HTPC (i3 GT430 MiniITX)

ltnmzh · 7 Aug 2011 at 11:11

Hi guys,

Really need your wisdom on a HTPC build that replaces my dead ION box.
This build will run Linux, XBMC and other services. (This setup is inspired by Destroyer's post here http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18302642)

CPU: G620/840/850 or i3 2100 series
Cooling: the heatsink and fan that come with the CPU
Mobo: Gigabytes or Asus H67 MiniITX
GraphicCard: Any GT430 cards
Memory: 4GB
Harddrive: the 2.5' 300GB from my dead ION box. I have a 2TB WD World Edition external drive so I'm fine.
Case: MiniITX. Silverstone SG05B 300W seems very nice.

So here comes the questions
1. CPU-wise, should I go for i3? I don't need HyperThreading and I usually switch it off anyway.
2. Memory, can I got for 4GB single slot or do I have to get 2x2GB?
3. 300W should be enough?
4. Do I need to buy SATA/power connector/adaptor for my 2.5' HD?

But you know humans are greedy. Cos this is HTPC will most like sit beside my sofa, I want it to be quiet.

Not sure whether a fanless setup would work (nice but a lot more expensive)
1. Fanless PSU
2. Fanless Graphics card (Zodac GT430 Zone Edition)
3. A fanless CPU cooler would be nice but would it fit? Maybe some water cooling system like Corsair Hydro Series H60?

Would Silverstone SG05B fit? Maybe should go for Lian Li PC-Q08B w/o PSU because I will replace it with fanless PSU anyway and don't want to waste SG05B's already very good PSW.

Second thought: probably should just go for the basic version. If too noisy, then replace the CPU fan and/or PSU.

Sorry for the long post guys.

Edit:
great videos on Youtube on casing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxF-5HczPr8

Methanoid · 8 Aug 2011 at 08:41

What possesses you to want a GT430 in a HTPC when i3's VGA would be plenty?

Venares · 8 Aug 2011 at 09:57

Because the Intel iGPU's STILL cant manage to play back 24p properly most likely.
Under DXVA mine just kicks out a macroblocked mess as well

ltnmzh · 8 Aug 2011 at 10:38

Methanoid said:
What possesses you to want a GT430 in a HTPC when i3's VGA would be plenty?

I'm using Linux. The best driver support so far is for Nvidia cards.

My ION worked perfectly with Nvidia driver and using VDPAU acceleration in XBMC.

Venares · 8 Aug 2011 at 13:03

Yeh, definatly go Nvidia with Linux.

ltnmzh · 8 Aug 2011 at 13:18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnGWo...eature=related

See this video. Interesting CPU cooler setup - liquid cooler with radiator attached to the case fan loosely from inside.

Overall in the video, his HTPC is so quiet! Is it because of YouTube being Low Def?

I'd be very happy if my box is on this noise level.

ltnmzh · 8 Aug 2011 at 13:42

Venares said:
Yeh, definatly go Nvidia with Linux.

I'm pretty sure it would be Nvidia. No doubt at all. The question is the fan vs fanless version.

I haven't used any modern non-laptop machines for years. Are they all very quiet now?

Venares · 8 Aug 2011 at 13:48

I have a GT 430 in mine and I think its pretty quiet.
I cant realy tell though atm, as the PSU drowns out everything (long story) so the case is going back and being replaced with something with a PICO PSU.

ltnmzh · 8 Aug 2011 at 14:19

Venares said:
I have a GT 430 in mine and I think its pretty quiet.
I cant realy tell though atm, as the PSU drowns out everything (long story) so the case is going back and being replaced with something with a PICO PSU.

I thought PICO PSU is 120W Max. Would it be enough? Espcially for my i3 SandyBridge setup? Would a fanless 400W PSU be better choice?

Venares · 8 Aug 2011 at 16:17

My 620t + GT 430 was pulling rougthly 50w from the wall when I tested it.
So a Pico 120-150w would be plenty.

ltnmzh · 8 Aug 2011 at 16:47

Venares said:
My 620t + GT 430 was pulling rougthly 50w from the wall when I tested it.
So a Pico 120-150w would be plenty.

Interesting. Was it under load or idle when you see 50W?

Found this: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/pentium-g850-g840-g620_8.html

Some online power calculator gives around 200W peak.

Venares · 8 Aug 2011 at 21:25

That was typical load usage.
Tested with XBMC running, 1080p mkv movie and a BluRay.

200w is bonkers mate.
My cpu CANNOT by its very design pull more than 35w.
And GT 430 is at most 60w full load.
Id say worst case your looking at 100-110w.

Also bear in mind that the psu in the case I have atm is FAR from efficient.
I would expect a PICO to pull a good 10w less atleast.

ltnmzh · 30 Aug 2011 at 15:11

Report back:

Went with
1. Silverstone SG05 + 450W PSU
2. Gigabytes H67N-USB3-B3
3. i3 2120
4. 2x2GB mem
5. MSI GTX 550Ti Cyclone 2 OC

Venares · 30 Aug 2011 at 16:33

Should be a good solid system mate.

ltnmzh · 30 Aug 2011 at 16:45

it's a very cool and silent system. My projector is noisier than the box.

the graphics card makes some high pitch noise under load. Not from the fan. From the capacitors I think.

Participant · 30 Aug 2011 at 17:10

Don't suppose you've tested DTS-MA / True HD bit streaming with that card, have you Itnmzh?

ltnmzh · 30 Aug 2011 at 17:17

Robbie G said:
Don't suppose you've tested DTS-MA / True HD bit streaming with that card, have you Itnmzh?

No, I don't have a device to test against.

my audio sys is a cheap 3.1 speaker set. :mad:

do you recommand any good ones?

Participant · 31 Aug 2011 at 08:44

Not particularly, as it mainly depends on how much you want to spend. The cinema section is a good place to start, or AV Forums.

BusError · 12 Sep 2011 at 16:15

ltnmzh said:
I'm using Linux. The best driver support so far is for Nvidia cards.

My ION worked perfectly with Nvidia driver and using VDPAU acceleration in XBMC.

Actually I used to say just that, however last week-end nvidia support borke dowm in debian and I had to switch to the intel built in HDMI...

And it worked! I got video acceleration and OpenGL all working, pretty much out of the box!

So it' worth trying...

ltnmzh · 13 Sep 2011 at 14:56

Are you on debian unstable? I'm thinking of switching to debian. I hate ubuntu now. pulse audio, unity+gnome3 etc etc.

Re hardwarewise, I'm playing games so I doubt intel's card would be able to drive them.

All in all, I really should have gone for a full size beefy cpu+graphics card. Tessellation + high AA really kills the frame rate.