Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="fathead" data-source="post: 60577" data-attributes="member: 12005">I'm in the process of going over my rev3 HTPC &amp; am nearing completion of specs.&nbsp; Currently running on a 939 3200+ athlon64.&nbsp; I'm now going to switch to the new AM2 socket &amp; pick up a 3000+ 35w Processor - this should reduce power consumption &amp; heat (not that it was a problem before).&nbsp; I plan on running the CPU cooling passively with one of the nice Scythe coolers, although I may yet change that idea &amp; fit a Zalman CNPS7700-Cu if they bring out an AM2 version - in this case I would 100% not use case fans.Case wise I have an Antec NSk2400, which is designed as the non HTPC desktop case.&nbsp; Antec also have the FUSION, which is the exact same case but with different front panel (made for the HTPC market).&nbsp; I would like to run zero case fans at this moment in time, but we'll see how that goes.&nbsp; If push comes to shove I'll use a single Nexus 120mm RealSilent fan (best I have found &amp; I have used a fair few) &amp; hook it up to a Zalman fanmate2 to control its speed right down.PSU wise the case is fitted with a &quot;quiet&quot; High-efficiency 380 Watt, however I'm not yet convinced about that so may well change it.&nbsp; For anyone looking at PSUs, look no further than the Seasonic range for true &quot;quiet&quot; &amp; efficeny.&nbsp; I may consider totally fanless in this department, but again I'm not convinced by the quality &amp; price with some of these.To reduce hard drive noise I initally was looking at running a laptop 2.5&quot; drive &amp; suspending it.&nbsp; Now I've read a few reviews of another awesome product &amp; will instead buy this (when available):<img src="http://www.techreport.com/etc/2006q2/gigabyte-ramdisk.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Use DDR2 modules up to 8Gb, system sees them grouped as a single SATA II hard drive - solid state!&nbsp; No noise, no vibration, no seek &amp; faster than a raptor in performance.&nbsp; <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin&nbsp; &nbsp; :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> This will be used for the system drive with Tiny XP &amp; media portal only installed.&nbsp; I've recently just tried tinyxp on my main system &amp; was blown away with boot times!For optical drive I'm going down the laptop route mainly to reduce noise.Motherboard I'll be using the updated AM2 version of what I already have, the M2NPV-MX which is AMD live approved for all the good that does!&nbsp; This uses the onboard DX9 built in graphics with DVI or VGA output.&nbsp; I've tested this already with MP &amp; it works just fine though more system memory is must have.Sound wise I'll be picking up a HDA Digital X-Plosion, I would have thought the HDA range is a must have for HTPC's due to the encoding ability.I've also lined the case in AKASA paxmate which makes a small difference in reducing some of the vibration &amp; general noise within a case.&nbsp; (I had loads left over so had nothing to lose).Only thing I'm really left to think about is what capture card to use.&nbsp; I really like the idea of the Terratec Cinergy 2400i, but from what I've heard &amp; experienced they are flakey as hell.All my movies, music etc &amp; stored elsewhere in my NAS Drive (2x500GB).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="fathead, post: 60577, member: 12005"] I'm in the process of going over my rev3 HTPC & am nearing completion of specs. Currently running on a 939 3200+ athlon64. I'm now going to switch to the new AM2 socket & pick up a 3000+ 35w Processor - this should reduce power consumption & heat (not that it was a problem before). I plan on running the CPU cooling passively with one of the nice Scythe coolers, although I may yet change that idea & fit a Zalman CNPS7700-Cu if they bring out an AM2 version - in this case I would 100% not use case fans. Case wise I have an Antec NSk2400, which is designed as the non HTPC desktop case. Antec also have the FUSION, which is the exact same case but with different front panel (made for the HTPC market). I would like to run zero case fans at this moment in time, but we'll see how that goes. If push comes to shove I'll use a single Nexus 120mm RealSilent fan (best I have found & I have used a fair few) & hook it up to a Zalman fanmate2 to control its speed right down. PSU wise the case is fitted with a "quiet" High-efficiency 380 Watt, however I'm not yet convinced about that so may well change it. For anyone looking at PSUs, look no further than the Seasonic range for true "quiet" & efficeny. I may consider totally fanless in this department, but again I'm not convinced by the quality & price with some of these. To reduce hard drive noise I initally was looking at running a laptop 2.5" drive & suspending it. Now I've read a few reviews of another awesome product & will instead buy this (when available): [img]http://www.techreport.com/etc/2006q2/gigabyte-ramdisk.jpg[/img] Use DDR2 modules up to 8Gb, system sees them grouped as a single SATA II hard drive - solid state! No noise, no vibration, no seek & faster than a raptor in performance. :D This will be used for the system drive with Tiny XP & media portal only installed. I've recently just tried tinyxp on my main system & was blown away with boot times! For optical drive I'm going down the laptop route mainly to reduce noise. Motherboard I'll be using the updated AM2 version of what I already have, the M2NPV-MX which is AMD live approved for all the good that does! This uses the onboard DX9 built in graphics with DVI or VGA output. I've tested this already with MP & it works just fine though more system memory is must have. Sound wise I'll be picking up a HDA Digital X-Plosion, I would have thought the HDA range is a must have for HTPC's due to the encoding ability. I've also lined the case in AKASA paxmate which makes a small difference in reducing some of the vibration & general noise within a case. (I had loads left over so had nothing to lose). Only thing I'm really left to think about is what capture card to use. I really like the idea of the Terratec Cinergy 2400i, but from what I've heard & experienced they are flakey as hell. All my movies, music etc & stored elsewhere in my NAS Drive (2x500GB). [/QUOTE]

Verification