[binwiederda]

Hallo everyone,

This is my first HTPC. I've researched a lot and this is the result. I want it to be fanless, low power and work well with Linux/Ubuntu. According to many many reviews, these components should work together not exceed 30W in idle.

Mainboard: ASUS P8H77-M PRO -- 105€ -- prev. choices: Intel DH77EB (24p bug), ASRock H77M, Intel DH77DF
CPU: Intel i3-3225 -- 126€ -- prev. choice: Intel i3-3220T
Case: Streacom FC10 -- 300€
Case Cooler Adapter: Streacom ST-HT4 Heatpipe Adapter für ST-FC9/STFC-10 (not needed for this motherboard)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP White DDR3-1600 2x4GB 1.35V -- 60€ -- prev. choice: Samsung MV-3V4G3D/US DDR3 1600 2x4GB
PSU: picoPSU-150-XT with a 120W AC/DC Adapter (incl. one Y-cable 1xMolex->2xSATA) + one I/O Adapter (1xSATA -> 2x SATA) -- 60€
1x SSD: Samsung MZ-7PD128BW SSD 840 Pro 128GB -- 128€
2x HDD: Western Digital WD Red 3TB WD30EFRX -- 2x142€
1x BD Drive: Sony Optiarc BD-5850H -- 81€

Total Cost: 1165€ (US$ 1544 as of Dec '12)
excluding the HDDs: 881€ (US$ 1170 as of Dec '12)

What do y'all think?

I do have a couple of questions, however:
1. PSU: I have no idea what PSU to choose. Pico PSU, I guess?! But which one?
2. PSU: The PicoPSUs I've looked at can only connect one SATA. How do I connect the 4 drives in my build?
3. Mobo: There are so many possible boards. This one is basically chosen at random. Do you have any other suggestions?
4. Building it: As I said, this is my first HTPC. What else do I need to order? I'm talking about stuff that y'all would think about, but a first-timer would forget :-)

Cheers,
Philipp

--
Edit: I just ordered everything. I added the prices in Euros. Not quite a cheap build I must say. Let's hope it's worth it.

[binwiederda]

Here are some additional alternatives/links/reviews to the components. The blue ones are the ones from the build above.
I hope this is not percieved as spam. These are my research results...

Case
Streacom FC10
- Product Page: http://www.streacom.com/products/fc10-fanless-chassis/
- User Guide: http://www.streacom.com/file/English+-+FC10+User+Guide
- Build: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6523/strea...dge-htpc/4

Mainboard
Intel DH77EB (mATX)
- Product: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/d...video.html
- Build + Power: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1364084/htpc-k...t_22686839

Intel DH77DF (mITX, incompatible with case)
- Product: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/m....html.html
- Review: http://www.missingremote.com/review/inte...-3770s-cpu

MSI Z77MA-G45 (mATX, compatible with Streacom FC10 without HT4 Riser)
- Product: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z77MA-G45....?div=Basic
- Build: http://www.meisterkuehler.de/forum/kaufb...post495642
- and Power: http://www.meisterkuehler.de/forum/kaufb...post495855
- Ubuntu: 'It just works'; http://askubuntu.com/questions/218775/dr...-z77ma-g45

ASRock H77M LGA 1155 Intel H77 (mATX, compatible with Streacom FC10 without HT4 Riser)
- Product: http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H77M/?cat=Specifications
- Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813157303

CPU
I3-3220T
- Product: http://ark.intel.com/products/65694/Inte...e-2_80-GHz
- XBMC Thread: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=148870
- Build with 3220T: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2096/9/
- Build + Power: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1364084/htpc-k...t_22686839
- Ubuntu Guide: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=114368

i3-3225
- Product: http://ark.intel.com/products/65692
- Review: http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/3169/23/...conclusion
- Build: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2020498

HDD
HDD WD Caviar Green 3TB WD30EZRX
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.de/Western-Digital-WD3...673&sr=1-1
- Tests power/read/write: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5042/seaga...001-review

WD Red 3TB WD30EFRX
- Tests power/read/write: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1285-page5.html

RAM
Kingston HyperX PC3-12800 8GB (1600 MHz, 240-polig) DDR3-RAM Kit /// 1.65V
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.de/Kingston-PC3-12800-...395&sr=1-2

