Post your HTPC builds!

[AnitaPeterson]

Case : Thermaltake Bach
MB : ASUS P8Z68-V LE
HDD : Crucial M4 SSD 64GB (OS) + Seagate 2TB (Storage)
RAM : G.SKILL Ripjaws 4X4GB DDR3-1333
CPU : Intel Core i5 2500K
GPU : ASUS Radeon HD6670
Audio : Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic Platinum (w. front console)
ODD : LG Blu-Ray Burner BH14NS40

It's not just a HTPC, it's also my main machine for everything

 

[jtvang125]

HTPC
Zalman HD160 case
Gigabyte MB
Intel C2D @ 2.5ghz
4gb DDR2
AMD HD5770
OCZ 40GB SSD
WD 750GB HDD

Storage
20 TB on RAID 5
2003 Server

 

[joutlaw]

Case: Silverstone GD05B
MB: Biostar H67MH
CPU: Intel i3-2100
RAM: 2x4GB GSkill RipJaws
HDs: Crucial M4 128GB SSD - OS; Seagate 1.5TB - Recordings; 5.75 TB WHS 2011 for long term storage
Tuner: Ceton InfiniTV PCI
PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA-380D
Keyboard:Lenovo HTPC - both
Remote: Logitech Harmony
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
TV: 47" Vizio SV472XVT
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR608
Speakers: Polk Monitor 60s, 30s, CS1, and PSW11

 

[assassin24]

I will play (I have built and researched dozens of HTPCs but these are a few of my personal favorites that I have done over the last few years) ...

My "Frankenstein" with which I did a lot of my initial testing. Now retired because I wanted to try some things in the Silverstone GD05 case.

CPU: Intel i3 2100 with stock Intel CPU cooler
Motherboard: ASRock Mini-ITX
SSD: Corsair SSD 64GB
Hard Drive 1: WD EARS 2TB Green
Hard Drive 2: Samsung F4 2TB Green
Hard Drive 3: Empty for now (Yes! I figured a way to get 3 hard drives in this tiny case!)
PSU: Seasonic SFX12V 350 watt 80 plus
Case Fan 1: Scythe 120mm 800 RPM (outflow)
Case Fan 2: Nexus 80mm Real Silent Case Fan (inflow)
Bluray Drive: Moved to external case and connected via eSATA
Case: Apex MI-008 Mini-ITX

Idle

1080p Playback

After Pico PSU

Custom backplate created by ecosmartpc

Idle

1080p Playback

 

[assassin24]

Bedroom HTPC
Intel G620T
ASRock Mini ITX
Habey EMC600 case (which I cut an 80mm hole in the top with a saw)
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR3 1333
Crucial 64GB SSD

External bluray drive on right for comparison

Case mod with 80mm hole for improved cooling

Idle

1080p Playback

 

[assassin24]

Theater HTPC Rebuild (using some of the Frankenstein for parts)

NVidia 430 (I don't use it. I actually prefer the Intel iGPU)

Old DLP HDTV. I bought a Panasonic 65ST50 Plasma a few weeks ago

 

[assassin24]

Thin Mini ITX project I did a few weeks ago (Much different than a non-Thin ITX)
http://assassinhtpcblog.com/?p=303

 

[assassin24]

"Goliath" Server I created a few months ago...
http://www.assassinserver.com/?p=130

 

[assassin24]

Server pics con't...

WHS2011+FlexRaid

Here are some results on the Goliath after kill-a-watt testing today by the owner.

Idle: 65 Watts. Cpu usage at idle was 4%.
Streaming GI Joe ( DTS HD BD @ 1080P ) for 1 hour: 75 watts
Boot time to full idle windows screen: 127 watts

 

[cytoSiN]

Thin Mini ITX project I did a few weeks ago (Much different than a non-Thin ITX)
http://assassinhtpcblog.com/?p=303

Cool. How difficult was it to work in such a small case? What kind of temps are you seeing?

 

[assassin24]

Cool. How difficult was it to work in such a small case? What kind of temps are you seeing?

Definitely not for the beginner that isn't afraid to tinker.

Here are the temps from my "Frankenstein"

My bedroom Habey runs about 45C.

The Thin Mini-ITX I did had temps about 50C.

 

[Maximilian]

Those are some nice power stats on the frankenstein and bedroom HTPC's.

 

[assassin24]

Those are some nice power stats on the frankenstein and bedroom HTPC's.

Thanks!

Here is something else I did recently...

5 devices at once (was also playing a 6th on my bedroom HTPC).

All media stored on my server.

From left to right...

Nexus 7 Tablet, Samsung Galaxy S3, iPad2, ASUS CULV Laptop, and 65" Panasonic Plasma

Then I made a quick movie showing it all in action.

