HTPC Sanity Check

Ricki · 6 Mar 2011 at 17:22

I am re-purposing my old big rig into HTPC/DVR etc. My only use for this system will be for storing my movies, recording tv and playback of DVD's and Blurays and will be outputting all of this to my Samsung 40" TV. I would like to have it running 24/7 so long as the noise isn't too much.

I am looking at buying:

Shuttle SG41J1 Plus (Socket 775) DDR3 Barebones - Black
HIS ATI Radeon HD 5450 512MB GDDR3 SILENT Low Profile PCI-Express Graphics Card (H545HR512)
Compro VideoMate DVB-T100 Digital TV Internal PCI - Retail

I will add the following from my current system:

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - OEM
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PK PC2-6400C4 (2x2GB) CAS4 Dual Channel Kit (F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 640GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD642JJ)
Samsung Bluray Player

As a quick sanity check before I order - can anyone see any problems with this setup?

Also, I need a CPU cooler, but have no idea what will fit - any recommendations?

Nymins · 6 Mar 2011 at 18:35

The ram won't work with that motherboard (motherboard/shuttle is DDR3, your ram is DDR2). Can't see anything else wrong really.

Ricki · 6 Mar 2011 at 19:44

Cheers for that - I completely missed it! Luckily I have some DDR3 handy.

Any suggestions on shuttle friendly coolers? I've got an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro and a Scythe Shuriken Rev.B Quiet Low Profile currently available if they'll fit.

jaysus · 8 Mar 2011 at 00:14

Spend 6 quid more and get the 1gb 5450.

Subliminal Aura · 8 Mar 2011 at 12:18

Ricki said:
I would like to have it running 24/7 so long as the noise isn't too much.

As a quick sanity check before I order - can anyone see any problems with this setup?

Power consumption... Why don't you just go out there and cut down a few trees as well

555BUK · 24 Mar 2011 at 13:31

For the aid of anyone else wanting an improved cooler for Shuttle SG41J1.

This one fits like a glove, runs almost silent, is cheap, and keeps my Q9450 10 degrees cooler than the stock Intel cooler. You can find them for less than a tenner.