlight boxes seemed to only be available in the standard IBM PC "putty" color.

 

[Gamingphreek]

THankyou for the input however i will not buy any TT products. I know about and have owned several of them. As i state in all posts concerning them they are noisy. Adittionally they are meant for the Entry Level Flashy PC, not high quality components.

From what i hear the Speeze is the best cheap thing out there.

-Kevin