Spec me an HTPC

Django x2

Django x2

Django x2

Soldato
Joined
28 Sep 2008
Posts
14,281
Location
Britain
Sup OcUK.

Now that I have a giant server spinning in the loft, I want to set up XBMC to a PC in each room. In the lounge, currently, we have an OrigenAE case which was doing most of the work with 4TB in it. It gets quite loud and contributes nicely to the heating of the room.

That was obviously a custom HTPC. What I'd like this time is a very small HTPC that can obviously pull the content over the LAN and pass it to the TV via HDMI (or to a receiver).

Same for the Kitchen / Diner.

Any suggestions. Small and quiet (as in, no noise). I will put an SSD in to assist with the keeping quiet bit.

Thanks
 
A chrome cast could work I guess, but I find the interface a bit unappealing and I would have a fear about the network connectivity (3 storey house)
 
Something like an Intel NUC would be your best bet. More expensive than the other two options but at least then you wouldn't have to put up with any of their limitations. You could always go for the NUC for the living room and Chromecast or NOW TV etc for the Kitchen.
 
If you already have the case and like it then you could get a low powered Intel I3 chip or similar and probably get away with a fanless cooler.

Combine that wth an SSD and a pico style power supply and you have something silent and would do the job perfectly (it's what I do)

However I agree, had the Intel NUC been available when I was looking I'd have probably gone with that.

I'd avoid the Raspberry Pi. For the front room you want something like Aeon Nox as a theme in XBMC and it can get laggy on low powered solutions to the point you have to scale everything back.
 
for multiroom, multi device setups i have to say i much prefer Plex (assuming you have a server, which you do).

It just seems more integrated with all of the devices (as well as tablets and phones)
 
I use Intel NUCs as HTPCs running Media Browser 3 with Media Browser Server software running on a server with storage on a NAS.

This allows central control of the media files and resume/watched shows/user accounts etc sync'd to any device including mobiles/tablets/any HTML5 browser, you can also get a plug in for XBMC for MB3 if you want to keep XMBC as the front end.

I prefer this setup over Plex but they offer similar functionality.
 
Dangerous Dave said:
I use Intel NUCs as HTPCs running Media Browser 3 with Media Browser Server software running on a server with storage on a NAS.
Click to expand...

well i was more comparing plex v xbmc, and have never tried MB3 as my understanding is that there is more overlap between plex & MB3 than there is those 2 vs xbmc.

But ditto on the NUCs. In fact, my i3 HTPC NUC is also the Plex Media Server (dual role) with the content stored on a 9TB unRAID NAS (Microserver) with a fourth drive for parity. Flung about using 5GHz AC wifi to three other clients (1 x laptop, 1 x NUC & 1 x NowTV box all running Plex.

Being a plexpass as well means i get simple worldwide streaming of my library wherever i have a net connection (inc 3G) on phones/ipad/lappys/.
 
Last edited:
It depends on just how bothered you are about noise. It bothers me, quite a bit.

So I'm building a properly silent HTPC... just waiting on the case to come into stock.

Streacom do fanless cases that support CPUs up to 84W TDP (although 65W recommended)... which includes the likes of the 4590 & 4790 CPUs at the top of that range.

Otherwise there are plenty of "S" model CPUs that keep the TDP down to 65W and also the i3s sitting around 54W TDP.

I'm on the edge of a rather quiet village and the base noise level here is much lower than where I used to live (and that wasn't too noisy).

Spinning hard drives in the same room can be heard quite clearly... let alone fans.

So fanless and spinning hard-drive free build was a must.

Ended up with:

Streacom FC8S
Mini ITX H87 motherboard
i3 4360


The latest generation of i3 was important for me due to frame rate sync and other bits... along with decent 4k support.

My current HTPC has 1x Noctua 900rpm fan in it and I find that too noisy... just to give you an idea of how much I am noticing the base noise.

NUCs are recommended above but I think they all come with fans... and noticing you mentioned your concern for noise, I thought it was worth a mention before you fork out... these extra quiet bits, while still keeping the power of a modern i3 & 4600 graphics was important to me...

Have no interest in media playback crap like chromecast and other thin-client front ends... they're just not good enough for audio/video playback quality yet.

You may not be as fussy as me... but I'm glad to have all the spinning platters hiding in a distant corner of the basement... now how do I silent the fridge in the kitchen? lol
 
Great post crinkleshoes.

I have an Origenae at the mo, which I'll probably sell on. I like the look of the Streacom. What board did you go for in the end? I'd need something that could, potentially, pass thru to a receiver.

If you've got the full spec of your setup, that would be great.
 
Personally, I'd recommend something that will run Openelec or Windows/Kodi - rather than android. I've not been massively impressed with the android version, it's still a little behind Linux/Windows development.

I built this 12 months ago, and it's still more than capable. I only needed such a large case as I needed a PCIe card in there.

I also have a NUC here I'm setting up for my parents, it's running Openelec 5 although doesn't seem quite as smooth as my main HTPC - that could be down to Openelec itself though rather than the hardware. It is audible though, you'd need to be a few feet away to not hear it.
 
Here you go dude:

4co3HVK.png


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-016-SR
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-536-IN
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-317-SV
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-505-GI
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-019-SR
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-118-GL
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-051-KS
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-039-SR

Be aware that that motherboard requires the short-heatpipe kit that I have also specced above.

I got that motherboard over the MSI/Asus due to it having two HDMI outputs + single Displayport

The displayport is capable of 3840x2160 @ 60Hz

And I have an older AVR that is HDMI 1.3 so if I want to play 3D blurays on TV (or later projector planned in a couple of months)... then I have one output bitstreaming audio to the amp (it's a good Denon amp, happy with all but the newest Aura streams which I haven't come across yet). While the second output can send an HDMI 1.4 stream to the TV/Projector at the same time.

All three of the motherboards OCuk do will be able to bitstream... I've had motherboards for years that can do this, basic function of all modern HDMI outputs I think.

The MSI motherboard is the only one that doesn't need the short heatpipes.

Given todays prices, I might have specced a different SSD... but that is one I have had for a long time and it has been in my HTPCs for about 2 years. The 120GB Samsung/Crucial will be a bit quicker, but that Kingston is fast enough for me.

I specced a blu-ray burner rather than rom... you may not need either if you have a standalone player which should save you some cash.

You would probably also be ok with only 4GB ram... even running windows htpc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom