Spec me a cheap Mini ITX HTPC for Bluray MKV files

[Jed Shields]

Hi guys,

I've currently got an old HTPC built around a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, using the onboard graphics. It works perfectly and plays back 1080p Bluray rips across the network perfectly. The trouble with it is noise. Both the PSU fan and the CPU fan are incredibly noisy. The unit is in my bedroom, within a cabinet and can be heard when I watch something late at night when the little one is asleep, so the volume needs to be quite low. My options are to either replace the PSU and CPU fan or sell the whole thing on and put the money towards a mini-ITX solution.

I like the look of the Antec ISK110, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-002-AN

What would be the cheapest shopping list for the other bits? Bear in mind that I will only need a motherboard, CPU and RAM - I already have an SSD drive and it seems that this case comes with a brick (silent) PSU.

Cheers,

Jed.

EDIT: the Bluray rips are MKV files with no compression.

 

[Jed Shields]

Any cheaper CPU options? Bear in mind that it is purely for running XBMC and some surfing.

Low power solution is ideal, as the PSU in the case is 90w. I will be after HDMI and SPDIF output as well.

 

[Jed Shields]

It looks like the CPU's range from 55 to 65W for the low power ones. That means that I will have 25-35W left if the PSU is 90W. What else will be using power and any idea of the draw? I'm guessing the only other thing would be the SSD drive as there won't be an optical drive. I'm assuming that this would draw less than 10W?

 

[Jed Shields]

Current CPU is an Athlon 4850E, looks like it draws 45W. There's nothing wrong with the performance, just the noise and TBH, I think I'd like a much smaller footprint. If I need to spend £100 on a quiet PSU, then I thought it might be an idea to put that money towards the ITX case with silent built in brick PSU. Although, as you point out, there may be a limited number of solutions for a quiet CPU fan for this case. I could then sell my current setup and put it towards the rest.

If I were to keep the current setup, what CPU heatsink would be a good option, bearing in mind that the ******** HTPC case I have is 9cm tall.

Also, is this sort of PSU a better solution for my needs?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-019-SR

 

[Jed Shields]

It's a case from another supplier, Nova.... hence why it got starred out. I don't use an optical drive and the case can only take an mATX PSU.