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[Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:02 pm
by Torajirou
Hi !
I decided a while ago to replace the old PC I was using as HTPC for multiple reasons : even though it was silent, it took too much real estate for an HTPC (Antec Solo + old Kenwood stereo (1994)) and had trouble reading some HD sources (no decent graphics card and quite old CPU)... And of course, I had no HD audio...
I also wanted to externalise its two 2TB Raid HDDs to a NAS, for obvious reasons.
I ended up placing the following order :
HTPC :
* Antec ISK310-150 Mini-ITX Case
* Asus P8H67-I Mini-ITX Motherboard
* Intel i3 2125 (w/ Intel HD 3000) CPU (with stock heatskink and fan)
* Intel X25-M 80GB SSD (got it from my main rig in which I installed an OCZ Vertex 3 120GB)
* 2 GB DD3 RAM
NAS :
* Synology DS-411
Audio :
* Logitech X5500
The noise level was not satisfactory out-of-the-box, so my fist mod was to get rid of the ISK310's horrible PSU and replace it with a picoPSU 150XT and a 150W fanless power brick. As far as cable management and PSU noise are concerned, this was a VERY smart move. I LOVE this picoPSU !
150W is a bit of an overkill, though. Reading the beginning of Toy Story 3 (1080p) only drew 47W from the wall ! I haven't done any stress tests, but reading HD sources is the most I'll be asking from this rig anyway...
Still, the stock Antec TriCool fan is terrible, as I expected. I'm now waiting for the Noctua NR-F8 PWM to invade the market, and I'll install two of them (à la SPCR, in their test of the ISK300-65), with low noise adapter on. I expect to be able to undervolt the CPU fan and reach near silence very soon
I'm still lacking an optical drive; I have ordered a slim, slot-in Sony Optiarc BluRay reader.
I'll get back to you with pictures when the build is complete ! In the meantime, any comment is welcome !
Re: Torajirou's silent HTPC
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:32 am
by Jim G
That sounds like a nicely put together build - I'm looking to do something similar in the near future, I'll be interested to hear how the Noctua 80mm fans go in your build once you get them!
Re: Torajirou's silent HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:10 am
by Torajirou
I received the BluRay drive yesterday and the NF-R8 PWM fans today ! I'll finish the build tonight and post some pictures of the result
Re: Torajirou's silent HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:56 am
by Torajirou
Re: Torajirou's silent HTPC
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:55 pm
by Torajirou
Small updates :
* A friend of mine helped me cut the drive tray in half to make room for...
* A Scythe Big Shuriken 2 that's on its way !
I'll try it without any fan on the heatsink and see what the temperatures are like. If it does work, as suggested in
SPCR's review of ISK300-65, I think I will have achieved the quietest build possible with this case/CPU combination
More pics when it's finished (tonight, I hope) ! Hopefully, cable management will have improved as well !
Re: Torajirou's silent HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:22 am
by CA_Steve
Re: Torajirou's silent HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:54 pm
by Torajirou
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:02 pm
by CA_Steve
what temps are you seeing now?
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:15 pm
by Torajirou
Both cores oscillate around 50°C while playing a 1080p source
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:50 pm
by CA_Steve
Nice! So, where's the remaining sound coming from?
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:58 pm
by Torajirou
The fans make a gentle woosh, barely audible @1m (in my apartment at night).
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:37 pm
by CA_Steve
Can you dial down the Noctua's any further? You could always add a really low rpm fan to the CPU cooler to compensate....or, put one of the Noctua's on the cpu.
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:51 pm
by Torajirou
I probably could, but I don't really see the added value; I'm pretty sure I wouldn't hear much difference (this is already VERY VERY quiet) and I would probably have to add two or three fanmates to do the trick (I have a couple of them lying around, but I'm not sure where exactly :p).
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:35 pm
by Deucal
looks very nice
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:05 am
by MikeC
Good job! I'm working on something similar for an audio-only PC. Main challenge is how to put in a scythe drive box encased 2.5" drive in there. This needs a 3.5" mounting spot. Might have to ditch the scythe box... but I'm reluctant because it makes the drive completely inaudible.
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:39 am
by Torajirou
Thanks, Mike !
I've just taken some quick measures, and it looks like it might fit, but it will surely not make cable management easy, nor will it make the case fun to work with...
Why is an SSD not an option ?
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:02 am
by MikeC
Torajirou wrote:Thanks, Mike !
I've just taken some quick measures, and it looks like it might fit, but it will surely not make cable management easy, nor will it make the case fun to work with...
Why is an SSD not an option ?
Yeah, I know. I have an Antec isk300 here I've been pondering.
Why not an SSD? That would be ideal, but my mostly FLAC collection (some 24/88 and higher res) of >15,000 tunes is already >250gb. I'd want a 400~500gb drive for expansion... and that is just too pricey right now.
Yes, it can be housed elsewhere on the gigabit network, it's on my HTPC now, with backup on a server, but I want the option of local storage; there's some evidence it might provide better audio performance.
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:40 pm
by matt_garman
MikeC wrote:...there's some evidence it might provide better audio performance.
Can you expand on this, and/or provide links?
Not doubting you, just curious.
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:20 pm
by MikeC
matt_garman wrote:MikeC wrote:...there's some evidence it might provide better audio performance.
Can you expand on this, and/or provide links?
Not doubting you, just curious.
www.computeraudiophile.com is where this comes up. Not sure exactly which page I could point to... Streaming audio from the network vs from the drive in the PC -- seems like it should not make a difference. But it's reported. People also hear differences between optical and coax SPDIF, and different USB ports/cables -- even when it's all bit-perfect. Check out their article on a DIY audio server --
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/conte ... r-CAPS-v20.
OTOH, audiophools claim to hearing the effect of one less angel on a... stylus?
I sold high end audio gear for a few years & have to say there is a lot of BS, hype, egomania, fetishism and sheer delusional weirdness among audio aficionados. Anything to justify spending thousands on beautiful gear, never mind the sound. ie, don't worry, be happy -- or just enjoy the music.
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:03 pm
by HFat
This is an issue you can settle thanks to the scientific method: simply run a double-blind test. You can do it yourself quickly in software (in that case it's not technically double-blind but it's just as good).
The most objective observer can hear differences where there are none. But nobody can fool a rigorous test.
If you can't pass the test but nevertheless want to err on the side of good sound, knock yourself out! There are worse hobbies.
But please don't mislead people by telling them you can hear a difference if you can't pass the test.
edit: in any case, you're playing from RAM. Any difference you can actually hear is an issue with your computer which may not affect others and which may hit if you're playing a file from your drive while using your network connection for something else.
Re: [Finished - Final pics]Torajirou's quiet HTPC
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:03 pm
by cyberspyder
I was planning do cut away the ODD drive tray as well, but realized you needed it to brace the case otherwise it became flimsy. Was considering bending up two strips of steel to tie the front and back of the case together using the same screw holes.