New i3-2100 HTPC Build

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redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#98018 23-Feb-2012 08:10

I thought I'd share my recent build in case others were researching similar parts.

If you are thinking of a new HTPC build then I'd highly recommend you read this guide in the AVS Forums first. It saved me a lot of time and frustration.

Here is my build:

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100
Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-M PRO
RAM: Kingston HyperX, 2x2GB, DDR3-1600
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 64GB Solid State Drive
PSU: Seasonic X-Series 400W (Fanless)
Case: Silverstone Grandia GD04
Optical Drive: LiteOn iHES212 Blu-Ray Drive
CPU Cooler: Scythe BIG Shuriken 2 (Rev.B)
Case Fans: 3 x Scythe Slip Stream Case Fan 120mm 800rpm
OS: Windows 7 64-Bit with Mediabrowser
Blu-Ray Software: TotalMedia Theatre 5

I'm running a NAS which is why I don't have any storage drives in this build and also didn't need a TV tuner card.

For a remote I'm using this app on my iPhone: Mediamote

I also use this app for Wake on LAN: NetAwake

I've had it up and running for about a month now and it's running like a dream. I was originally thinking of using an i5 CPU but am so glad I listened to reason and went with the i3 as it has more than enough grunt for a HTPC.

davidcole

6034 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#585524 23-Feb-2012 09:04

What video is it running?
And the Motherboard is ATX (or mini?)

Previously known as psycik

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redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585546 23-Feb-2012 09:43

davidcole: What video is it running?
And the Motherboard is ATX (or mini?)

It's running at 1080p off the i3 CPU (HD 2000 graphics). It's plugged into a 46" LCD via HDMI cable. It plays Blu-rays perfectly.

The mobo is M-ATX, here are the specs:
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z68M_PRO/#specifications

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#585657 23-Feb-2012 12:36

How noisey is it with three case fans?
I have just got a mini-itx mobo and got a flash fanless heatsink to cool my i3 as I don't want to hear noisey fans while watching a movie. Just wondering now if it was a waste of time lol.

Gilco2

1556 posts

Uber Geek

#585670 23-Feb-2012 12:56

chevrolux: How noisey is it with three case fans?
I have just got a mini-itx mobo and got a flash fanless heatsink to cool my i3 as I don't want to hear noisey fans while watching a movie. Just wondering now if it was a waste of time lol.

what heatsink is that. I have a Antec 2480b case and most fanless heatsinks are too large to fit.
I have a silverstone fanless powersupply and using the standard intel i3 heatsink fan. BUT the noisiest part is the 3.5' 250gb os hard drive. It kicks up a racket

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585675 23-Feb-2012 13:07

chevrolux: How noisey is it with three case fans?
I have just got a mini-itx mobo and got a flash fanless heatsink to cool my i3 as I don't want to hear noisey fans while watching a movie. Just wondering now if it was a waste of time lol.

The fans were originally running at around 1000rpm and it was noticeable (but not to the point of being annoying). I've since then however changed the molex cables to power them off 5v so I dare say they are now spinning around 400rpm and you can't hear them at all unless you are within half a metre.

The Scythe Big Shuriken CPU cooler is dead quiet and is running at 600rpm.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#585866 23-Feb-2012 18:10

I have the Silverstone NT06 (actually NT06-E). My guess on height would be about 10cm. It is actually made for 1156 sockets but seems to seat quite nicely in the 1155. I haven't got a case yet as I haven't found one I like but didn't actually think too much about height clearance lol. I am only looking at cases with a PCI slot just in case the i3 cant hack it. So they aren't the sper skinny cases. The one you have looks quite nice. Have much room do you have above the processor?

edit: Just had a read through your specs and read that there is 70mm with a optical drive in place and 120mm without. Im not putting in a drive (except temporarily for installation). This case is looking good for me!!

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585893 23-Feb-2012 18:42

chevrolux: I have the Silverstone NT06 (actually NT06-E). My guess on height would be about 10cm. It is actually made for 1156 sockets but seems to seat quite nicely in the 1155. I haven't got a case yet as I haven't found one I like but didn't actually think too much about height clearance lol. I am only looking at cases with a PCI slot just in case the i3 cant hack it. So they aren't the sper skinny cases. The one you have looks quite nice. Have much room do you have above the processor?

edit: Just had a read through your specs and read that there is 70mm with a optical drive in place and 120mm without. Im not putting in a drive (except temporarily for installation). This case is looking good for me!!

Yes, there is plently of room above the Big Shuriken as it's a low-profile CPU cooler. The only downside is that it hangs over the memory slot, this isn't a huge problem but basically I'd have to remove the cooler in order to add or replace memory.

Here is a couple of examples of how the Big Shuriken hangs over the memory slots:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9716/shuriken1.jpg

http://www.zhoulander.com/projects/htpc/gd05b-i.jpg

As a result I had to find memory sticks without tall heatsinks.

Samsung

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ruffies

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#586021 23-Feb-2012 23:44

When you said "didn't need a tv tuner card", is that because you already have one? How have you got the tv side of things hooked up?

Nice build.

Cheers,
Ben.

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek

#586098 24-Feb-2012 09:17

ruffies: When you said "didn't need a tv tuner card", is that because you already have one? How have you got the tv side of things hooked up?

Nice build.

Cheers,
Ben.

Thanks Ben.

I've got a TelstraClear T-Box which is why I don't need the TV tuner.