HTPC: snappy, quiet, efficient

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mouettus
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:53 pm

HTPC: snappy, quiet, efficient

Post by mouettus » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:20 pm

Bought my last PC 9 years ago. Core 2 Duo still running great and all but it's huge and a little bit noisy. Came here for the parts btw but now it's time for something new cause I don't game anymore and I want to fit the thing in my entertainment unit.

First I contemplated the idea of a NUC but I think that even the i5 unit wouldn't be nor snappy or silent enough. Now I know that web surfing, streaming movies from the internet/my NAS doesn't require anything beefy but like I said, I want it to be VERY quick loading things. The SSD will be the main part here but a fast CPU would be great as well.

Uses:
- Web surfing
- Streaming from Netflix/Youtube
- Streaming from my NAS over gigabit lan (~8-12gb mkv's with DTS). I won't be needing any HDD storage.
- Occasional photoshop, nothing too fancy. Just some ~20mpx files once in a while.

Needs:
- Small form factor, good looking is a must.
- Silent (duh!!)
- As efficient as possible. Less watts, less $$, less heat, less noise
- No HDD nor GFX (intel HD or iris will probably be more than enough for handling photoshop)
- 4K @ 60hz (futureproofing)



Parts to start with:

Case: Fractal design Node 304/Silverstone SG08B -or- Silverstone ML06B/ML04B
PSU: Silverstone ST45SF 450w ------ I'd love a Seasonic but at 150$ I say it ain't worth it.
Mobo: ASUS H87I-Plus
CPU: Intel i3-4160 ------ really tempted to wait for the 5th gen release with better HD/Iris graphics
Cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Rev.B -or- Noctua NH-U series (depending on case)
RAM: 8gb 2x4gb ddr3 Corsair or Kingston (or whatever is more reliable? - ram is ram no?)
SSD: Crucial MX100 128gb ------ only need the OS and photoshop. Everything else is downloaded directly on and by the NAS.


Chime in for any comment/recommendation/insult
Last edited by mouettus on Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

joelmusicman
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2005 6:11 pm

Re: HTPC: snappy, quiet, efficient

Post by joelmusicman » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:48 pm

I think you might be pleasantly surprised by an i5 NUC... Take a look at this reviewer on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/review/RCKYMZK2JP ... hisHelpful

Just pick up an mSATA SSD (840 evo?), low voltage memory, and you're golden for quite a bit less $$ than the build you spec'd.

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: HTPC: snappy, quiet, efficient

Post by CA_Steve » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:56 pm

- 4K @ 60hz (futureproofing)
You can drive 4k/60 via Displayport, but 4k TVs with Displayport are few and far between (Panasonic is one, I don't think Sony, LG or Samsung use it). The TVs shown at CES 2015 support HDMI 2.0 (which has 4k/60), but you only have HDMI 1.4 with Haswell (4k/24 I believe). I think you have to wait for Skylake for HDMI 2.0. Or, get a discrete gfx card.

Abula
Posts: 3662
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:22 pm
Location: Guatemala

Re: HTPC: snappy, quiet, efficient

Post by Abula » Sat Jan 31, 2015 4:59 am


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