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

Snooble

Snooble

Snooble

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Joined
13 Sep 2008
Posts
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
 
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!
 
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
 
Last edited:
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
 
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.
 
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
 
Yeah that's it really.. Only 2 DVI outs on the 8800gtx. Could run dvi-hdmi to the tele then through the optical on the H55N to the amp/tele. My budget is really flexible. But I only want it to be able to handle 1080p and audio on the fly. Adding a 5450 to the build puts me up to £400 which is acceptable to me, but is it sufficient for Full HD playback?
 
Legion said:
This is actually bad advice if you intend to use bitstreaming,there are problems with nvidia cards and bitstreaming.

Any Ati 5xxx series card does this effortlessly and is currently a much better buy for htpc use.

As for cases they are a very personal choice it's you at the end of the day that has to sit and look at it.
Click to expand...

What card would you suggest from the 5 series? 5450? 5550? 5570? As I said, it's just for 1080p. Or do you think the onboard will be enough?

Thanks
 
Thanks a lot. Now for the final question. Do you think an i3 coupled with the H55N-USB3 is enough for 1080p plus Uncompressed audio? Or should I be going for the 5450/5550! And if I go 4550/5550, 512mb or 1gb?

They're the final decisions to be made.

Thanks guys.
 
Thanks everyone. I'll post pics when I get the stuff and try make it look as good as Drex's thread!

SG06
Gigabyte H55N-USB3
4gb Corsair DDR3 1600mhz
i3 530
1tb F3
Slimline Samsung DVD Drive

Possible 5450/5550 upgrade depending on how the i3 copes!

Total is £360ish incl delivery. :)
 
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