This time I switched it up and streamed a different HD movie to each device.

From left to right: Samsung Galaxy S3 Smartphone, Apple iPad2 Tablet, Google Nexus 7 Tablet, ASUS CULV Laptop, Panasonic 65" Plasma HDTV

All media stored on my server

http://youtu.be/Q44HdDLRbRk?hd=1

 

[el-Capitan]

That server build is awesome, Assassin. A proper storage and backup server is something I'd like to do too. Unfort I don't have the space for it at the moment. I have an old Q9300 just collecting dust.

Soon....

 

[cytoSiN]

Assassin, what router are you using to stream to those wireless devices, and do you recommend it?

 

[assassin24]

Assassin, what router are you using to stream to those wireless devices, and do you recommend it?

Linksys E3000 with stock firmware and settings. I will admit that I am not a wireless router expert but for me it just works.

 

[wirednuts]

Wow that's a gorgeous case.../want.

holy crap! no kidding! a case that actually looks like a media player! i have to build one now!

 

[assassin24]

Almost forgot about this build I did for a customer...

The touchscreen panel/front...<br />

 

[assassin24]

More from that build...

 

[assassin24]

A few more...

 

[techs]

Antec One case
Core i3 @ 3.3Ghz
Biostar mobo
4 Gb ram
2x1Tb. spindle drives
1 Crucial M128 SSD
Asus BD-ROM

 

[NesuD]

Samsung 40" 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV w/ 240CMR UN40EH6000F
SILVERSTONE Grandia Series GD05B enclosure
Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply
ASRock A75 PRO4-M Motherboard
AMD A8-3870K Llano 3.0GHz Quad-Core Desktop APU
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3
ASUS Black SATA Blu-ray Drive
SAMSUNG 830 Series 64GB (SSD) System Drive
SAMSUNG EcoGreen F4 ST2000DL004 2TB Storage Drive
Logitech K400 USB RF Wireless Standard Keyboard

Using an old HDhomerun unit for over the air ClearQam broadcasts.
DVR functions handled by Windows 7 Mediacenter.
Bluray playback handled by PowerDVD 12.
Rips done using Make MKV and encoded with Handbrake.

OS and primary media applications all run off of the SSD. Boot up time from off to ready to use of 15 seconds or less. All default storage locations redirected to 2TB Samsung storage drive.

 

[cybrsage]

"Goliath" Server I created a few months ago...
http://www.assassinserver.com/?p=130

What case is that? I like all the HDD storage trays!

 

[Aikouka]

I'll try to recall what's in my HTPC:

CPU: Intel i3-540
MB: Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 (Mini-ITX)
RAM: 2x2GB DDR3-1333
SSD Intel X25-V 40GB SSD
CASE: Thermaltake ElementQ
HSF: Thermaltake SlimX3
OS: Windows 7 Professional

I've been tempted to upgrade to a newer system for awhile, but I haven't done it yet. I'd like to swap to this chassis:

http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/HTPC-ITX5-Black-Mini-HTPC-aluminum-chassis-HTPC-ITX5-B.htm

Although, finding a good and quiet HSF isn't that easy with that case. I'd like to get this HSF, but it's too tall.

Maybe I would just be better off getting an ASRock Vision HT and saving myself the hassle?

 

[pauldun170]

I'm going to squeeze my humble HTPC in before this becomes the assasin24 build of the week thread. (good stuff and great guides)
Case : Rosewill R102
MB : Asrock Z68m\USB3 HDD : 2 500gb WD blacks + 2 1tb WD blacks
RAM : G.SKILL Sniper 2X4GB DDR3-1600
CPU : Intel Core i3-2100
GPU : ASUS Radeon HD4830 (Soon to be replaced by HD7770)
ODD : Asus bd-rom BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS PSU: Earthwatts 380
Misc: XBOX wireless controller, IR WCE remote, generic logitec wireless keyboard and mouse

PC is kept in basement.
Its connected to the living room TV ( Samsung 46inch LCD) via 20ft hdmi running through floor so looks and noise are not an issue. All peripherals are wireless and the keyboard\mouse transmitter is under the floor. IR receiver and xbox transmitter are tucked away in entertainment center and connected to the PC thanks to some USB extension cables that run along with the HDMI cable. Its powered on and off with our phones. Every once in awhile I'll go down there and blow it out and make sure the cats haven't pissed on it.

It's slowly gone from a simple HTPC to a multipurpose box. It's used as an HTPC (XBMC) housing all of our music, movies and pictures It's the family gaming box. This is where all the kid friendly Steam games are installed. It's now the wifes work PC. She RDP's in from her old crappy laptop. It's my light duty VM host.