Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

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pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by pm.stacker » Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:09 pm

I have a plan to recycle the big fat Lian-Li PC-C34BF as a huge server in a friend's rack system, so here it is my new quiet HTPC project :mrgreen: some components arrived today :wink:

Case Silverstone SST-ML03B Milo series MicroATX
CPU Intel Core i3-2100T, Silverstone NT07-1156 ultra-low height cooler (there's a reason for this... :lol:)
Mobo Asus P8H67-M-PRO
RAM 4096 MB Corsair Dominator series DDR3-1600 (was able to find them for cheap)
PSU my good old Seasonic X-400 GOLD
ODD for now, slimline Optiarc BC5500A on Lian-Li EX553 adapter frame
HDD at least two 2.5" in the Lianli 553, for the other bays... we'll see (planning on 2x3.5" 2.0TB)
Graphics will try HD2000 integrated graphics, otherwise Radeon HD5450/6450 low-profile silent
TV my excellent Terratec S2 card, will try to adapt it to low-profile, for DVB-T I can choose between Hauppauge 1700 (PCIE) or a cheap Lifeview PCI, it'll depend on slot availability :wink: (P8H67-M-PRO has X16-PCI-PCI-X4)
Pro Audio ESI Audio Juli@, I will try to place it in the "Utility" full-size slot, which sits over the CPU :lol:, but I'll have to reverse the original mounting position to get the PCI connector as near as possible to the expansion slots. For connection, will test both a 5" PCI flexi riser card and a 5" PCIE flexi riser with a PCIE-PCI converter. I also have a PCI 1-slot extender if needed :mrgreen:

HDD choice will depend on the new BD player I'm planning to get, if I get an Oppo 93/95 I will build a little 2.0TB external storage unit, connect it to the players eSATA port and store all my movies in there. If no Oppo but Marantz highline UD8004 then the movies will have to reside in the HTPC (Marantz ain't DLNA or USB enabled, just a SDHC slot :wink: it's other things that matter on that machine... :mrgreen:)

Arrived: case, CPU cooler, RAM modules, 553 frame.
Shame the shop just alerted me that CPU and mobo won't be here until Aug 25 due to vacation and unavailability in their local depot :-x
Hopefully the riser cards should arrive next week from Germany :wink:

:mrgreen:
Last edited by pm.stacker on Sun Aug 14, 2011 4:12 am, edited 2 times in total.

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: New Silverstone ML03 i3-2100T build

Post by pm.stacker » Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:54 am

Just cancelled mobo and CPU order since on their website they listed them as "immediately available" but that ain't the truth...
Now I'll try to get my hands on a i3-2100T ultra-low power :mrgreen:
Tested the NT07-1156, it is very silent in Q mode (more noisy in P mode :wink:)

Since I won't have the Sandybridge until Aug 25, I'll be testing this new build with an old recycled P4-540 i915G mobo :lol:, mainly for ODD and HDD placement and dampening.

Have already scheduled a mod to the EX553 and an old EX323, to maintain the ability to mount 2x2.5" under the slim ODD but gaining depth to fit the big Seasonic X-400 PSU :mrgreen:. Also will mod the Cinergy S2 to low-height bracket and have already made a test with the ESI card mounted facing up: it should be required to drill just a 5mm hole in the case to get it secured :-D

Some photos will follow next days or hours :wink:

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: New Silverstone ML03 i3-2100 build

Post by pm.stacker » Fri Aug 12, 2011 2:47 pm

For now, on Aug 24 an i3-2100 will arrive along with the mobo and a Radeon 6450HM :wink:

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: New Silverstone ML03 i3-2100 build

Post by pm.stacker » Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:26 am

Unpacking and checking case
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Removing the PSU fan filter, since my X-400's fanless :mrgreen:
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Testing PSU fit with grille upwards, it's long so bottom 2.5" unusable
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Here we see that the original EX553 is way too long and would render modular cables unusable. Of course I have a plan to correct this! :lol:
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First, drilling the auto-adjust holes on the expansion slots
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The Terratec Cinergy S2 HD PCI card is in fact a low-profile but there's no lopro bracket... well problem solved with a lopro VGA bracket :wink:
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Modifying (breaking apart) the EX323
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And cutting&filing the EX553 to fit the 5.25 bay
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Testing with some broken HDDs
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ODD check
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Hey I worked with 1U builds and 6 HDDs, now there's plenty of space in there! :lol:
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Starting some little cable routing
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I found out that behind the front panel, between the 5.25 bay and the right 3.5 HDD, there would be enough space for an additional two 2.5 HDDs with a little L-shaped mount bolted to the 5.25 cage. Shame I have only 6 ports on the mobo :mrgreen: otherwise the two frontmost fan positions would be usable for one SSD :wink:

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by pm.stacker » Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:06 pm

Monday arrived the mobo and graphics card, today the CPU arrived :-D now sys' all built up and I'm trying to install 7HPx64. Corsair Dominator modules set to 1.5V DDR3-1333. Trying HD2000 IGP for now, HD6450 becomes way too hot with the PCI riser cables on it... :-(

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by pm.stacker » Fri Aug 26, 2011 2:53 am

Modifying to mount audio card facing up and PCI contacts towards the expansion slots
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Modifying the 3.5" support cage to fit the ATX cable
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Putting all these things together :lol:
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Audio card's not that long so it leaves about half of the CPU HSF free
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Replacing the 3rd USB port with the IR receiver...
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And while we're at it, SSD :-D
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Long screw to prevent the PCI riser card from touching the fan (it doesn't block it but you never know :wink:
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Power it up :-D
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Everything a good HTPC must have... :lol:
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Despite the 5" long PCI riser this ESI audio card works like a charm :-D
Had to sort out the famous "TDR" bug of the Intel HD2000 driver but now it works :wink:

Ferrino
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:31 pm

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by Ferrino » Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:34 pm

How are your system temps? With the ML03B case there is no venting directly above the fanless PSU - is this not a problem? Thanks.

Syquus
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:54 am
Location: Dublin

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by Syquus » Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:42 am

I'm exactly wondering the same thing about Silverstone ML03B and that Fanless PSU.

That PSU is designed strictly having in mind it'd ventilate with natural down-to-up hot air principles.

If you cap the upside of the PSU, isn't it goint to melt? :lol:

Please tell us how it's going...

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by pm.stacker » Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:23 am

I dismantled this build in favor to the new 1U system you can find the thread down here (Full DIY HTPC...). Anyway when I had it running, fanless PSU didn't heat up: Seasonic X-400 GOLD tend to become hot when you load near power limit (i.e. >300W), my build was <150W so no problem, it remained always cool. Warning signs to keep ventilated and place with grille facing up are for >250W loads IMHO.

Syquus
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:54 am
Location: Dublin

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by Syquus » Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:05 am

where is "thread down here"? :mrgreen:

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Silverstone ML03 HTPC build

Post by pm.stacker » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:45 am


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