htpc rebuild: mi-008, i5-2500k, axp-140, gt430, picoPSU
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:45 am
This is a rebuild of the HTPC I build a few months ago. The only real changes are the case, video card, and removal of a hard drive. So new specs:
CASE: Apex MI-008
MOBO: Asrock H67M-ITX
CPU: Intel i5-2500k
PSU: picoPSU-160-XT w/150W Brick
RAM: Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 (2x4GB)
GPU: ASUS ENGT430 DC SL/DI/1GD3 GeForce GT 430
HSF: Thermalright AXP-140 RT w/TY-140 fan
SSD: Kingston 64 GB
So there is only one fan in this whole setup, the TY-140 on the CPU heatsink. And the clearance between the top of the fan and the case is pretty small---I didn't measure it, but I'm guessing it's about 1cm. This probably reduces the fan's efficiency considerably. But I've been monitoring my temps, and they are fine (never go above 40 degrees C). Note that I have two cores disabled on the i5. Would this system be stable with Prime95 running? Probably not! Also, the GT430 has no direct airflow on it; I'm sure running something like Furmark would fry it (I'm afraid to try). However, I use this system as a media PC, so neither the CPU nor the GT430 ever get pushed too hard. I've been monitoring GPU temps as well, and they also stay below 40C under my usage.
Anyway: as I discussed in great detail in this post I did some tweaking (mainly underclock/undervolt the RAM) and got idle power consumption down to 30--31 Watts AC.
As you'll see in the pictures below, I had to hack on the MI-008 case a bit to get that AXP-140 to fit. In hindsight, the CPU is way overpowered for what I need. I'm thinking about making one more revision, which is switching to an Intel motherboard (to further lower power consumption), and also a lower spec'ed CPU, maybe an i3 or even Pentium. But I'm pretty happy with the setup now, and it works wonderfully.
So, I'll get to the part you've all waited for: the pics. I didn't scale these down enough to be appropriate for posting directly into the forum; I'll try to do that later. For now, here are links to a few pics:
Head-on shot, with cover (obligatory "next to beer bottle" pic for scale)
Rear of case, with cover
Birds-eye view, cover off
Side view, no cover, can see PicoPSU
Other side, no cover, can see GT 430
Detail of the hack job I did to the case to fit the AXP-140
General 3/4 view
CASE: Apex MI-008
MOBO: Asrock H67M-ITX
CPU: Intel i5-2500k
PSU: picoPSU-160-XT w/150W Brick
RAM: Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 (2x4GB)
GPU: ASUS ENGT430 DC SL/DI/1GD3 GeForce GT 430
HSF: Thermalright AXP-140 RT w/TY-140 fan
SSD: Kingston 64 GB
So there is only one fan in this whole setup, the TY-140 on the CPU heatsink. And the clearance between the top of the fan and the case is pretty small---I didn't measure it, but I'm guessing it's about 1cm. This probably reduces the fan's efficiency considerably. But I've been monitoring my temps, and they are fine (never go above 40 degrees C). Note that I have two cores disabled on the i5. Would this system be stable with Prime95 running? Probably not! Also, the GT430 has no direct airflow on it; I'm sure running something like Furmark would fry it (I'm afraid to try). However, I use this system as a media PC, so neither the CPU nor the GT430 ever get pushed too hard. I've been monitoring GPU temps as well, and they also stay below 40C under my usage.
Anyway: as I discussed in great detail in this post I did some tweaking (mainly underclock/undervolt the RAM) and got idle power consumption down to 30--31 Watts AC.
As you'll see in the pictures below, I had to hack on the MI-008 case a bit to get that AXP-140 to fit. In hindsight, the CPU is way overpowered for what I need. I'm thinking about making one more revision, which is switching to an Intel motherboard (to further lower power consumption), and also a lower spec'ed CPU, maybe an i3 or even Pentium. But I'm pretty happy with the setup now, and it works wonderfully.
So, I'll get to the part you've all waited for: the pics. I didn't scale these down enough to be appropriate for posting directly into the forum; I'll try to do that later. For now, here are links to a few pics:
Head-on shot, with cover (obligatory "next to beer bottle" pic for scale)
Rear of case, with cover
Birds-eye view, cover off
Side view, no cover, can see PicoPSU
Other side, no cover, can see GT 430
Detail of the hack job I did to the case to fit the AXP-140
General 3/4 view