8GB Dual Channel Kit SAMSUNG Original 2 x 4 GB 240 pin DDR3-1333
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.de/DDR3-1333-PC3-10600...206&sr=8-2

Samsung MV-3V4G3D/US DDR3 1600 MHz 8GB Memory Kit /// 1.35V -> 1.65W
- Review: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1959/1/
- Amazon 64 €: http://www.amazon.de/Samsung-Green-Serie...313&sr=8-1
- Newegg: best ever: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...llFullInfo

SSD
Samsung MZ-7PC064B/WW 64GB SSD (Samsung 830)
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.de/Samsung-MZ-7PC064B-...667&sr=8-1
- Review: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/840-...302-6.html

Samsung MZ-7PD128BW SSD 840 Pro 128GB
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.de/Samsung-Series-inte...436&sr=8-1
- Review http://www.anandtech.com/show/6328/samsu...b-review/7


Optical Drive
Sony Optiarc Black
- Shop: http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/B...-5600S.htm

Streacom ST-OB2 Slot-Load Blu-ray Drive
- QuietPC: http://quietpc.de/st-ob2

Sony Optiarc BD-5850H
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.de/Sony-Optiarc-BD-585...m_sbs_ce_1

[hick]

T versions and standard versions use the same wattage at low usage and more wattage at a higher usage.
So at Idle they are the same and doing any standard htpc tasks the T will use more watts.

[binwiederda]

Thanks, I'll research that a little more and maybe I'll go for the i3-3220 (no -T).

Additional info to the case (Streacom FC10):
I just noticed that the Intel DH77DF motherboard does not seem to fit in the FC10: The Streacom build guide says that the CPU on the board has to be at a certain position so that the heatpipes can reach it. And according to my very sophisticated measuring methods (using The Gimp, two layers and 50% opacity ), they don't fit. In fact, only one mITX board from the Newegg list of 1155 boards seems to fit: the Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe, as used in the build by Anandtech. However, this board has a module ("Dual Intelligent Processors 2 with DIGI+ VRM") that blocks the heatpipe (images here), even with the heatpipe riser adapter, so this is not a board I would choose. Too bad Streacom doesn't have a list of compatible boards for the case...

I'll have to look for mATX boards then I guess. The MSI Z77MA-G45 looks most promising so far.

[binwiederda]

PSU:
I did a little more research on PSUs, and I think that a picoPSU-150-XT with a 120W AC/DC Adapter should be enough -- although this is only a rough estimate. Because I have 4 SATA drives in total, I also need one Y-cable (1xMolex -> 2xSATA, included in the picoPSU Amazon offering), and one I/O Adapter (1xSATA -> 2x SATA).

Max. values (partially guessed): Mainboard (30W) + CPU (35 W) + RAM (6W) + 1xSSD (3W) + 2xHDD (10W) + Optical Drive (5W) = 89W

Please do correct me if you think any of this is not correct. I have no experience whatsoever in PSU-stuff.

Edit: I found a nice article to estimate the wattage / power consumption of a system: http://superuser.com/a/494252

Mainboard:
I'm currently still sticking with the MSI board, although I might look into the Intel DH67BL, the ASRock H77M, and the ASUS P8Z77-M PRO

Any thoughts? Anyone?

[binwiederda]

CPU:
Decided to go for the i3-3225, as it has a veery similar idle power consumption as the i3-3220 (and T), but has a HD4000.

Review/Build here:
- Review: http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/3169/23/...conclusion
- Build: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2020498

[binwiederda]

Updated my original post.
Changed my mind about the board and the RAM again.

Mainboard:
I chose the Intel board because of the reviews and builds I saw. They had incredibly low power consumptions, and at the same time supported everything I need (e.g. support for low voltage RAM). The few issues with the board are not relevant for me and/or are resolved.

Intel DH77EB
- Product: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/m....html.html
- Review + Power: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1364084/htpc-k...t_22686839
- Review + Power: http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/vie...28&t=64394
- Review + Power: http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/vie...28&t=64635
- Issues with Linux: http://communities.intel.com/message/173199
- Issues: http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.ph...board-woes
- Issues: http://communities.intel.com/message/159878

RAM
The specific Samsung RAM I wanted (MV-3V4G3D/US) wasn't available in any of the German online shops, so I had to choose another one. I think the Corsair is the better option anyway.

Corsair Vengeance LP White DDR3-1600 2x4GB 1.35V
- Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820233199
- Review + Power: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/ram/31422-...r3-memory/
- German Reseller: http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/Arbe...18957.html

I am almost ready to order.
Do any of the experts have time to comment on the build?

[binwiederda]

Couldn't wait any longer. I ordered it. Should arrive 29.12.-3.1. Excited!!

[binwiederda]

I canceled the mobo order b/c it still has issues with 24p (see this thread/post).
I ordered the ASUS P8H77-M Pro instead.

[Kibe]

Hello,

This is the system I bought from QuietPC.com:

- FC10 Black Full Aluminium Fanless Chassis
- SC30 Internal USB3.0 Cable for Streacom Chassis
- GA-Z77MX-D3H LGA1155 Micro ATX Motherboard
- Core i3 3225 3.3GHz 55W HD4000 Dual Core CPU
- 4GB (2x2GB) XMS3 DDR3 Memory
- 160W picoPSU and AC/DC adapter block
- Challenger C3000-60 60GB SATA 3.0 SSD
- Sony BC-5600S Slot Load Blu-Ray Drive

Right now I'm running XBMCbuntu 12 RC2 and its fantastic. I stream mkv 1080p files over a gigabit wired network with perfect results.

So far had some trouble playing BD discs and using all the keys from the remote control, but the ability to power-on the system from the remote works perfectly!
- Internal IR Receiver and Remote Control

[smudgeruk]

How's your build coming along Binwiederda?

All my parts have arrived except the PSU, which won't get to me till Thursday now. Didn't realise the place I ordered from were closed for the two weeks over the Christmas period.

While I've been waiting I'm thinking of downgrading the CPU to a Intel® Core™ i3-3220T Processor (3M Cache, 2.80 GHz) 35W TPD and sticking in an ASUS HD6570. Will be a marginal price increase overall, similar wattage but a lot better GPU. Not really sure on what to do now haha!

[binwiederda]

Kibe, this is pretty awesome. So they sell a ready-built FC10 system there? I can't find it on their page. But it's great that it works so flawlessly. Do you have power consumption / wattage numbers? How is the temperate in the case during load/idle?

smudgeruk, so you're still waiting too? I just received the FC10 case so far -- and it's a beauty. The rest is still at the post office / on its way.

Regarding your GPU-"issue": What do you want to do with the machine that you need so much graphics power for? I'd say the HD4000 is more than enough for an HTPC. In fact, I'd call the HD4000 overkill already :-) Moreover, it's fanless, whereas the ASUS HD6570 is not. And your build is fanless too (FC5 case ..), or am I wrong?

[smudgeruk]

Yeah, I originally ordered the psu from overclockers, was actually out of stock but website said it was available. So had a few days delay there. All the other places selling it were closed for Xmas. So I'll be setting it up on the weekend.

You can obviously tell the quality on these cases, well worth money...so far.

It was more of a security blacket to ensure anything I chucked at it would play flawlessly, such as a 3d bluray. I know the hd4000 can play that. The fc5 can take a pci card, which runs perpendicular, and the discrete card is designed for htpcs so runs quiet.

I guess waiting around with all the components is making me think too much haha. I will stick with the hd4000!

[binwiederda]

I'll hopefully build my HTPC this weekend too -- provided that all parts arrive in time *fingers crossed*

While we're talking about the i3-3225: This little thread just popped up high up in the Hardware Forum: http://forum.xbmc.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=112

[binwiederda]

I built my HTPC and I'm really really happy with it. I'm dying to post a full review with pictures and everything, but I'm still waiting for the second hard drive for the RAID1. Apparently it got lost in the mail.

However, the machine is up and running; XBMC Eden is installed and works perfectly. VAAPI under Ubuntu 12.10 in XBMC Eden with Aeon Nox does not work at all right now (freezes), but it works perfectly smooth even without it. I'll go and check out what the problem is when I have the time. Right now, I'm just really really happy.

--> Power consumption: Idle 26W, High/Load 55W
--> Temperatures: CPU Idle 43°C, CPU Load 55-60°C, HDD Idle 43°C, HDD Load 47°C
--> Noise: When I turn off my heater, and close the door to the kitchen (fridge noise), and when I'm closer than 1.5m, I can hear something -- like the sound of the ocean in a seashell. In short: It's completely silent. My GF fell asleep next to it multiple times.

Cheers,
Philipp