Shuttle based HTPC - how does this look?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Shuttle based HTPC - how does this look?

nigelramsay

80 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 18

#48152 13-Nov-2009 14:40

Hi

I was considering buying a Mac Mini solution, but I've been talked into building a DIY Shuttle solution running Windows 7. How does this spec look?

Shuttle SG31G2B PC kit
$395 http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA10975

Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93Ghz, 1066MHz FSB, Socket 775, Retail pack with fan
$209 http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA11400

Kingston ValueRAM - Memory - 2 GB - DIMM 240-pin - DDR2 - 800 MHz / PC2-6400 - CL5 - 1.8 V - unbuffered - non-ECC
$94 http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA00241

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, for 64-bit systems, OEM
$200 http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA18772

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS Hard Disk Drive, 1000GB, 5400-7200rpm, 32MB Cache, SATA-2
$143 http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA12492

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2200 TV Tuner, FM Radio, Internal, PCIe
$162 http://www.pp.co.nz/products.php?pp_id=AA00157

512Mb DDR2 Palit nVidia Geforce 9400GT Super Fanless PCI-E 2.0 video card
$99 http://www.atech.co.nz/p.aspx?103400

TOTAL $1,302

Full details here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApZThy4ZpfAmdElySnN0MEV6U1d4ZDc3ek5rRWNBX1E&hl=en

--

Nigel Ramsay
Wellington, NZ

Twitter: @nigelramsay

Read my blog at https://nigel.ramsay.org.nz
I work on AddressFinder at Abletech

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#272757 13-Nov-2009 14:53

Hey man, that setup looks great to me :)

I've got two shuttles at home, ones a SK22G2V2 with a 4650, 4gb ram and a 5600+ 45w EE edition and it runs games well :) mines a SP35P2 with a 4870 1gb, 8GB ram and a E7400 and it also runs well :)

If you wanted most of the parts cheaper, find cheap prices on Pricespy, then goto Computerlounge.co.nz and price match, you'll probably be able to get it just under $1k and they usually deliver within 24 hours(To Tawa Wellington, order 2pm, arrive 7.30am the next day)

I think judging by your PC specs, that'll run about 120-140w on idle and about 190-210 on load, so that's really good :)

I've just done an HTPC build with a dual core 330 D945 board + a 2400HD PCI(not e) ATI card and it's running max watts round 65-70, idle round 45w :) but compared to the setup above, my HTPC would be sooo slow

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

nigelramsay

80 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 18

#272758 13-Nov-2009 14:59

Anyone have any comments on the Palit video card? That's probably the part that I'm a little unsure of.

Never heard of that manufacturer before. Also, am hoping it'll fit into the shuttle. Doesn't look too wide.

--

Nigel Ramsay
Wellington, NZ

Twitter: @nigelramsay

Read my blog at https://nigel.ramsay.org.nz
I work on AddressFinder at Abletech

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#272764 13-Nov-2009 15:10

SG31G2B - $359
http://www.oczone.co.nz/product_info.php?cPath=52&products_id=35716

RAM:
http://www.einfo.co.nz/shop/product_info.php?products_id=10119
$65

Win 7 OEM $199 Computerlounge.co.nz

1TB western digital green edition $107

HVR-2200
http://www.oczone.co.nz/product_info.php?cPath=666&products_id=40764
142

PC Pacific
$84

price match all that with computer lounge and they'll most probably sort you out

$956 + $30 shipping $986

Either use the pricematch query on their website, or email them with the subject line "Customer special" and see how much they can do it for :)

They are rated on the GPforums as the best etailer in NZ and their service is great.

Also just be careful with the Palit 9400, i see you made a good choice in single slot :) Just check out some reviews and make sure hte cooler doesn't extend too far out, or it'll be touching the side of the case, the SK22g2 is the same chassis as that and my 4650 only just fitted

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#272766 13-Nov-2009 15:11

Palit are an alright brand, nothing to worry about there, it's just a rebranded ATI stock card with what looks to be a silent Palit cooler.

I'd be more worried about the width of the card, in the G2 series cases, the width of the card matters the most, length isn't much of a problem. Just don't want it hitting the side of the case since the PCIe card faces outwards, not inwards like the P2 series of shuttle cases

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#272830 13-Nov-2009 17:58

The width of that video card looks fine, but just confirm the length. I have a similar Shuttle and discovered (in addition to being a bit fat, but not a problem) my Quadro video card is just too long for it, hitting the CPU cooler. Interference is less than 5mm, but it is too much.

You can never have enough Volvos!

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#272873 13-Nov-2009 21:15

Just got home, just did a size measurement, it should easily fit :)

168L 110cm W 19cm wide - my current 4650

235L 145w 50 - the Palit, I've got at least 12cm of room, so yours will fit :)

Just make sure if you build it, to write up a thread with pics, I love seeing new builds come together

- Niel, yeah I've got a similar problem, I ordered a dual slot 4870 1gb, but a single slot with Zalman heat sink came, which works fine, but sometimes my sata cables come through the fan slots and I have to pull the case apart to remove them :(

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#272887 13-Nov-2009 21:44

I ended up getting rid of my Shuttle as a HTPC due to not being able to add more peripheral cards. After I added TV tuner and Video cards I was unable to add anything further. It was a shame as I really liked the shuttle as a HTPC because it looked good! However, I also wanted to add another DVB-S tuner so I could record two channels at once so I ended up building a new HTPC based on the Antec Fusion V2 case.

My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64

nigelramsay

80 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 18

#272891 13-Nov-2009 21:57

Thanks everyone for your comments. Looks like it's a good choice. I'll probably put my order in next week, and will definitely take a few photos as I go.

--

Nigel Ramsay
Wellington, NZ

Twitter: @nigelramsay

Read my blog at https://nigel.ramsay.org.nz
I work on AddressFinder at Abletech

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#272978 14-Nov-2009 11:44

blur: I ended up getting rid of my Shuttle as a HTPC due to not being able to add more peripheral cards. After I added TV tuner and Video cards I was unable to add anything further. It was a shame as I really liked the shuttle as a HTPC because it looked good! However, I also wanted to add another DVB-S tuner so I could record two channels at once so I ended up building a new HTPC based on the Antec Fusion V2 case.

Damn that sucks :(

This is how I've overcome my problem, since I only have one PCI, yes PCI not PCIe slot in my new Atom server:

- find the 4 pin USB header, add a 2 port usb extension off it, then:

Install both my USB tuners inside the case, make a custom F-type to F-type lead for the tuner,
drill a hole for the aerial feed out the back, install this in the case http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/type-inline-adaptor-femalefemale-p-107.html x 2, one for satellite if needed, one for aerial :)

Works well, but I guess once I need to upgrade my drives, I won't have any room for a SATA controller, since my HD2400 PCI takes up the PCI slot for the HD grunt

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.