My specs for the final build

Case: Silverstone Grandia GD05 ($89.10)(Awesome case, so simple and stunning at the same time) comes with 3 120mm silverstone generic fans, replacing with 3/2 Nexus Real Silent 120mm fans connected to my Silverstone FP33 fan controller.

Mobo: Asus M4A785-M mATX ($84.43)

CPU: AMD Athlon 60 x2 5200+ Dual Core (65w) ($59.99)

Heatsink: Scythe Big Shuriken (great temps from my CPU, never above 26*C with full basic HTPC load HD Video) ($49.99)

PSU: Antec Basiq BP550 Plus 550W power supply (awesome deal at $49.99 being modular and 80+ certified)

HDD: Western Digital Scorpio Blue 320GB sata Drive (recommended silent HDD) ($55.48)

RAM: Kingston Value Ram 1x 2Gb (so i can easily upgrade to 4GB after the dust settles on the DDR3 DDR2 debate) ($48.03)

Is it Silent.... Yes Inaudible from 1M away... Could it be quieter... yes hence the Nexus fans, I may only run 2, once on either side to keep the Positive airflow pressure, PSU fan is silent.

Pictures to come, once i post them on flicker or what have you (some pics of the heat sink are with the Shuriken, then with the Big Shuriken, i swapped out the Shuriken and put it in another on its way to be silent P4 Re-Vamp Re Build



























Just Swapped out the 3 silverstone case fans(golf Bladed ones) for Noctua NF-S12B-FLX 120mm fans, much better!!!!!!

What exactly do the knobs do on the case?

The rear knobs/rheostats control the 3 case fans, so i can adjust the voltage/ RPM of each fan, its made by silverstone FP33, it comes with a rearPCI slot controller and a front 3.5" controller, i opted for the rear PCI panel to keep it discreet

Hey coolhand - saw you are not using separate VGA....
Have same Mb as you do, first thing I've done is replaced ASUS supplied thermal compound on both blue passive radiators(VGA & bridge)

By accident, touched the onboard VGA during CPU fan installation(SFF case ), so it felt apart !
After removing radiator discovered cheap compound which was replaced by Arctic silver thermal glue...
Note: this requires knowledge and skills not to crack onboard VGA chip

thanks for the pictures, now know that Big shuriken will fit my case

I find the onboard Graphics to be great. this was to be a budget HTCP, that uses minimal power adn has minimal noise.

Ive actually built a Minimal HTPC using aZotac Ion-ITX AU mobo in a M350 box, the one displayed above was for my entertainment centre. both are near silent and use very little power, yet can perform.

Interestingly enough, I'm looking to build a box with almost the exact same specs -- save a fanless PSU (SeaSonic X SS-400FL) and a lower TDP CPU (Athlon II X2 240e @ 45W). I do have a question though -- I'm looking to put it in one of these (http ://www. gumtree .com/london/38/64251338.html) IKEA TV tables. The internal clearance on that shelf is exactly 150 mm. I'm wondering if you could measure your case and see what the height is, rubber feet and all? Thanks.

EDIT: anti-spam policy doesn't allow me to post live links, so stitch that link back together manually

Easy enough to take the feet off the case if necessary.

One sneaky tip for HTPCs in TV cabinets -- with such tight spacing in the shelf, no one will notice if you take the cover off the case. This can give you a LOT of free quiet cooling, and there will be less cavity air resonance if your fan(s) are working hard. Speaking from first hand experience. You might have a dust a little more often.

Great point Mike, I keep my top cover cracked open a few inches, definately helps with the cooling, Just keep a can of air close by.

Good to know, but I mind breaking out the ruler for me? I have to buy the case first, to decide to leave it open

Dimension 440 mm (W) x 150 mm (H) x 325 mm (D)


links: http://www.silentpcreview.com/silverstone-gd05

Height 5.91"

link: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=49498 ... Technology


http://www.silverstonetek.com/

these are as trustworthy as my ruler. google is a wonderful tool.

That's cutting it close, id remove the rubber feet, or buy a better tv stand

Yep, saw those specs long ago. My question though, is are those the dimensions with or without the feet on? 150mm could very well refer to the height of just the metal box -- in which case, no taking off of rubber feet will help.

the case with out feet is 5 11/16" = 127.6875mm

with feet 6" = 150.114mm (5.91" but 6" is more accurate with the face plate perturbing higher than the case)

measured with my tape measure

with out feet she will fit.

zomg! found another coolhand! And I'm getting the exact same case as that.... and rear fan controller! (soz for necropost)