Few Questions : My first build (asthetically pleasing :))

Snooble

Snooble

Snooble

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Joined
13 Sep 2008
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660
Location
Central London
Hey all,

Going to go SFF!!.... for the girlfriend!

She isn't a heavy computer user, Internet and movies really. Needs to be capable of 1080p playback so we can watch blu-ray etc using .mkv's. It needs to LOOK NICE :) Matching colours, red or blue or pink or just nice.

This is the build I came up with:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-242-LL&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=187
CA-242-LL_200.jpg


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-292-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=
MB-292-GI_200.jpg


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-050-GS
MY-050-GS_200.jpg


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-311-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1671
CP-311-IN_200.jpg


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-082-SA
HD-082-SA_200.jpg


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-116-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=168 OR the 512mb version? For £9 or so less. What you think?
GX-116-HT_200.jpg


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-042-OK&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=
CA-042-OK_200.jpg


And 1 or 2 of these :p :
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-003-AK&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=
FG-003-AK_200.jpg



Few questions:

Powersupplys; which ones do I buy? Are there particular SFF ones? As I can't find any. Or am I ok just using a standard sized PSU?

DVD Drive; I've seen people using the 'disk feed' drives, are they any good? Worth using? If so, could someone link me to one that's recommended? And compatible?

Wireless Keyboard/Mouse; Any reccomendations? Gona be sat about 3-4 metres away from the computer, and it'll be in a cupboard that we won't want open ALL the time. Any ideas?

TV; It's going to be hooked up to a TV, we haven't bought it yet, budget of around £200-£400. 32inch+ to be hung on the wall. Any thing I need to be looking for in a TV that helps with it's computer compatibility or can I just get any 1080p TV?

Re-spec anything you think isn't quite value for money. Can fluctuate the budget slightly, on a better case or GPU etc. But want it looking nice.

Thanks a lot for reading, any suggestions welcome :) really want to make this nice for her -

Thanks,

S
 
Also, been looking at the Logitech DiNovo Mini, between that and the Logitech DiNovo. Size isn't an issue realy. But smaller if it has the same features.

S
 
With regards to the PSU, standard size is fine, but make sure it's modular. :D You won't have a lot of room to work in that case and the last thing you want is a shed load of excess cables looking to be stuffed somewhere. You'll want a quiet one too, obviously.

Snooble said:
Also, been looking at the Logitech DiNovo Mini, between that and the Logitech DiNovo. Size isn't an issue realy. But smaller if it has the same features.

S
Click to expand...

I have the DiNovo mini for my HTPC. It's a lovely little thing, but I only use it for ripping/file renaming duties and occasional control in Media Centre and Media Browser. The trackpad is a rather clumsy and I use a separate mouse whenever possible. I wouldn't want to use it for serious web duties either.

I like it, but wouldn't recommend it for normal people.
 
Wow you like blue! Definately wouldn't get that PSU. 1 because I'd only buy branded that I could trust. 2. need a modular in that case and 3. well simiply because it would ruin your colour scheme :D

That case takes standard ATX form factor PSUs. Look at something like: OCZ ModXstream at minimum.

As for the Di Novo's I have an Edge... its a lovely lovely keyboard, but does cost a LOT for a keyboard.
 
Hi,

HDMI cable is all you really need with that setup, I'm not sure how easy it is with the intel stuff to get pc to tv setup, but I always found nvidia to be easier than the ATI stuff to setup.
 
That's for the feedback guys!

@Guardsmon: I just went all out one colour! Blue because of the case+mobo. I'm assuming modular means less cables? So I googled, now I know. Does that PSU come with all the cables? Then I unplug the ones that I don't need? Or do I buy the ones I need? Ha, first time HTPC builder questions :s

@tommytinkle: Got a HDMI cable lying about at home, and have a computer downstairs attached to my tele with a Nvidia 8800gt, using their screen size thing it worked really well. Hoping ATI has same sort of functionality, just heard this card does HD + HD Audio pretty well? Plus low profile a bonus..

As I said, it'll be in a cupboard, so silence isn't 100% necessary. But useful all the same.

Anyone got any ideas on improving it cosmetically? More blue stuff? Blue suggestions that don't lose me grunt? :) Thought I could change out the molex connectors etc for blue ones - cathodes all seem too long..

After looking through the reviews, seems to be the DiNovo Edge is easier to use than the mini.. not backlit, but still, size isn't an issue as it's for the bedroom.

What do you think of the RipJaw RAM? Never used it before, any good? Also, a custom CPU heatsink fan? Blue? :)

Thanks all, keep the comments coming!
 
You're correct on the PSU. All modular PSUs will come with all the cables and then you unplug what you don't need. The 24pin + P4s are normally not modular.

You'll find the 5450 has far more functionality than the 8800GT and will be better and easier to use than the 8800GT ever was for HDMI

Typing on a Di Novo Edge now, I love it, and find it great for working on 32" TV at the end of my bed. It doesn't have masses of extra functions, but should be more than enough for anyone.

I'm somewhat confused as to why you are worried about cosmetics when you are going to put it in a cupboard? With that case you are hardly going to see inside anyway and even if you did there is very little room for it to be tidy.
 
theres no where to put the 2 80mm fans you have in you list in that case and the gfx card heatsink is gonna practically be sitting on top of the hard drive so you may be better just using the i3's integrated gfx which will be fine for mkv's and the like.

if you want it to look nice i would go for the black version of the case as you don't get blue optical drives and the case is not deep enough to use a lian li stealth drive cover (but have never seen blue versions of these anywhere anyway).

if i were you i would get the silverstone 450w sfx power supply as modular supplies are all good and well but they are all slightly bigger than the smallest normal psu's like the corsair cx range as they need the extra space for the modular connectors.

and you will need a usb extension cable as the cable for the 2 front usb's will not reach the usb headers on that motherboard.
 
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Thanks for the advice chipps. Can you link me to an internal extension that'd do? I always get lost with internal cables... :s

As for the onboard intel graphics, you think they'll be able to cope with mkv's? at 1080p? Here's the intel page for the chipset: http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/chipsets/h55/h55-overview.htm

I always heard good things about the 5450 for HTPC's..

You're right about the dvd bezel.. She'll like a bright colour though :p I don't know what do to about that..

@Guardsmon: It'll be in the cupboard.. I just wanted a build to look nice for once :) all my builds have been a million different colours and look throw together..
Good stuff about the DiNovo Edge, one of many good reviews..I'm looking for a 32" TV, out of curiosity, what res are you at, and what TV? What do you think about using the onboard i3 for gpu? Think it'll cope with 32"-50" TV 1080p HDMI playback? And thanks for the PSU info :p

Thanks guys, ready to buy in a couple days.. so if you have any better colour schemes in red.. There's a red version of the case here: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-181-LL&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=187

S

This is the build I made without a care for colour - my previous build totalled £450:

capturepl.png
 
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Hi,

If it runs 1080p fine, it'll be fine whether its on a 32 or a 102" screen! I find nvidia graphics to be very easy to setup for hdmi tv based use. Whether the intel is as good or not I don't know!
 
Yeah sure.. I know that :s just worded it wrong.

As for nvidia, what low profile card would you go for? Output as HDMI preferably with uncompressed audio.

S
 
Hey,

Give me some time to do some research before posting my opinion I don't want to advise you wrong! Failing that someone else here probably has the answer from the top of their head!
 
this is the internal cable you would need - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-043-AK&groupid=701&catid=1428&subcat=1689

i have some pics of a build i did in a q07 in this thread (post no.10) here that will give you some idea about the room you have to play with and you will see what i mean about the gfx card being very close to the hard drive and the length of the internal usb connector cable - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18169251&highlight=chipps101
 
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Just thinking if you aren't going to go with the blue, why not get a SG05/6 and save yourself a lot of trouble with space and PSU. Its looks very tidy, the PSU is already there and will support all you need, you've got the cooling and its actually smaller than the lian li's.

I have a Panasonic TX-L32X15BA which is only meant to support 720, but I've somehow got it my cubit3 (with 4350) running it at 1080. Didn't much like when I played avatar in 1080p, but thats more the older GPU not being up to it.
As for the i3, it should be able to. It is what intel is aiming for, however personally if I could fit a dedicated card in I'd be using one, but thats only cuz I don't know that much about the graphical performance of the i3 and am very happy with the performance of the ATI HD series at the moment.
I will say I have an ASUS 5450 in my computer at work and it does get very hot as a passive card. Just be warned - you want some airflow unlike mine :D
 
Is the PSU in the SG05-06 modular? Or does it just have limited cables?

How's your 5450 working for you Guardsmon? Handle 1080p and uncompressed audio well? Any problems?

Chipps, I checked out your thread, loads of useful info; thanks. I'm still undecided, whether to go for the 5450, or keep with intel's on board - wouldn't need the internal usb extender and would have more space (there's no little it seems) between the HDD and PSU.

Would you go for the SG05/06 over the Q07? It'd save me 10-20 quid. I heard really good things about the Lian Li cases -

Thanks

S
 
@chipps; That's like my HTPC downstairs..full ATX. Going for the shuttle look here for a change. Glad I'm talking to someone with experience with both SS and Lian Li.

@tommytinkle; I like the look of Drexel's. Think it's sold me, I like the HDD up top and built in PSU. You think I should be putting a GPU in it? As there's room. Also, what exact model is that case? It doesn't seem to say in the spec.
 
Hey,

If you've got money left over, get something that likes to decode bluray and any other media on the graphics card - yes why not! Its the Silverstone SG05B that he's using if I remember correctly.

Depends what you want to throw money wise at a graphics card though, but as I said, the Nvidia stuff makes it so easy to set it all up with a tv if you are wanting to do that!
 
What series of Nvidia should I be going with though? The 200 Series? I've decided I'm going for the SG06, found it at £80, Got the total build cost down to £360 incl delivery.

Gigabyte H55N-USB3
4gb Corsair DDR3 1600mhz
i3 530
1tb F3
Slimline Samsung DVD Drive

That's without a GPU, I have a 8800GTX lying about, do you think it'd fit in an SG06?

S
 
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