Mini-ITX HTPC Build

[SMOGZINN]

I've built hundreds of computers, but this will be my first Mini-ITX build.

First the Sticky Questions:

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
HTPC, light web-browsing, no gaming. It will be hooked up to a 55" Plasma TV. I want it to serve up 1080p video, mostly ripped DVD's and Blu-Ray.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Originally this was supposed to be a 'cheap as possible' but I've decided to make an exception to that, I'm getting a Fractal Design Array R2 case for this. Had the chance to handle one recently, and it is one of the best made cases I've ever had the pleasure to work with.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA. Dallas,Texas to be exact. There is a Microcenter nearby.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Nope, I'll use anything that is priced right.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I'll the transferring a 2Tb HD into this case. I also have the TV, and one of those tiny wireless keyboards with trackball that will work well with this.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No, cool and quite is my goal.

8. What resolution will you be using?
1080p

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

This Thursday if possible. I'll order parts today if I can.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
Currently plan on using XBMC with a Linux build, or perhaps a XBMCbuntu from a flashdrive. Still researching just what will work best, if you have some experience with this please chime in! If that becomes problematic I'll install Windows 7, I will be buying a builders 3 pack early next month and can use one of those licenses.

So take a look and tell me what you think, will this make a decent HTPC? Is the parts cheaper elsewhere? Any tips or hints to help me with the M-ITX form factor?

Pentium G620 49.99 @ Microcenter
BIOSTAR TH61 ITX LGA 1155 79.99 @ Newegg
G.SKILL Value Series 4GB 19.99 Newegg
Fractal Design Array R2 169.99 @ Microcenter

Total: 329.96

Any suggestions on a better motherboard? What about memory is a single 4gig stick good enough for a HTPC? Benchmarks show that the G620's should have the processing power, but is the on-chip graphics up to the task? It seems a heck of a deal at that price, is it too good to be true?

 

[Puppies04]

If you fancy doing a little digging you need to check out reviews of the HD2000 for HTPC use as that is what all the pentium 1155 chips come with (including the G620)

 

[DesiPower]

Processor is decent enough for most media application, I believe unless you are going 3D, you should be OK. I have a G530 and that practically plays everything without hiccups.

I personally feel you are overspending on the Case+PSU... any particular reason you want that particular one? You can get something like a Silverstone ML03, which takes mATX mobos and save even more as mATX mobos are cheaper. ML03 + a decent PSU would be like $100, that saves you $70 and then you can shave off another $20 on mATX mobo, with the money saved you can get a SSD!

 

[DesiPower]

If you fancy doing a little digging you need to check out reviews of the HD2000 for HTPC use as that is what all the pentium 1155 chips come with (including the G620)

iirc G620 comes with HD1000 not 2000, I believe 2000 start with i3. Intel's IGP does have some issues but nothing significant if you are trying to build a budget HTPC. For better performance OP can go with A55 mATX mobo and A4-3400, that will be almost at the same price range. mini ITX will be expensive there.

 

[wirednuts]

miniITX alllllllllllll the way! i just built an a4-3600 htpc machine, using a miniITX motherboard. it was the nicest little machine i ever built. completely kick ass for htpc use- its transparent from my gaming htpc i use at home (i3 with hd4870) besides gaming capability of course. much quieter and cooler running too!

for htpc, imo, the smaller the better. you dont want some big clunk of metal underneath your slim tv and next to your sexy receiver. i like half height too, so it can go inside most entertainment center shelves. i dont mean to hate on your pick op, but i personally cannot stand the cube shaped cases. where the hell do you put those things?

 

[SMOGZINN]

where the hell do you put those things?

My hacked Expedit shelving unit, which currently sits on it's side and give me a very nice media shelving unit. The shelves are all cubes and a little bigger then the case.

So far from what I've seen, M-ATX cases won't fit in the shelves, but I'm willing to look at alternatives. Have any suggestions?

 

[SMOGZINN]

Processor is decent enough for most media application, I believe unless you are going 3D, you should be OK. I have a G530 and that practically plays everything without hiccups.

Thank you, I don't have a 3D capable TV, so I'm not worried about 3D.

I personally feel you are overspending on the Case+PSU... any particular reason you want that particular one? You can get something like a Silverstone ML03, which takes mATX mobos and save even more as mATX mobos are cheaper. ML03 + a decent PSU would be like $100, that saves you $70 and then you can shave off another $20 on mATX mobo, with the money saved you can get a SSD!

I haven't really looked a those VHS looking cases. Maybe I should give them a closer look and see if it would fit my needs.

 

[wirednuts]

My hacked Expedit shelving unit, which currently sits on it's side and give me a very nice media shelving unit. The shelves are all cubes and a little bigger then the case.

So far from what I've seen, M-ATX cases won't fit in the shelves, but I'm willing to look at alternatives. Have any suggestions?

oohhhh you just let a bookshelf fall to the floor. i guess all is well. proceed

 

[SMOGZINN]

oohhhh you just let a bookshelf fall to the floor. i guess all is well. proceed

I don't know why I'm explaining myself to you, and this is certainly off topic, but when you put a shelving unit like that on it's side it loses much of it's structural support. So, to reinforce it I added pairs of metal L brackets so that a bolt goes though one metal bracket into the next where a nut holds it in place. 4 such sets for each cubby. I then made a tubing system that runs across the back of the unit that I can run cables though to keep them mostly hidden and out of the way. After I get the computer system in, I can finish the tubing system and then I intend to add ambient lighting to the back of the unit and use an Arduino to make it controlled with the remote. (it's not real make until you find some way to use an Arduino with it!)

So, does that change your recommendations for how much or what type of memory I should put in the HTPC?

 

[mfenn]

What you have looks fine to me.

The video decoders in the Intel IGP are fixed-function units, so the number of shaders ("EUs") in the Pentium G variant doesn't really matter. The CPU itself is powerful enough such that you can fall back to pure software decoding anyway. As for the memory, 4GB is enough, especially for Linux (hell 2GB would be enough). While single channel is theoretically lower performance than dual channel, it really doesn't matter for this application.

IMHO, the biggest concern is to make sure that everything as a Linux driver. Not saying it doesn't, but you should check. The Biostar board uses pretty standard Realtek stuff, so you should be OK as long as you are running a fairly recent kernel.

 

[SMOGZINN]

What you have looks fine to me.

The video decoders in the Intel IGP are fixed-function units, so the number of shaders ("EUs") in the Pentium G variant doesn't really matter. The CPU itself is powerful enough such that you can fall back to pure software decoding anyway. As for the memory, 4GB is enough, especially for Linux (hell 2GB would be enough). While single channel is theoretically lower performance than dual channel, it really doesn't matter for this application.

IMHO, the biggest concern is to make sure that everything as a Linux driver. Not saying it doesn't, but you should check. The Biostar board uses pretty standard Realtek stuff, so you should be OK as long as you are running a fairly recent kernel.

Thank you, mfenn. This is exactly what I was looking for.
I am going to order the parts today.

 

[mfenn]

Thank you, mfenn. This is exactly what I was looking for.
I am going to order the parts today.

No problem, let us know how the build goes.

 

[wirednuts]

i was joking......

 

[Charlie98]

If you are not dead set on the mITX form, MC has the Gigabyte H61M-S2H mATX for a little cheaper at $59.99... you could pick it up when you are there getting your G620 (It's what I plan on doing, just leave one for me.) The S2H has an HDMI out, one of my requirements.