HTPC

[Casterina]

Is it possible to build a HTPC for under £150? It will be used to play 720/1080p movies and TV programmes online

 

[Casterina]

Can someone help me please

 

[Casterina]

Highly doubt it unless you go second-hand or have parts you can re-use.

I've these components from my old PC,

CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 545 3.0GHz

Motherboard: Foxconn A7VMX-K

RAM: 4GB ASint Technology PC2-6400 DDR2 (400MHz) 2x2GB

GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series 512MB

HDD: Western Digital 7200RPM 500GB SATAII

PSU: High Power PUFP405S 405W

But the case is too big to fit on the second shelf of the TV stand,

http://imgit.me/i/9U7J4G2.jpg

This is the current PC case,

http://imgit.me/i/3k8o0R9.jpg

 

[Casterina]

Have you looked at the Silverstone cases(m-ATX)?

Since the Foxconn A7VMX-K motherboard is a mATX, I can go for a cheap mATX case around £20-35 which will fit on the second shelf of the TV stand

Not sure if you need a Gpu, as I don`t know good the graphics are on that chip.

Currently have the ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series 512MB graphics card, will that be good enough to handle 720/1080p movies?

Do you also have an OS?

Yes, I've Windows XP/7

It's not pretty but if you reuse the HDD you could run this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI A55M-E33 AMD A55 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £40.99
1 x Opera Media Case - Black (with 500W PSU) £39.98
1 x AMD A4-5300 3.40GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Dual Core Processor (AD5300OKHJBOX) £35.99
1 x Avexir Blitz Series 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (AVD3U16000802G-2GW) £19.99
Total : £148.96 (includes shipping : £10.00).

Should I consider reusing my old parts or purchase new parts?

 

[Casterina]

Reuse the HDD, but everything else is most likely going to have to be changed.

My old parts are lacking or other reasons?

 

[Casterina]

The only issue I see is the power consumption and heat with your current setup. Do you have a dedicated GPU or only the onboard graphics with that Foxconn motherboard.

I've the ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series 512MB graphics card

Either will play movies at full HD but don't expect any gaming at any sort of reasonable level. Have a look at Silverstones htpc cases as they offer a wide range but their not cheap. You could reuse the majority of your existing bits tbh, just need a case and half decent power supply. The Silverstone ML03 is a decent budget case that will take mATX boards and ATX power supplies.

I'll have a look at some mATX case, also how many Watts PSU should I be looking for?

If that's all you want to do, why bother with hTPc. Look at an android based set top box, or Apple TV.

If I reused the parts I have and rebuild it, it will be more powerful than a android based box

That processor is fine! So is the memory. Get yourself a Matx motherboard, case and a low profile card. You're good to go.

The Foxconn A7VMX-K motherboard is a mATX (9.6" x 8.8"), also I think the ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series graphics card are low profile

Should I reuse my current PSU or purchase a new one?

 

[Casterina]

As you wont be doing anything more intensive than streaming videos, the Psu should be fine. I would just look at getting a decent case.

You sure I should keep the current PSU?

 

[Casterina]

What is the height between the shelves?

The height of the second shelf is 16cm and 45cm width

I've checked my PSU and it isn't the High Power PUFP405S 405W, must be a mistake, is this PSU still good?

Motherboard,

Will this CPU fan keep the system cool and quiet?

 

[Casterina]

Thanks R088ieS86, links removed

 

[Casterina]

Only the Powercool HTPC-200 would fit your components, but you will need a mATX PSU as well. Your motherboard is mATX, not mITX.
Also I would remove those links as you cannot link to competitors on this forum. (you will bit hit with the naughty stick)

I'll do more searches on mATX cases, is my current PSU a mATX or standard?

Also I've removed competitors link, thanks for telling me that

 

[Casterina]

Your Psu is a standard ATX.
What is the budget for this case, as this will narrow down the choices.

My budget is £60-70 including case, remote and wireless keyboard & mouse, I can use a mATX PC case doesn't have to be a HTPC case but must be small and less than 18 cm height and 45 cm width as I will put it on the second shelf of the TV stand

 

[Casterina]

Try and search out a X-Case Q100 using google.

It's 140mm tall and 360mm wide on the front face.

However, it is 450mm deep which may be a problem because the shelves of that unit don't look too deep. How deep are they?

I've looked at the X-Case Q100 case before, but the case height is 36 cm but I've only got 18 cm height on the shelf

I can use a normal mATX PC case doesn't have to be a HTPC case but must be small and less than 18 cm height and 45 cm width as I will put it on the second shelf of the TV stand

 

[Casterina]

The Q100 isn't 36cm tall. The dimensions of it are 14cm x 36cm x 45cm.
Look at pictures of it to see what sides match each one of the dimensions.

The dimension labels given for it are as if it is stood on it's side like a normal case would be (tall and narrow rather than short and wide)

I've never bought a computer case before so I don't know how to measure the dimensions, if I only have 18 cm of height, which case dimensions should I be looking at to know if it will fit on the second shelf of the TV stand?

 

[Casterina]

Q100, 14cm height (Side 1) is less than the 18cm space between shelves - it fits! Next the width, at 36cm (Side 2) it will easily fit in the 45cm wide gap. The big question is the depth - your TV unit does not look very deep and the case is 45cm deep (Side 3).


Zalman Z1, 169mm height (Side 1) is less than the 180mm space between shelves - it fits! Next the width, at 425mm (Side 3) it will just squeeze in the 450mm wide gap. This case isn't as deep at just 340mm (Side 2) so if your shelf is 340mm or more deep it will fit.

Deep is from the back to the front like in this image where I put the red dots?

If so it's 42 cm

 

[Casterina]

I've looked at some mATX cases today, CiT S003B seems to be good,

EDIT: Found some images of the CiT S003B, the side doesn't look very good

 

[Casterina]

I've found a mATX case which seems to be a bargin, it's the Ace STAC2, will the components fit into the case without any problems?