grepcomputers
Senior member
So, I've decided to build myself an HTPC from parts. I want to use the Intel Core 2 Duo as a basis, however I want to wait and see how the processors and associated chipsets turn out. (P975 vs. P965 express, memory latency, etc. etc.)
But I can still buy some of the parts now - TV Tuner card (Dvico Fusion HDTV5 Gold PCI), case (I like the OrigenAE H7 because it has space for two optical drives, but it doesn't look big enough for my cooling and hdd needs), PS (I'm thinking 430W Seasonic), cooling (well, if my ninja scythe can fit...), Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Music...
The trick is, I have to reuse my current parts in the "new" system while still leaving myself able to throw in a new mobo/proc/ram/video card etc.
Current hardware: Intel Bonanza mobo, P4 Northwood 3.2GHz HT, Ninja Scythe (fanless!), Antec P180 w/ Nexus 120mm case fans, Gigabyte Geforce 6800 vanilla w/ passive heatsink (and heatpipes), 1x 74GB 10K RPM raptor, 4x IDE drives of various sizes and models (yes, 5 drives total), 2x Promise IDE controller cards, 2x 512MB DDR ram. Obviously this is a very quiet setup. I want it to remain that way.
At a later date I shall purchase and add a new mobo and proc (Core 2 duo), 2x 1GB DDR2 ram, a Gigabyte 7600GT w/ silent-pipe II, and an appropriate heatsink for the processor.
Any suggestions as to a good, quiet HTPC case and compatible CPU heatsink? And maybe what I can do with my 4 data storage hard drives...?
Thanks!
But I can still buy some of the parts now - TV Tuner card (Dvico Fusion HDTV5 Gold PCI), case (I like the OrigenAE H7 because it has space for two optical drives, but it doesn't look big enough for my cooling and hdd needs), PS (I'm thinking 430W Seasonic), cooling (well, if my ninja scythe can fit...), Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Music...
The trick is, I have to reuse my current parts in the "new" system while still leaving myself able to throw in a new mobo/proc/ram/video card etc.
Current hardware: Intel Bonanza mobo, P4 Northwood 3.2GHz HT, Ninja Scythe (fanless!), Antec P180 w/ Nexus 120mm case fans, Gigabyte Geforce 6800 vanilla w/ passive heatsink (and heatpipes), 1x 74GB 10K RPM raptor, 4x IDE drives of various sizes and models (yes, 5 drives total), 2x Promise IDE controller cards, 2x 512MB DDR ram. Obviously this is a very quiet setup. I want it to remain that way.
At a later date I shall purchase and add a new mobo and proc (Core 2 duo), 2x 1GB DDR2 ram, a Gigabyte 7600GT w/ silent-pipe II, and an appropriate heatsink for the processor.
Any suggestions as to a good, quiet HTPC case and compatible CPU heatsink? And maybe what I can do with my 4 data storage hard drives...?
Thanks!
