HTPC Project [Build Log]

Deathjester

Deathjester

Deathjester

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Project HTPCube [Build Log]

I've wanted to build an HTPC for a while now.
I have ordered most of the components now and many of them have arrived.

Please note that this is a PC designed to run Steam, and stream games from my desktop and play movies, TV shows etc. It is not designed to be the highest spec, just look good and be as quiet as possible.

But here are the specs of the build:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Zotac GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Edition 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (ZT-90101-10P) £275.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Predator 240GB PCIe x 4 SSD HHHL Form Factor Solid State Drive (SHPM2280P2H/240G) £219.98
1 x Intel Core i5-4690 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £179.99
1 x Asus Maximus VII Impact Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £172.99
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-XRES 100 D5 PWM (incl. pump) £84.95
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC970 GTX - Nickel £79.99
1 x Corsair Obsidian Series 250D Mini ITX Compact Gaming Case - Black (CC-9011047-WW) £75.95
1 x Corsair Vengeance Pro Silver 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-14900C9 1866MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (CMY8GX3M2A1866C9) £65.99
1 x Silverstone SST-SOD02 Slimline Slot Loading 8x DVD±RW SATA Drive - Retail £54.95
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FB ASUS M6I - Acetal £49.99
1 x Corsair Fan, SP120 PWM Low Noise High Pressure Fan 4 pin, Dual Pack (CO-9050012-WW) £25.00
1 x EK Water Blocks EK-FC970 GTX Backplate - Black £18.98
1 x Mayhems Pastel - Ice White Coolant 1L £14.99
1 x Silverstone 5.25" Slim ODD Bay with Internal 2.5" Bay - Black (SST-FP58B) £12.49
1 x Be Quiet! Shadow Wings Fan PWM - 92mm £8.99
1 x Mayhems Dye Ocean Blue 15ml £5.48
6 x EK Water Blocks EK-HDC Fitting 12mm G1/4 - Blue £5.45 (£32.70)
1 x E22 Ultra Clear 12/10 Hard Acrylic Tubing 500mm Length £4.99
Total : £1,405.80 (includes shipping : £17.85).



If there is a space in the case I might install the 140mm Radiator which I have kicking around, again this is if there's space in the case when it comes to it.

Total cost of the build so far is less than £800, which I'm quite pleased with.


It will at some stage receive a graphics card to allow me to stream 4k, however until I splash out on a 4k TV I don't really need the HDMI 2.0 connector.

Motherboard size
3fcbc995-fa5f-4675-b8d3-ff874c061daf_zpspmdxxegj.jpg~original


Testing the components are all working
c8e6f726-29f7-4e83-b236-774a9443cc69_zpsnzvw478g.jpg~original


Waterblock
d0461132-13f7-4b8f-a2c2-06198f13eef5_zpswuotzptu.jpg~original


Waterblock post install
b4bb13d4-9945-4282-8800-ac33cfcdfd2e_zpshf3auv6o.jpg~original


So I have installed the Waterblock on the motherboard and installed this in the case.
Test fitted the radiator and the fans...

This Fan / Rad / Motherboard combo DOES NOT FIT in this case.

I have ordered a Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis GTS 240mm X-Flow to replace it.
This should improve the over all pathing of the acrylic anyway, and is more than 10mm narrower than the EK-PE, so hopefully this will fit. If not I'll be buying new fans this evening... SIGH!

YOUR BASKET
1 x Hardware Labs Black ICE Radiator GT Stealth 240 - XFlow £36.98




In terms of colours for this build, I really want to do a blue / white / grey colour scheme, but the Motherboard doesn't really lend it's self to this.
Like this:
A8E5AA8D-1D00-46A7-AE70-3CCB2442B651_zpsagvfc2ib.jpg~original


I'm tempted to see what I can do about painting it along with some of the case and maybe some of the acetal blocks for the Pump / Res combo.
 
Last edited:
HalfBakedJake said:
You have to follow the Project log guidelines when creating a Project Log
Click to expand...

I have updated the initial post with photos, not the best... but they'll have to do for now.

Update:

The Black Ice Nemesis 240GTX X-Flow has arrived and will be test installed when I get home.

Just ordered 6 EK-HDC Fitting 12mm - Blue

Spent a little more time looking into components:
Looking at replacing the Blu-Ray drive I bought with the following: Slimline Slot loading drive
Enclosed this drive enclosure

I think it will tidy up the front of the case significantly I will also install a PCIe m.2 SSD
 
Last edited:
Quite a lot of updates this evening.
Pictures have been taken but it's late and I can't be bothered to resize them all.

First things first. I test fit the new rad and fans, which are tight, but they fit.

addbb6cd-58b2-4a24-ba25-747a5b16be94_zps2r0brxeu.jpg~original


Then I delabled the RAM.

Then I did a minor case mod to fit the Pump mount in place; this involved removing the bottom tab on the case front, the back of the slot which it goes into and a cable routing place.
Oh and drilling a hole!

401d167a-a2a8-4197-bd2f-e7a4a89d9995_zpsutikheqw.jpg~original


With this complete I decided to do some painting....
I highlighted the Asus Impact on the waterblock (doesn't look perfect from 4 inches, but from a couple of feet away it looks really good).
Also highlighted the EK logo on the block and put a colour on the edge of the sound card PCB, and highlighted both ports on the PCIe Combo card. The blue is a pretty good match to the fans.

72b92c67-3893-4d23-b554-1f3929ced272_zpsnplp8cgr.jpg~original

7432ced4-0c7e-47aa-8e37-e00c7bf05ec0_zpsmruemav8.jpg~original


I then sprayed the RAM white. I'm not sure about the paint I'm using it's not adhering as well as I'd hoped. I might either buy a different one tomorrow, or sand the faces lightly (maybe both).

Then I did a test fit of a few components again, realised what time it was, posted this and decided to call it a day...
e1a4ee7b-fb2a-4d32-86b5-1b5932101922_zps44o4eida.jpg~original
 
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lol @ 02:30am - someone's going to be feeling poo at work today...

Looking forwards to seeing your updated pics mate, get 'em uploaded!!

Re painting components, I'd recommend going through some build logs and contacting some of the awesome modders on this site who regularly paint components in their builds. I'm sure they could help you out.

Good luck with it!
 
Luggs said:
Looking good mate, like the detailing and added colour.

Glad to hear you're not suffering too much from sleep deprivation!
Click to expand...

Thanks, going back to painting the components; I think it's just:
The acetal block for the res / pump
The red sockets in the motherboard
The edges of the rad
and finishing off the RAM.

I'll path up the acrylic tonight.
 
Divine Pain said:
Would love to know the parts & costs you used for this build as I'm looking to do something like this in the future depending on costs.

Yours is looking pretty good so far! Subbed
Click to expand...

Component list:
Maximus Impact VII - £190
Intel i5 4690s - £177
Corsair Vengeance Pro Silver 1866 - £63
Corsair SP120 PWM x2 - £25
EK D5 x-Res Top 100 CSQ - £47
Corsair 250D - £75
EK Impact VI Waterblock - £75
Nemesis 240 X-Flow - £40
EK-HDC Fittings x 6 - Blue - £30
Total: £725


Non-Purchased components
SSD - Corsair Force 3 60GB - Spare
PSU - Silverstone Strider 1000w - Spare
Pump - XSPC D5 - Spare


To buy:
Silverstone FP-58B Drive bay - £12
Panasonic UJ265 Slim Slot Loading Blu-ray - £60
240GB Kingonston HyperX Predator SSD - £200
4GB GTX 970 - £260
EK FC970 GTX Backplate - £20
EK FC970 GTX Nickel full cover waterblock - £80
EK-HDC Blue fittings x 4 - £20
Drain port - £20
Total: £675

Total Cost once completed: £1400
 
Apparently bending acrylic is harder than I first thought!

Messed up the first attempt again having issues resizing photos so they will be up shortly

ee51ce0c-d733-4aaa-9b8f-a2008972af79_zps5ql3nain.jpg~original


Edit: second attempt is still a little "bulgy" around the bend; I think I'm being impatient!

Sigh...

319eb69d-7b85-4ea8-b091-27b36790021c_zpsojoswvjs.jpg~original
 
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Deathjester said:
...snip...
Click to expand...

oh wow thanks for that friend! mine is similar to yours when i get round to it, i also have a 970 but i plan to use the full waterblock. and im undecided on what to do with the cpu as i have a g3258 as a stand in right now, defo not gonna waste my time putting that under water :) also undecided on case :confused:

but thankyous!
 
Divine Pain said:
oh wow thanks for that friend! mine is similar to yours when i get round to it, i also have a 970 but i plan to use the full waterblock. and im undecided on what to do with the cpu as i have a g3258 as a stand in right now, defo not gonna waste my time putting that under water :) also undecided on case :confused:

but thankyous!
Click to expand...

No problem, always happy to try and help.
 
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