HTPC build #2

geordiejc

geordiejc

geordiejc

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Joined
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853
Hello,

I've decided to build a 2nd HTPC for the bedroom. It is simply for Kodi/Streaming/1080p - thats it!

I've sourced some 2nd hand parts for £38 off ebay, i'm waiting for them to arrive in the post.

AMD 5350
Asus AM1I-A Mini ITX m/b
8GB HyperX DDR3 (2x4GB)
500GB Seagate HDD
Vibox PSU - not sure of wattage or size.

Until i find out what size the PSU is i can't order a case - the silverstone ML05 was perfect for my last build but it uses an SFX PSU.

I was criticized in my last build for going intel and to be fair to the guys it was overkill:D

Questions:

  • Can the CPU be passively cooled without the use of a fan ?
  • How much power will the PC use if it is on stand by?
  • I'd like to use an all in one (mouse/keyboard remote) a Tronsmart TSM01 Air Mouse+ Keyboard was reccomended - any reccomendations from overclockers?
 
geordiejc said:
Questions:

  • Can the CPU be passively cooled without the use of a fan ?
  • How much power will the PC use if it is on stand by?
  • I'd like to use an all in one (mouse/keyboard remote) a Tronsmart TSM01 Air Mouse+ Keyboard was reccomended - any reccomendations from overclockers?
Click to expand...

The stock fan supplied with the 5350 is so quiet you wont even hear it.
On standby my 5350 system with 1 ssd uses ~7w
Logitech k400 has no equal (at the price point) if you need to do any typing, tiny ones are all well and good until it comes to typing on them

A 60w Pico PSU and 60w brick will power what you have with ease
 
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Im keen to understand the concept of this 60w 'brick' i assume this is like a laptop charger? the motherboard i have doesnt accept direct AC in like the ASrock AM1H - any advice here would be great.

i've found some software called vectir remote, it essentially sets up a server on windwos 10 and uses your android device as a remote control and you can move the mouse and type etc... pretty neat actually and very responsive - it uses wifi.
 
Pico PSU
usually a little circuit board on top of an atx connector, also has molex or similar to power hdds etc
lots available, just got to match power brick (laptop type with a dc output)to the pico
 
i dont see any on overclockers. Is it ok to talk about other sources on this forum ?

Also i don't have a 'brick' - i think i'll stick with then psu the guy sends me, should be here by monday so i'll see if its fit for purpose... or not.

how much am i looking at ?
 
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geordiejc said:
Hello,

I've decided to build a 2nd HTPC for the bedroom. It is simply for Kodi/Streaming/1080p - thats it!

I've sourced some 2nd hand parts for £38 off ebay, i'm waiting for them to arrive in the post.

AMD 5350
Asus AM1I-A Mini ITX m/b
8GB HyperX DDR3 (2x4GB)
500GB Seagate HDD
Vibox PSU - not sure of wattage or size.

Until i find out what size the PSU is i can't order a case - the silverstone ML05 was perfect for my last build but it uses an SFX PSU.

I was criticized in my last build for going intel and to be fair to the guys it was overkill:D

Questions:

  • Can the CPU be passively cooled without the use of a fan ?
  • How much power will the PC use if it is on stand by?
  • I'd like to use an all in one (mouse/keyboard remote) a Tronsmart TSM01 Air Mouse+ Keyboard was reccomended - any reccomendations from overclockers?
Click to expand...

Yes - you can passively cool the CPU... look at the Streacom fanless cases:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/case.../all-pc-cases?ckSuppliers=574&ckTab=0&sSort=5

I have the FC8 Evo cooling an i3... apparently it can also cool an i5, so you'll be OK with that AMD chip too.

You need to buy the PSU separately.

Legion said:
The stock fan supplied with the 5350 is so quiet you wont even hear it.
On standby my 5350 system with 1 ssd uses ~7w
Logitech k400 has no equal (at the price point) if you need to do any typing, tiny ones are all well and good until it comes to typing on them

A 60w Pico PSU and 60w brick will power what you have with ease
Click to expand...

Some peoples' ears obviously don't work... like yours.

Fans in the living room annoy me... let alone in the bedroom.
 
crinkleshoes said:
Yes - you can passively cool the CPU... look at the Streacom fanless cases:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/case.../all-pc-cases?ckSuppliers=574&ckTab=0&sSort=5

I have the FC8 Evo cooling an i3... apparently it can also cool an i5, so you'll be OK with that AMD chip too.

You need to buy the PSU separately.



Some peoples' ears obviously don't work... like yours.

Fans in the living room annoy me... let alone in the bedroom.
Click to expand...

Those cases cost more than the whole PC did :) :eek:
 
*shrug* you asked to passively cool the CPU... that's how to do it.

Those whole cases are practically giant heatsinks... that's why they're a bit more pricey than normal... also rather nicely made :)
 
crinkleshoes said:
Some peoples' ears obviously don't work... like yours.

