Advice building SFF/HTPC - first build

curlz · 24th November 2010, 10:10 PM

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, I couldn't find anywhere better to put it.

I'm intending to build a SFF/HTPC in the next couple of days and as this is my first ever build I was hoping to get some pointers.

I've recently moved into a one bedroom apartment, as a result I have moved my PC into the living room so that I can have a workstation and TV all in one (I have a cheapo TV tuner and a 24" Asus display which I intend to reuse for this build). So, I'm not really after a HTPC per se, but rather I'd like a HTPC/SFF PC that isn't a total eye sore in the living room and still performs well.

I'm currently running a P4 with Ubuntu and think it's time to upgrade. I want a PC for just basic usage, i.e. web, video playback and some image processing. No gaming, high end graphics, etc.

The parts that I intend to reuse from my current system:
WD 500GB HDD
TV Tuner
Display and peripherals

I have consulted the wiki over at Whirlpool and I quite like one of the options with a couple of the suggested upgrades. My proposed build is as follows:

Case/PSU: Antec NSK2480B $124
CPU: AMD x4 640 $107
Mobo: ASUS M4A88TD-M $90
RAM: 4GB Kit Kingston DDR3 $70
ODD: cheapo black one $29
GPU: on-board

Total: $420

My budget is about $450, so I wouldn't like to go much higher.

Any general comments/suggestions are welcome.

I have the following specific questions:
1) What do people think of the case and PSU? What are my other options in terms of the case? Is the PSU at 380W enough to power that system?
2) Will the CPU be running too hot in such a small case. The wiki states that CPUs over 95W should not be used for HTPC builds. This one is 95W
3) Will stock cooling be sufficient? My current P4 sounds like a 747 taking off in summer. So cooling would be the only area I would probably be willing to splash out a bit more mulah to get something decent.
4) IDE or SATA for ODD?
5) Do I need to buy any extra cables, brackets, screws, resins, etc. to make this work? Or will by buying all those parts everything come together?

Apologies for the long post, but your help is very much appreciated.

ShaneHm2 · 24th November 2010, 10:23 PM

If your tv tuner card is pci-e I would suggest something like:

i3-530 $112
ecs h55h-i $84
2gb ddr3 $28 per stick
then a mini itx case

now thats powerful enough for all content in hd and also cpu is only 73w

zer0sum · 2nd December 2010, 12:34 PM

Definitely agree...if you are going to do it, why not go i5 and future proof a little.

I would also look at the lian Li PC-Q07B case as it will let you add full length graphics cards and loads of drives in the future.

you really need to let us know how many hard drives you need and what sort of graphics card you are looking at.
Is the TV tuner usb/pci/etc?

24th November 2010, 10:10 PM	#1
curlz Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 49	Advice building SFF/HTPC - first build Apologies if this is in the wrong section, I couldn't find anywhere better to put it. I'm intending to build a SFF/HTPC in the next couple of days and as this is my first ever build I was hoping to get some pointers. I've recently moved into a one bedroom apartment, as a result I have moved my PC into the living room so that I can have a workstation and TV all in one (I have a cheapo TV tuner and a 24" Asus display which I intend to reuse for this build). So, I'm not really after a HTPC per se, but rather I'd like a HTPC/SFF PC that isn't a total eye sore in the living room and still performs well. I'm currently running a P4 with Ubuntu and think it's time to upgrade. I want a PC for just basic usage, i.e. web, video playback and some image processing. No gaming, high end graphics, etc. The parts that I intend to reuse from my current system: WD 500GB HDD TV Tuner Display and peripherals I have consulted the wiki over at Whirlpool and I quite like one of the options with a couple of the suggested upgrades. My proposed build is as follows: Case/PSU: Antec NSK2480B $124 CPU: AMD x4 640 $107 Mobo: ASUS M4A88TD-M $90 RAM: 4GB Kit Kingston DDR3 $70 ODD: cheapo black one $29 GPU: on-board Total: $420 My budget is about $450, so I wouldn't like to go much higher. Any general comments/suggestions are welcome. I have the following specific questions: 1) What do people think of the case and PSU? What are my other options in terms of the case? Is the PSU at 380W enough to power that system? 2) Will the CPU be running too hot in such a small case. The wiki states that CPUs over 95W should not be used for HTPC builds. This one is 95W 3) Will stock cooling be sufficient? My current P4 sounds like a 747 taking off in summer. So cooling would be the only area I would probably be willing to splash out a bit more mulah to get something decent. 4) IDE or SATA for ODD? 5) Do I need to buy any extra cables, brackets, screws, resins, etc. to make this work? Or will by buying all those parts everything come together? Apologies for the long post, but your help is very much appreciated.

2nd December 2010, 12:34 PM	#3
zer0sum Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New York/Melbourne Posts: 793	Definitely agree...if you are going to do it, why not go i5 and future proof a little. I would also look at the lian Li PC-Q07B case as it will let you add full length graphics cards and loads of drives in the future. you really need to let us know how many hard drives you need and what sort of graphics card you are looking at. Is the TV tuner usb/pci/etc?