My Fusion Build with some pics

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Right, as you know I recently set about building a HTPC based on the new AMD Fusion platform. I bought the following:

ASRock E350 Fusion Board
4gb DDR3
Antec ISK-100 case incl 90w psu
250gb WD 2.5" HD
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Installation was a touch tedious due to the size of the case and conversely the size of my hands! However, I managed to shoehorn it all in.

I was intially concerned I had made a mistake going for the ASRock board as it isn't passively cooled. Other than that it had everything I needed at the right price point. It has a nice UEFI Bios and the two changes I made were allocating a dedicated 512mb ram to the onboard gfx and changing the target fan speed from 9 to 1 in the bios. It is whisper quiet. Anyone concerned about noise don't be. I did also increase the target temp as the case I am using has a 10cm fan on the side also keeping everything cool.

Piccies:








So far I've setup windows 7 and installed XBMC. It is really quite nippy and no probs with XBMC and streaming HD content form my NAS box. I also treated myself to a Logitech diNovo Mini as the primary controller. Happy happy!
 
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Very nice, looks like a cool quiet little build.

I have a couple of requests though...if possible could you photograph the case next to a coke can or something, to give an idea of scale.

Also how are you finding the diNovo mini setup? Does it do everything you need? Do you still need a remote control for anything?
 
Will see what I can find. May be a tin of hoops!

The diNovo mini is flawless so far. Plugged in the usb dongle and it just works. It has two modes on it you can switch between mini keyboard and mce remote function. Still getting used to it. My only minor critiscism is the back plate over teh battery, feels a bit loose when I grip it.
 
I've just built something similar myself (same MB) was thinking of doing a project log myself but i am chuffed to bits with it as well, like you i put 4Gb of RAM in there and pushed 512Mb to the GPU and i'm in love, such a lot of power for something so small and i mean small i was shocked when i seen it ha ha

PS - loving the case, didn't see that one when i was looking around for one - nice find :)
 
Looking great welshdragon, thanks a lot for those pictures. How are the temperatures of your setup with the noiseless setting? Would also love to see it in the enviroment where it will be used.
 
Im running a shuttle at the moment and im getting so annoyed with it. how much did it set you back in the end? really like the look of it!
 
I've just built something similar myself (same MB) was thinking of doing a project log myself but i am chuffed to bits with it as well, like you i put 4Gb of RAM in there and pushed 512Mb to the GPU and i'm in love, such a lot of power for something so small and i mean small i was shocked when i seen it ha ha

PS - loving the case, didn't see that one when i was looking around for one - nice find :)

Yeah I'm really chuffed with it too. A mate just built one a month or two ago using an ION board and he's gutted.

Looking great welshdragon, thanks a lot for those pictures. How are the temperatures of your setup with the noiseless setting? Would also love to see it in the enviroment where it will be used.

Temps are hovering around 30c-35c. Its hiding behind my tv at the moment as the rest of my setup is nothign special.

Im running a shuttle at the moment and im getting so annoyed with it. how much did it set you back in the end? really like the look of it!
 
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The only thing putting me off this is the fact it doesnt look like it can hold a tuner card. other wise i would be over it like flys on...well you can get the rest.
 
You'd need a bigger case to stick a card in there. I went for this one as I didn't need a card and its a pure nettop/streamer for me.

I was also considering this case with a bluray drive at the time:
Thermaltake VL52021N2 Element Q 220W Mini ITX Case
 
im liking the look of the Antec ISK 300-150. that or just splitting my ariel and leaving my main rig to record stuff then transfering it when needed.

Nice build though :D looks very tidy!
 
SFF *** - seriously though Small Form Factor is my new best friend :)

I'd love to try the opposite in the future - a powerhouse SFF - world's smallest gaming rig...
 
SFF *** - seriously though Small Form Factor is my new best friend :)

I'd love to try the opposite in the future - a powerhouse SFF - world's smallest gaming rig...

at the time my SFF was uber powerful! amd 6400x2 8800GTS 4 gigs of ram...wowzers!
 
@ welshdragon, i noticed you said you are getting 30ish with temperature wise but can you tell me if that is for both cpu/gpu or is it for cpu because i have my Fusion build up and running but temps wise it abit rubbish.... CPU 53c, GPU 36c both on idle.
 
Both cpu/gpu, off the top of my head after an hour of two of installing windows and updates etc it was hoverig mid 30's. What fusion board have you got and whats the case like?

Bare in mind my case is perforated ont he one side all over with a 10cm fan directly over the mobo so bound to run perhaps a bit cooler?
 
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that's a really nice build. cool temps too mid 30s on an aircooled system :eek: thats almost semi worthy.. actually what am i on about almost? lol :D

Sahjin.. DO EET. i'm trying to decide between one of these as my main rig for nettop/media and a dedicated gamer, or just the one sff system not quite so powerful but still good (i3, 6850) but for me a homemade case in the shape of the computers of old where the kb was the computer, i fancy wood maybe some walnut
Mr.Fantastic's lian li case looks ripe for a watercooled SFF powerhouse that would be a boxies-ruiner :D
 
I have got the Gigabyte GA-E350N and the case is Lian Li V350 modified to this

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18500383/rofl.jpg (black blob is the cpu HS)

The little drawing shows the 120m fan i added tonight to see if it drops the temps, i also redid the cpu paste which dropped 10c all the load temp to 63c.

Thats cool, let us know how you get on. Have you got cool'n'quiet enabled? That helps also.

Regards temps I'm not sure what these things should eb getting, so you might not have to worry?
 
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