Fans in the living room annoy me... let alone in the bedroom.
Click to expand...

I find it hilarious you can comment on hardware you've never used or owned!
If you "had" owned or used an AM1 setup, you would "not" be making assumptions on any fan noise on the h/sink.
 
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Legion said:
I find it hilarious you can comment on hardware you've never used or owned!
If you "had" owned or used an AM1 setup, you would "not" be making assumptions on any fan noise on the h/sink.
Click to expand...

I can hear a hard drive spin and that's quieter than any fan, 900rpm Noctua included ;)
 
geordiejc said:
Legion,

Have you tried overclocking the 5350?
Click to expand...

Overclocking already gutless cores is a pointless exercise, there's nothing tangible to be gained from it.
All I use my AM1 setup for is a media streamer in the bedroom with some web browsing / email client.

I've also been toying around with an Nvidia Shield box I got in the Black Friday sales.
Installing Kodi on in was effortless although the SMB shares were something of a headache to setup from a Windows box to Android.
It's quick, very quick and plays everything I throw at it, I particularly wanted it for my ever growing HEVC content.
 
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Oh you are the person in the know for streaming then!

I have a 4k Gsync display on my main PC. Sometimes i want to kick back on my settee and play fallout 4 on my 1080p TV.

I have a G3258 @ 4Ghz on my living room TV as the HTPC.

i understand if i have steam installed on both gaming PC and HTPC then i can stream via my home network to my 1080p tv from my PC...

How do i control the game? the keyboard/mouse from the PC or the HTPC?
 
i just tried it on my HTPC, works a treat.

Only problem is my logitech k270 wireless keyboard/mouse has too much lag for games, may need some new batteries.

My case arrived today , bought a £10 piece of crap to house the components (its going behind a TV and will never be seen)

Just need the parts to arrive. can't wait to build the 5350 and sew how it fares against the G3258.

I'll be over the moon if i have managed to build a full 5350 system for £52
 
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geordiejc said:
i just tried it on my HTPC, works a treat.

Only problem is my logitech k270 wireless keyboard/mouse has too much lag for games, may need some new batteries.

My case arrived today , bought a £10 piece of crap to house the components (its going behind a TV and will never be seen)

Just need the parts to arrive. can't wait to build the 5350 and sew how it fares against the G3258.

I'll be over the moon if i have managed to build a full 5350 system for £52
Click to expand...

I wish to know this as well as i run Am1 and i am thinking of going G3258 for the extra grunt.
the G3258 has a higher Benchmark score 4003 compared to the Am1 5350 2587 but then you have 2 cores versus 4 cores.
so when are you completing the build
 
i have the same CPU with an asus board in an ML03 for my HTPC, currently using ARCTIC Apline M1 Passive cpu cooler, very cheap and just about fits inside my case, max temp i could get it to was 51c, there are no fans in the case, its 100% passive[the mesh just above the cpu will help a lot with that though]

cpu is very strong and the entire pc only pulls 21 watts when recording including HD homerun, extended idle, display switched off, so gpu will be off.

coupled with a GT 730 2gb, and 8gb of ram, it will play world of warcraft [very cpu heavy] at between 50 - 90 fps on 'high' settings @1080p.

only downside for me was only 2x sata connectors [i have an SSD boot, and 500gb 7200 record / scratch drive for pause] and i needed to add another HDD so i ended up buying a pciex1 - sata card to make that work, will probably pickup a nas later next year. can probably post some [i think now quite dated] pictures if you would like, its a very capable cpu and i am always surprised by how low the power draw is, and also how little it all cost me.


my parents next PC will be the same 5350, as it can [just about] handle youtube 60fps1080p, i dont have access to any 4k content or displays, so unable to comment on that.
 
chippy08 said:
I wish to know this as well as i run Am1 and i am thinking of going G3258 for the extra grunt.
the G3258 has a higher Benchmark score 4003 compared to the Am1 5350 2587 but then you have 2 cores versus 4 cores.
so when are you completing the build
Click to expand...

I've completed the build today!

Final specs:

HTPC #1 - The daily driver in the living room for watching TV.

G3258 2 cores @ 4Ghz stoc HSF.
8GB Ram
SSD 128GB / 320GB 2.5"
W10

HTPC #2 - Infrequent use.

AMD 5350 4 cores @2.05ghz
4GB Ram
HDD (Seagate 500GB)
W10

I can run some benchmarks if you like? The biggest difference between both systems is boot times down to the SSD. I'd probably find it hard to quantify web browsing / 1080p playback in terms of speed because of the HDD vs SSD situ.

i originally had 4GB in HTPC #1 , however the guy sold me 8GB of 1600 hyperx ram with the HDD / CPU / motherboard etc... for £38 so i just swapped the ram over as i will be using HTPC #1 every day and HTPC infrequently.

Neither PC will be used for gaming as i have a 4770k @ 4.4ghz / 980 ti /4k monitor as my gaming rig.
 
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