Quiet & small & powerful HTPC/Steambox - Please advise
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 11:23 am
Hello everyone!
A few years ago you guys helped me a LOT with a quiet DAW build, which worked beautifully for many years. Now I am trying to put together a HTPC for my living room that should:
* contain the storage HDD for all movies and software (NAS setup not possible)
* but still be as quiet as possible (ideally: noiseless i.e. passive cooled)
* be as small as possible
* also be usable for some gaming at 1080p and decent graphics settings via Steam big picture mode (nothing cutting edge, though)
* have some kind of front USB should I want to conneect my XBOX controller
* be prepared for an IR receiver should I someday want to install one
Obviously those requirements are all diametrally opposite!! A small noiseless system is possible, but won't be able to pull off games (Super meat boy, Trine, Skyrim) because only integrated graphics could be utilized (I don't know of any decent passive GPU or fitting case and I saw enough youtube videos to conclude that even intel HD4600 sucks big time...). When using a GPU the case size increases and a PSU as well as air cooling is needed, which means noise.... I am getting desperate, please, please help me!
This thread is similar to this one by mystvearn, but I think it got it narrowed down to components for 2 builds that I need to be looked at.
Build 1 - Fanless but no gaming:
Case: HD-Plex H5.S / H3.S, Streacom FC5 EVO / FC9 / FC10 or a similarly small FANLESS case.
Mainboard (Mini-ITX): ASUS H87I-Plus (90MB0F30-M0EAY0) or maybe Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670S, 4x 3.10GHz, tray (CM8064601465703)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play DIMM Kit 8GB PC3-12800U CL9 (DDR3-1600) (KHX1600C9D3P1K2/8G)
HDD1: ADATA Premier Pro SP900 64GB, 2.5", SATA 6Gb/s (ASP900S3-64GM-C)
HDD 2: Western Digital Red 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s (WD30EFRX)
PSU: Mini-Box PicoPSU-160-XT + 192W Adapter Power Kit, 160W external (passive)
Build 2 - Gaming possible but too large and noisy?
Case: Silverstone SG07 / SG08 / SG10, Streacom FC7 EVO or a similarily small case (Not bigger than a Silverstoen LC20)
Mainboard (Micro-ATX): ASUS H87M-Pro (90MB0F00-M0EAY0) / ASUS H87M-E (90MB0F50-M0EAY0) / ASUS H87M-Plus (90MB0F10-M0EAY0) or Gigabyte GA-H87M-D3H / Gigabyte GA-H87M-HD3
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670S, 4x 3.10GHz, tray (CM8064601465703)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play DIMM Kit 8GB PC3-12800U CL9 (DDR3-1600) (KHX1600C9D3P1K2/8G)
HDD1: ADATA Premier Pro SP900 64GB, 2.5", SATA 6Gb/s (ASP900S3-64GM-C)
HDD 2: Western Digital Red 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s (WD30EFRX)
PSU: Sea Sonic Platinum Series Fanless 520W ATX 2.3 (SS-520FL2) or Sea Sonic X-Series X-650 KM3 650W ATX 2.3 (SS-650KM3)
GPU: MSI N760 TF 2GD5/OC Twin Frozr Gaming
I am still being totally unsure about
* Which case to choose
* What noise levels to expect even after switching out all the included fans in build #2 for decent ones
* Maybe I am going about this in a wrong way? Is there a possibility for my dream HTPC?
Please help me, I am getting really desperate!
A few years ago you guys helped me a LOT with a quiet DAW build, which worked beautifully for many years. Now I am trying to put together a HTPC for my living room that should:
* contain the storage HDD for all movies and software (NAS setup not possible)
* but still be as quiet as possible (ideally: noiseless i.e. passive cooled)
* be as small as possible
* also be usable for some gaming at 1080p and decent graphics settings via Steam big picture mode (nothing cutting edge, though)
* have some kind of front USB should I want to conneect my XBOX controller
* be prepared for an IR receiver should I someday want to install one
Obviously those requirements are all diametrally opposite!! A small noiseless system is possible, but won't be able to pull off games (Super meat boy, Trine, Skyrim) because only integrated graphics could be utilized (I don't know of any decent passive GPU or fitting case and I saw enough youtube videos to conclude that even intel HD4600 sucks big time...). When using a GPU the case size increases and a PSU as well as air cooling is needed, which means noise.... I am getting desperate, please, please help me!
This thread is similar to this one by mystvearn, but I think it got it narrowed down to components for 2 builds that I need to be looked at.
Build 1 - Fanless but no gaming:
Case: HD-Plex H5.S / H3.S, Streacom FC5 EVO / FC9 / FC10 or a similarly small FANLESS case.
Mainboard (Mini-ITX): ASUS H87I-Plus (90MB0F30-M0EAY0) or maybe Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670S, 4x 3.10GHz, tray (CM8064601465703)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play DIMM Kit 8GB PC3-12800U CL9 (DDR3-1600) (KHX1600C9D3P1K2/8G)
HDD1: ADATA Premier Pro SP900 64GB, 2.5", SATA 6Gb/s (ASP900S3-64GM-C)
HDD 2: Western Digital Red 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s (WD30EFRX)
PSU: Mini-Box PicoPSU-160-XT + 192W Adapter Power Kit, 160W external (passive)
Build 2 - Gaming possible but too large and noisy?
Case: Silverstone SG07 / SG08 / SG10, Streacom FC7 EVO or a similarily small case (Not bigger than a Silverstoen LC20)
Mainboard (Micro-ATX): ASUS H87M-Pro (90MB0F00-M0EAY0) / ASUS H87M-E (90MB0F50-M0EAY0) / ASUS H87M-Plus (90MB0F10-M0EAY0) or Gigabyte GA-H87M-D3H / Gigabyte GA-H87M-HD3
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670S, 4x 3.10GHz, tray (CM8064601465703)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play DIMM Kit 8GB PC3-12800U CL9 (DDR3-1600) (KHX1600C9D3P1K2/8G)
HDD1: ADATA Premier Pro SP900 64GB, 2.5", SATA 6Gb/s (ASP900S3-64GM-C)
HDD 2: Western Digital Red 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s (WD30EFRX)
PSU: Sea Sonic Platinum Series Fanless 520W ATX 2.3 (SS-520FL2) or Sea Sonic X-Series X-650 KM3 650W ATX 2.3 (SS-650KM3)
GPU: MSI N760 TF 2GD5/OC Twin Frozr Gaming
I am still being totally unsure about
* Which case to choose
* What noise levels to expect even after switching out all the included fans in build #2 for decent ones
* Maybe I am going about this in a wrong way? Is there a possibility for my dream HTPC?
Please help me, I am getting really desperate!