[HTPC] Shopping list feedback please
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:38 pm
Hi all,
I'd like some feedback on my shopping list.
First of all, the goals of this system:
* The HTPC will be located in the living room, inside a closed cabinet with the plasma TV on top
* The HTPC will be connected with Gbit ethernet to my desktop (which is in the office)
* The desktop contains all media (so only a small SSD is required in the HTPC)
* In the future I might install a standalone videocard in the HTPC for playing games (mainly racing) with my xbox controller. Mouse and keyboard games will be played in the office on the desktop.
* I will not attach a mouse, keyboard or monitor to the HTPC. Only LAN and the plasma TV. I'll use remote desktop for maintenance and Yatse (= Kodi Android Remote) for controlling media playback (and in the future possibly the xbox controller for games)
* Because the HTPC is in closed cabinet, I did not go for a fully passive cooling solution. This also leaves open installing a standalone videocard in the future. I do appreciate the HTPC to be as silent as possible.
* Media encoding (~ Plex) I currently don't do yet, but if I'll do it, it will be on the desktop.
* Sound: to begin I'll connect my 5.1 speakers directly to the analogue connections of the HTPCs motherboard. At a later point I might buy a decent receiver and connect it via HDMI.
* Motherboard form factor: I'm currently leaning towards mATX. mITX only has one pci-e slot, which doesn't leave much after installing a standalone videocard. Not entirely sure yet if I'll need it though
Shopping list:
* CPU
Intel Core i3-6100 (125 euro) --> This one currently has my preference. Decent speed per core and 2 cores + HT sound sufficient.
Intel Core i5-6400 (194 euro) --> Slower speed per core, but more cores. Might be usefull for gaming someday, but not sure if it is worth the extra cost.
Intel Core i5-6600 (234 euro) --> Little faster speed per core and more cores. Might be usefull for gaming someday, but not sure if it is worth the extra cost.
Intel Core i5-6600K (252 euro) --> Overkill I think. I will only overclock it IF I can keep it unhearable from my couch at the same time (so most likely not).
* CPU cooler:
Scythe Mugen 4 --> I know this one is ok. Not sure if there is anything better / comparable worth looking at yet...
...?
* Mobo
ASRock Z170M Extreme4 (133 euro) --> This one currently has my preference. Realtek ALC1150 sound with some "premium sound crap". USB3.1 (normal + type C).
Asus Z170M-PLUS (127 euro) --> Realtek ALC887 also with some "premium sound crap" (might not be a big difference with the Asrock, but still... not sure...). Only USB3.0 (normal + type C) (this is also 5Gbps instead of 10Gbps for USB3.1, so not that big of an issue).
H170 might be good enough too, but I did not find any mobo with decent connectivity (USB type C) and decent sound with a H170 chipset yet
* SSD
Crucial BX200 240GB (70 euro) --> looks sufficient for an ok price
My old Intel X25-M 160G2 --> I might be able to recover this one from my desktop
I also looked at the M2 type SSDs, but it seems like they are still asking a big premium for these (around 100 euro for the same capacity). And I doubt that I'll notice the performance difference in my usage.
* RAM
8GB Kingston HyperX Fury black HX424C15FBK2/8 --> 8GB should be enough
and finally the 2 most important for feedback...
* PSU (SPCR list is a bit out of date on PSUs, could not find much of their recommended PSUs anymore)
Corsair RM550x Gold (96 euro) --> found some decent reviews / comments on this one, but it is also very expensive
Seasonic M12II Evo 520W Bronze (70 euro) --> probably very decent PSU, but I've found some reports that it is not the most silent one
Sharkoon SilentStorm SFX Gold 500W (85 euro) --> not sure which manufacturer really produces this PSU and if it is any good. It is cheap for a Gold PSU, which also makes me a bit suspicious.
Cooler Master GM G550M Bronze (66 euro)
Cooler Master V Series V550 - 80+ Gold (94 euro)
Corsair CX500M Bronze (67 euro)
* Case
Silverstone Temjin TJ08B-E (98 euro) -->
I've spend most time thinking about the case and came to this one.
It fits in the cabinet. My idea was to make a big hole in the back of the cabinet so that all exhaust air (coming only from the back of this case) can go outside the cabinet through the back. I'm not sure yet if I'll need to buy an additional 120mm exhaust fan or if the 180mm intake fan (@ 500rmp) will automaticly force out the hot air through the back. The PSU draws the air from under the case and also has the exhaust on the back.
