HTPC HW Recommendation

[birthdaymonkey]

I use a Noctua NH-C12P with no fan in my GD05. The case fans (which I run at 5v) are enough to keep my G620 quite cool.

 

[Collider]

So do you think it is pointless to buy a low-power CPU and then use a video card to play games?

Something like a Silverstone GD05 isnt really a small PC. May as well just put it in an Antec 300 and put that next to the TV. It would cost less.

You could use something like this if you did not use a video card:

http://www.directron.com/mi100bk.html

This kind of case comes with only a 250 watt power supply. But this might be enough with a low power 35 watt CPU. If you have to have a big honking video card then just use an i-5 quad and a silverstone case. However, this kind of case is like $49.00.

what's wrong with using a low power cpu w gpu for gaming?

i3 should be perfectly fine for light/med gaming. This wont be my primary gaming machine anyways..

 

[Charlie98]

CPU: Pentium G530 $50
Motherboard: ASRock B75M $73
CPU Cooler: CM Hyper 212+ $20 AR
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB $24
PSU: Corsair CX500 $30 AR AP (ends 7/2)
Video Card: MSI HD 7770 GHz Edition $117 AR
Case: CM Elite 430 $30 AR

That's pretty close to what I decided for my pending HTPC build. I already have a G620, 4GB RAM, a Corsair CX430v2 PSU and a single Seagate 1TB drive.

I have picked the Giga H61M-S2H mobo because it has an HDMI-out on it. I'll eventually put a GPU in it, just probably not in the initial build. I'll wait for something appropriate to go on sale... my challenge is to buy everything for this build on sale or at a discount.

I was looking at the Silverstone GD05 or the Lian Li C50B, but may wind up with something like the Silverstone SST PS07B.

 

[Charlie98]

I use a Noctua NH-C12P with no fan in my GD05. The case fans (which I run at 5v) are enough to keep my G620 quite cool.

So, essentially, it's a passive radiator? Neat idea...

 

[mfenn]

So, essentially, it's a passive radiator? Neat idea...

I would imagine that in a small case, it gets just enough of an indirect breeze to effective without having to be completely passive. But yeah a big hunk of metal works wonders!

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I would imagine that in a small case, it gets just enough of an indirect breeze to effective without having to be completely passive. But yeah a big hunk of metal works wonders!

Yep, the only disadvantage is that I don't think an optical drive will fit with such a large hunk of metal in there, which could be a problem if you want to play blurays. However, I say good riddance to optical media!

 

[truckerCLOCK]

Read this ..Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide

 

[Collider]

Read this ..Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide

this is great, thanks.