Options For Downgrading To HTPC?

meths

meths

meths

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12 Mar 2005
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My current rig is:

i5 2500k at 4.4ghz - Silver Arrow cooler.
Asrock Pro 3 motherboard
8gb DDR 3 - 1600 RAM
6950 GPU unlocked to 6970
Soundblaster Fatal1ty
600W Enermax Liberty PSU

2 monitors - 24" Widescreen Samsung and a 17" 4:3 LG
Razer Deathadder mouse

The plan is to get rid of the 'computer room' and have a HTPC hooked up to the TV in the living room via HDMI.

I can sell the monitors, mouse + kb for wireless alternatives and the cpu cooler as it won't fit in a HTPC case.

If I cannibalise my current rig and stick it into something like this will it generate too much heat to be stuck in a tv unit?
 
You should be ok in that but you may need to knock the OC on the head.

If its just HTPC your looking to do then consider flogging the lot and getting a N40L microserver will be cheaper than canabalising
 
Gav_881 said:
You should be ok in that but you may need to knock the OC on the head.

If its just HTPC your looking to do then consider flogging the lot and getting a N40L microserver will be cheaper than canabalising
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I can assume that he still wants to play games in the living room.

OP - You'll be fine moving that setup over, just make sure you have good ventilation.
 
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Not sure what to do now. Measured where the case will go and it doesn't fit.

May have to abandon playing games, sell all my gear and just go for something for downloading, playing video and surfing the net.
 
Meths said:
Not sure what to do now. Measured where the case will go and it doesn't fit.

May have to abandon playing games, sell all my gear and just go for something for downloading, playing video and surfing the net.
Click to expand...

yeh not a small case, full atx turned on its side
its for under the tv?
so needs be lots smaller?
 
Gav while there is a big difference in the price there is more to the Z77 that just overclocking. USB3, SATA 3, better built board, more onboard features, better sound etc.
 
Bacon? said:
Gav while there is a big difference in the price there is more to the Z77 that just overclocking. USB3, SATA 3, better built board, more onboard features, better sound etc.
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True, but its all down to if you will use the features and have the money, was working on the budget of the original case.
 
Bacon? said:
Gav while there is a big difference in the price there is more to the Z77 that just overclocking. USB3, SATA 3, better built board, more onboard features, better sound etc.
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All the z77 boards that I was considering had Realtek ALC892 chipsets. You didn't get anything really good (like the ALC889/ ALC898) unless you really splashed the cash.

Most board makers are really going cheap with on-board sound. Gigabyte used to give you the superb ALC889a, now they've dropped that and use something cheaper too :(

Long story short: z77 boards don't give better sound.
 
FoxEye said:
All the z77 boards that I was considering had Realtek ALC892 chipsets. You didn't get anything really good (like the ALC889/ ALC898) unless you really splashed the cash.

Most board makers are really going cheap with on-board sound. Gigabyte used to give you the superb ALC889a, now they've dropped that and use something cheaper too :(

Long story short: z77 boards don't give better sound.
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True of most form factors but with z77 on ITX there's only expensive boards with good audio and wifi onboard.
 
Meths said:
Not sure what to do now. Measured where the case will go and it doesn't fit.

May have to abandon playing games, sell all my gear and just go for something for downloading, playing video and surfing the net.
Click to expand...

What`s the max dimensions for where you want to position the case?
 
Or how about keeping the PC upstairs and running a USB extender and HDMI through the floor to your living room.

HDMI can be up to 15m if you get a really good cable and USB can run in lengths of 5m with active hubs at each junction up to 30m total.

then set up wake on lan and get an app for your phone to turn it on.

messy yes but i like a good low tech solution every now and then
 
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Meths said:
Not sure what to do now. Measured where the case will go and it doesn't fit.

May have to abandon playing games, sell all my gear and just go for something for downloading, playing video and surfing the net.
Click to expand...

I am planning to do the same but building from scratch a new HTPC/Gaming PC for underneath the TV instead of using a desktop.

I spent a lot of time looking at whats available especially for the dimensions needed to fit under my TV on my unit from Ikea which has fairly small shelves. One thing I noticed when looking on overclockers is that most of the HTPC's arent even listed on the HTPC page so there may still be some that will fit the dimensions you need so best to search through every case there is for each brand. Mostly Lian Li and Silverstone.

The case I will probably end up getting has not been released yet. It is the Fractal Node 605 you can see here. http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=95 It supports an ATX motherboard and its height and depth are small enough to fit under my TV so it might be a good one for you too. It should be available in October.
 
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Syronin said:
The case I will probably end up getting has not been released yet. It is the Fractal Node 605 you can see here. http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&prod=95 It supports an ATX motherboard and its height and depth are small enough to fit under my TV so it might be a good one for you too. It should be available in October.
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That looks just like the pc cases at work, just turn your tower on its side
 
Gav_881 said:
Or how about keeping the PC upstairs and running a USB extender and HDMI through the floor to your living room.

HDMI can be up to 15m if you get a really good cable and USB can run in lengths of 5m with active hubs at each junction up to 30m total.

then set up wake on lan and get an app for your phone to turn it on.

messy yes but i like a good low tech solution every now and then
Click to expand...

I never really considered this.. I could put my whole midi pc in the alcove/cupboard beside the fireplace.

Gav_881 said:
That looks just like the pc cases at work, just turn your tower on its side
Click to expand...

Yeah it pretty much is a normal case on its side. But at least its feet will be in the right place. :)
 
sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

My tv is not wall mounted and after several in the tv cabinet HTPC setups my rig simply sits behind the TV and I use blu tooth to connect to it and all is good.
 
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