Small, Silent HTPC

Spider · 16 Jun 2007 at 10:12

Basiical I have a MCE2005 PC here but its big and its noisy. I have a P4 3Ghz CPU in it, a fanless Radeon 9550 but it still makes a hell of a noise, largely, i think, due to the PSU in the coolermaster cavilier case im using.

Ive had enough and want to build something smaller and quieter. At the moment I have a full-size mobo, so know that'll need to be bought. Along with it I guess i'll need a CPU that runs cooler so I can reduce the cooling needed on it. My GFX card will do just fine for what I need out of it (256MB Radeon 9550 with DVI out) and my 750GB of HDD are also fine. The 7.1 Hollywood@home sound card is also fine and working a treat so that wont need to be replaced (although if the new mobo has optical / digital out i could do away with it i guess?) and my black-gold DBT-T tuner can also stay.

Can anyone suggest some parts to make up a decent and very quiet HTPC please?

As I say, quietness is the key here, so any suggestions welcomed.

Thanks

PhillyDee · 16 Jun 2007 at 10:48

How much do you have to spend? Do you want a Micro-ATX board and case? Do you need RAW POWER? Im assuming the 9550 card is AGP.

Spider · 16 Jun 2007 at 13:06

No budget as such. Just want to keep costs down and make it as quiet as possible, re-using as much from my other machine as i can.
I guess M-ATX will be the best option in terms of making it as small as possible. Doesn't need to be anything super powerful - just enough to play Movie files (Hi-def eventually i guess) and the usual MCE multi-tasking (playing one vid while recording another etc. etc).

The 9550 is indeed AGP

Thanks

Spider · 21 Jun 2007 at 07:59

Any suggestions?

monkeysmith · 21 Jun 2007 at 08:40

I used a shuttle box for my MC and it is silent. Has a good efficient PSU that I don't hear at all. The CPU cooler is built in and works on the CPU's temp - you only hear it spin during boot up. Have a fanless AGP. Very happy with it. If it didn't have a light on the front, you wouldn't know it was on.

Edit: Spec

Shuttle XPC SN85G4 (Case, mobo, PSU)
AMD Sempron 2800 (Sct 754)
ATI 9250 AGP with TV out.
Hauppauge Nova-T Dual Freeview Tuner
512mb PC3200 Ram

The spec is very basic, but can handle everything with ease. Record two channels and watch a recorded film at the same time, watch one channel, record another - all no problem. I can even record one channel, minimise MCE and load up EA Rugby 05 and have a game.

Been working without problem for over two years now.

squiffy · 21 Jun 2007 at 08:45

Really not much to it, just a build a "PC" but choose passive products, and if there's any fans use larger, lower rotating ones. For hard drives mount them on elastic.

My HTPC is about 2' from my head now, with the window open you can only just hear it from normal outside wind/traffic/bird noise. Passive mobo, onboard graphics, Seasonic PSU, 2.5" + 3.5" HD, 4x12cm and 1x8cm all at 7v.

A basic dual core with 1 or 2GB RAM will suffice, onboard video to 85xx line.

Antec NSK2400 is a pretty good case, although use the fans on lowest speed mode.