mini-itx build helpz (HTPC)

[craptakular]

OK,

I currently have 4GB RAM DDR2 spare that I would like to reuse.

I also have a PCI full high TV card that I need to reuse.

Now I assume intel is the only real choice at this size?

I can't seem to find an i5 board that has DVi/HDMI out for the i3 graphics so looks like I will have to go socket 775.

I also have a full size DVD/BLU/HD-DVD LG drive that needs to be reused.

I have found this case:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-180-LL&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=187

It isn't the most conventional in HTPC design but I had thought about not putting an itx psu in there and getting a pico-psu to keep noise and heat down. good or bad idea?

What processor? e5300 good enough? would like to source something second hand if I can.

I assume my only option for mainboard is a Zotac? Are they reliable?

 

[craptakular]

Yeh been reading about the boards all night, I think they cannot do what I want. They either have pc-e x16 or mini slots. I just need a standard pci slot. SAme issue with the H55/P55.

micro-atx is my saviour! I will just replace my case for now, dunno which one though. I want one without a psu compartment, just a pico-psu hole. I bet one simply doesn't exist.

 

[craptakular]

yeh been looking at them also lol...

I think micro atx is kinda easier, but the stumbling block is the case. Do you know of a case that doesn't have a psu hole, can take full hieght cards?

How expensive is it to build your own case? Any companies offer this service cheap?

 

[craptakular]

There are very small mini-ITX cases which can take full height cards despite the case being only 60-90mm high.

To do it the card has to use a pci(-e) riser card to lift up and turn the card 90 degrees so it's parallel to the motherboard. However doing this usually blocks the installation of an optical drive, some storage drives, also (further) limits CPU cooler height as it hovers over much of the motherboard.

yeh I wanted to avoid all that.

I had an ideal tonight of buying the Q07 case, having a pico-psu so I could install say a fenrir cooler with silent fan, which would be awesome ahd totally silent and small.

Alas there doesn't appear to be a mainboard that has a pci slot.

I can't find any mini-DTX mainboards which have 2 slots.

I think a custom made micro-atx maybe my only option. How pricey will that be??

Unless I made it out of acrylic, but then I don't have one of the those heat bender thingys like we used in school.

 

[craptakular]

I'm not rejecting AMD it just seems they all use laptop ram, like the one you linked me to, it also doesn't have a pci slot for a TV card.

 

[craptakular]

yeh true. I also cannot use ATI graphics cards as the beeb changed there HD feed or summit which exposed a loop hole in the ATI drivers, resulting in blockyness! I still don't think it's fixed yet.

ho hum, will just have to buy a decent case for my current build.