Final (?!) Setup ... any last opinions?

[lirsch]

Hi All,
After two-three months of digging in many forums, reading some magazines this is the final setup I've came up with for my HTPC.

Main Uses (while connected to 42" LCD and Onkyo TX-SR607)
- Play smoothly any new audio/video format and support bitstreaming
- Play mid-level graphic games
- View/Edit raw/jpg photos using photoshop etc ...
- SILENTTTTTT (most important)
- Low power consumption
- Nice aesthetic design

Setup
(you are welcome to comment, if a component should be replaced, down voltage etc ...)

CPU Intel Core i3-530 Tray
CPU Cooler SCYTHE SHURIKEN Rev.B
MOB Asus P7H55D-M Evo
GPU Sapphire Radeon HD5550 1GB GDDR2 Ultimate-Passive PCI-E
SSD OCZ VERTEX 30GB
HDD WD 2TB 7200RPM 64MB GREEN SATA2, WD20EARS
PSU Enermax Modu87+ 500W
Case Silverstone Grandia GD05 (3x120mm original fans but might be exchanged to silent ones)
Memory G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3-1333, 1.35v, 7-7-7-21, CL7 240-pin DIMM
DVD Asus External DVDRW SDRW-08D1S (BLACK)
Mouse/Keyboard LOGITECH BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD DINOVO EDGE

Thank you all in advance ...

[speedkar9]

- Play mid-level graphic games ...
GPU Sapphire Radeon HD5550 1GB GDDR2 Ultimate-Passive PCI-E

I'd go with something a bit more powerful for the games, say a 5670 or higher paired with an aftermarket passive cooler like the Accelero S1.

A Pioneer drive might be a bit quieter than the Asus.

[lirsch]

- Play mid-level graphic games ...
GPU Sapphire Radeon HD5550 1GB GDDR2 Ultimate-Passive PCI-E

I'd go with something a bit more powerful for the games, say a 5670 or higher paired with an aftermarket passive cooler like the Accelero S1.

A Pioneer drive might be a bit quieter than the Asus.

Thanks speedkar9 for the ideas, but I'm not sure whether the 5670+the passive cooler will fit inside the case + Internal dvd ...
I chose external DVD because my use of DVD is pretty small and I'd like the setup to be silent as possible.

Do you think all the three would fit inside the GD05 case?

[lirsch]

Well, I got many updates/responses, here are all of them, I'd like to get your opinions/recommendations about it:

1. Case Fans - Check if the case's 3x120mm fans are silent enough, if not, replace with the following (+under voltage):
- Noctua NF-P12 (5V)
- Noiseblocker M12-P (5V)
- Gentle Typhoon DC1225C12B5AP-15 (7V)
- Scythe SY1225SL12VBL (5V) or Scythe SY1225SL12L (7V)


2. GPU - Check the performance of the i3-530, If bitstreaming and mid-level graphics performance is not that good add a GPU

which might be:
- Sapphire Radeon HD5550 1GB GDDR2 Ultimate-Passive PCI-E (my original setup)
- HIS HD 5550 Silence (DirectX 11/ Full HD 1080p) 512MB (128bit) GDDR5 PCIe (new optional GPU)
- SAPPHIRE HD5550 1GB GDDR5 HDMI (remove the fan) + VGA Cooler heatsink (like ZALMAN VNF100)
- HD 5670 or higher paired with an aftermarket passive cooler like the Accelero S1

* Important - verify each one of the above passive GPUs fit inside the case while its heatsink won't overhang adjacent slot's


3. DVD-Drive - Consider buying an internal, silent dvd-drive like Pioneer 216D DVD-RW

[speedkar9]

What exactly do you define as "mid level gaming"?

If your considering integrated graphics, I'd go for an AMD 785G based setup... It might be able to play WoW or something if thats what your after.

[lirsch]

What exactly do you define as "mid level gaming"?

If your considering integrated graphics, I'd go for an AMD 785G based setup... It might be able to play WoW or something if thats what your after.

Well, for example for a game which uses mid-level graphics i'll take FIFA 2010 as an example, but not Crysis ...

My question is whether the i3 core can play it smoothly while using the highest game graphic setup.

[speedkar9]

Games will only play at low resolution on integrated graphics.
According to system requirements, you should look at discrete [passive] video cards for what you will be doing.
What resolution is your display? This also plays a big factor in video card choice.

[lirsch]

Games will only play at low resolution on integrated graphics.
According to system requirements, you should look at discrete [passive] video cards for what you will be doing.
What resolution is your display? This also plays a big factor in video card choice.

I see what what you mean, the integrated graphics will handle only 7% (!!) graphic level in Fifa2010, while for example HD 5670 will handle 77%, too bad they don't have the HD 5550 ...

[RaptorZX3]

don't get the Green hard disks, they're slower, doesn't constantly spin to 7200rpm, and have this terribly annoying head parkings which supposedly "use less power" but if you ask me, it makes a little annoying noise when not in use, and probably will make the heads break faster.

Instead, go for the Blue WD10EALS instead, 1Tb, but always a constant 7200rpm, 32mb cache, and 2 platters so doesn't create much vibrations. That's what i have right now and it's fine, no "advance format" to do.

[lirsch]

don't get the Green hard disks, they're slower, doesn't constantly spin to 7200rpm, and have this terribly annoying head parkings which supposedly "use less power" but if you ask me, it makes a little annoying noise when not in use, and probably will make the heads break faster.

Instead, go for the Blue WD10EALS instead, 1Tb, but always a constant 7200rpm, 32mb cache, and 2 platters so doesn't create much vibrations. That's what i have right now and it's fine, no "advance format" to do.

Well, to tell you the truth I have a green one (for almost two years) in my current pc and it's great, so, I'll stay with the green for now ...