I'd like some feedback on my shopping list.
First of all, the goals of this system:
* The HTPC will be located in the living room, inside a closed cabinet with the plasma TV on top
* The HTPC will be connected with Gbit ethernet to my desktop (which is in the office)
* The desktop contains all media (so only a small SSD is required in the HTPC)
* In the future I might install a standalone videocard in the HTPC for playing games (mainly racing) with my xbox controller. Mouse and keyboard games will be played in the office on the desktop.
* I will not attach a mouse, keyboard or monitor to the HTPC. Only LAN and the plasma TV. I'll use remote desktop for maintenance and Yatse (= Kodi Android Remote) for controlling media playback (and in the future possibly the xbox controller for games)
* Because the HTPC is in closed cabinet, I did not go for a fully passive cooling solution. This also leaves open installing a standalone videocard in the future. I do appreciate the HTPC to be as silent as possible.
* Media encoding (~ Plex) I currently don't do yet, but if I'll do it, it will be on the desktop.
* Sound: to begin I'll connect my 5.1 speakers directly to the analogue connections of the HTPCs motherboard. At a later point I might buy a decent receiver and connect it via HDMI.
* Motherboard form factor: I'm currently leaning towards mATX. mITX only has one pci-e slot, which doesn't leave much after installing a standalone videocard. Not entirely sure yet if I'll need it though
Shopping list:
* CPU
Intel Core i3-6100 (125 euro) --> This one currently has my preference. Decent speed per core and 2 cores + HT sound sufficient.
Intel Core i5-6400 (194 euro) --> Slower speed per core, but more cores. Might be usefull for gaming someday, but not sure if it is worth the extra cost.
Intel Core i5-6600 (234 euro) --> Little faster speed per core and more cores. Might be usefull for gaming someday, but not sure if it is worth the extra cost.
Intel Core i5-6600K (252 euro) --> Overkill I think. I will only overclock it IF I can keep it unhearable from my couch at the same time (so most likely not).
* CPU cooler:
Scythe Mugen 4 --> I know this one is ok. Not sure if there is anything better / comparable worth looking at yet...
...?
* Mobo
ASRock Z170M Extreme4 (133 euro) --> This one currently has my preference. Realtek ALC1150 sound with some "premium sound crap". USB3.1 (normal + type C).
Asus Z170M-PLUS (127 euro) --> Realtek ALC887 also with some "premium sound crap" (might not be a big difference with the Asrock, but still... not sure...). Only USB3.0 (normal + type C) (this is also 5Gbps instead of 10Gbps for USB3.1, so not that big of an issue).
H170 might be good enough too, but I did not find any mobo with decent connectivity (USB type C) and decent sound with a H170 chipset yet
* SSD
Crucial BX200 240GB (70 euro) --> looks sufficient for an ok price
My old Intel X25-M 160G2 --> I might be able to recover this one from my desktop
I also looked at the M2 type SSDs, but it seems like they are still asking a big premium for these (around 100 euro for the same capacity). And I doubt that I'll notice the performance difference in my usage.
* RAM
8GB Kingston HyperX Fury black HX424C15FBK2/8 --> 8GB should be enough
and finally the 2 most important for feedback...
* PSU (SPCR list is a bit out of date on PSUs, could not find much of their recommended PSUs anymore)
Corsair RM550x Gold (96 euro) --> found some decent reviews / comments on this one, but it is also very expensive
Seasonic M12II Evo 520W Bronze (70 euro) --> probably very decent PSU, but I've found some reports that it is not the most silent one
Sharkoon SilentStorm SFX Gold 500W (85 euro) --> not sure which manufacturer really produces this PSU and if it is any good. It is cheap for a Gold PSU, which also makes me a bit suspicious.
Cooler Master GM G550M Bronze (66 euro)
Cooler Master V Series V550 - 80+ Gold (94 euro)
Corsair CX500M Bronze (67 euro)
* Case
Silverstone Temjin TJ08B-E (98 euro) -->
I've spend most time thinking about the case and came to this one.
It fits in the cabinet. My idea was to make a big hole in the back of the cabinet so that all exhaust air (coming only from the back of this case) can go outside the cabinet through the back. I'm not sure yet if I'll need to buy an additional 120mm exhaust fan or if the 180mm intake fan (@ 500rmp) will automaticly force out the hot air through the back. The PSU draws the air from under the case and also has the exhaust on the back.