mITX build - will these parts work well?

aleco

aleco

aleco

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Joined
9 Jan 2006
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114
I'm trying to build a not too expensive but fully functional mITX PC which will be mainly used as a digital TV/Win7 media centre setup.

So I'll be watching/recording digital tv, playing back dvds, watching hi-def downloaded videos, watching HD iPlayer/itv/4od, etc. This will all be hooked up to a HD 50" plasma tv. Basically replacing a V+ Virgin box, but able to do more.

As it'll be in the lounge I'd prefer it to be as quiet as possible.

How do these parts look? Anything I should change or have missed? Will they all even fit lol?! :eek:

CPU: I was debating between e6300 or e5300, think e6300 is the better option?
RAM: Kingston HyperX 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 6400C4 800MHz Dual Channel (KHX6400D2LLK2/4G) Am I correct in thinking there's no point going for faster ram as it only supports 800mhz? Is 4GB overkill or should I save £30 by going for 2GB?
Mobo: the new Zotac GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi Socket LGA775 PCB04
Hard drive: Samsung F1 or F3? Want a quiet but decent HD. Samsung better bet than WD? Is the only diff between F1 and F3 the size and number of platters? So F3 better even tho cheaper?
Case: Compucase 8K01 (is 120W psu enough? If not, any ideas if it's removable?)
TV card: I've got a pci-e 1x blackgold card from another comp already. I think if memory serves me correctly, I can stick this into a full sized PCIe x16 slot fine?
Optical drive: I think the case needs a slimline dvd drive? If so, I guess that means the Sony Optiarc AD-7700S 8x DVD±RW SATA Slimline ReWriter Drive (Black) - OEM as my only option as the Samsung ones are out of stock? Unfortunately my connection won't load the page so I can't view the specs of this drive.
Sound and graphics: will be done via the mobo.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to help out :) I'd post more links to the products, but am running off my phone's internet so it's too frustratingly slow/won't load! :mad:
 
aleco said:
Optical drive: I think the case needs a slimline dvd drive? If so, I guess that means the Sony Optiarc AD-7700S 8x DVD±RW SATA Slimline ReWriter Drive (Black) - OEM as my only option as the Samsung ones are out of stock? Unfortunately my connection won't load the page so I can't view the specs of this drive.
Click to expand...

Here's the specs on that drive fella

"Are you looking for a highly compact device that combines a wide range of reading and writing options with minimal size and weight?
If so, the answer is the Sony Optiarc AD-7700S slim line drive which perfectly matches your needs. The AD-7700S reads DVD-ROMs/CD-ROMs at up to 8x/24x speed. It writes to DVD-R, +R or +RW at 8x speed and easily handles many media formats, including DVD-RAM.

Write Speed
- DVD-R: 8x
- DVD+R: 8x
- DVD-RW: 6x
- DVD+RW: 8x
- DVD-R DL: 6x
- DVD-RAM: 5x
- CD-R: 24x
- CD-RW: 24x

Read Speed
- DVD: 8x
- CD: 24x
"
 
I have a £25 Sempron 140 in my HTPC, it plays blu-ray and BBC HD perfectly.

Do you want me to test it on iplayer HD and download an mkv?

I got a £45 nvidia 8200 AM2+

MY HTPC is cheap, ace and silent. :)
 
Careful with PCI-E cards, if you put any card in the PCI-E 16x slot, this usually disables the onboard gpu.

I've been debating an MITX HTPC, but have gone for an MATX board. Mainly due to HD audio codecs which STILL cannot be passed through HDMI. PCM works, but I'd rather the real deal and so want to add in the relevant cards when available.. Another issue I had was my 5.25" Bluray drive wouldn't fit in many MITX cases. I've my eye on the Inwin MATX cases, they're much smaller than most MATX cases, and offer much greater compatability.

http://www.in-win.us/products_pccase_series.php?cat_id=1&series_id=44&model_id=245 or one of the other designs on the same chassis.
 
jellybeard: Look at the SilverStone Milo if you like that InWin case; I've just done a build in one and it was fantastic! :)
 
jellybeard999 said:
I've been debating an MITX HTPC, but have gone for an MATX board. Mainly due to HD audio codecs which STILL cannot be passed through HDMI. PCM works, but I'd rather the real deal and so want to add in the relevant cards when available.. Another issue I had was my 5.25" Bluray drive wouldn't fit in many MITX cases. I've my eye on the Inwin MATX cases, they're much smaller than most MATX cases, and offer much greater compatability.

http://www.in-win.us/products_pccase_series.php?cat_id=1&series_id=44&model_id=245 or one of the other designs on the same chassis.
Click to expand...

Luckily, blu-ray isn't an issue/consideration, as there's a proper Panasonic BD35 blu-ray player for 24p playback hooked up to the TV, so that'll probably do a better job than a reasonably priced htpc I'd guess.

But that case is pretty good - quite small, just 10cm wider than the mini-itx case i was looking at, might see what sort of cost saving I'd be looking at going matx.

@oxy - yeah if you could that'd give me another option to maybe look into thanks!

@dangerstat thanks for the info, seems pretty standard so should do the job :)


If I decide to stick with mITX, anything I should change or add to the build?
 
I'llk try bbc iplayer HD later tonight, cos my internet is gypo I have to download the program first. It will also take a day to get a mkv lol so I will provide answers Monday :)

EDIT: I already have one mkv in my collection so will try it in a mo!
 
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