[stosh]

I'm looking to build a MINI ATX system.

Any suggestions on bare bone systems to start with?

I want it to be able to hook up to my wireless network, play DVD's on a TV, and play video and music files from my main computer.

I've built a couple larger systems so I know my way around the guts of a computer.

What should I keep in mind when spec'ing out parts for a HTPC?

 

[binary visions]

I wouldn't start with a bare bones system. Pick out all of your components.

Something to keep in mind with a system like this is noise. You want it to be quiet. That means that your case fans should be 120mm (12cm) fans, do not buy anything with fans smaller than that. Also, I'd recommend an AMD Athlon dual core processor since they support Cool & Quiet, which throttles the processor back when it's idle, cutting the amount of heat generated.

I think this case here looks like it's pretty damn good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129014

Look at some of the other threads here. There's a bunch of information about HTPCs.

 

[stosh]

I wouldn't start with a bare bones system. Pick out all of your components.

Something to keep in mind with a system like this is noise. You want it to be quiet. That means that your case fans should be 120mm (12cm) fans, do not buy anything with fans smaller than that. Also, I'd recommend an AMD Athlon dual core processor since they support Cool & Quiet, which throttles the processor back when it's idle, cutting the amount of heat generated.

I think this case here looks like it's pretty damn good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129014

Look at some of the other threads here. There's a bunch of information about HTPCs.

Ok cool, I didn't even think to search this forum.

Wow, the price went down on thoes cases.

 

[stosh]

What about a quiet power supply?

 

[binary visions]

What about a quiet power supply?

Yep, that's the other major source of noise.

Just remember that the bigger the fan, the slower it can turn to still move the same amount of air. So a power supply with a 63mm fan will likely be noisier than a power supply with an 80mm fan. That's not necessarily 100% true, but it's a good rule of thumb.

Check out www.silentpcreview.com for in depth reviews of the quietest cases, power supplies and components. Don't get too caught up in it, because it'd be easy to spend a ton of money, but there is a lot of good information there.

 

[Tenchiro]

A rheobus goes a long way to quieting noisy fans.

 

[stosh]

A rheobus goes a long way to quieting noisy fans.

WTF is that?

 

[binary visions]

WTF is that?

Google, dude.

It's just a fan controller. Got a couple knobs on it that let you change the fan speed from the outside of the case.

 

[Tenchiro]

WTF is that?

http://www.directron.com/rheobuskitb.html

(I don't suggest you buy this one in particular, I just linked it as an example.)

I have one on my home PC and will all my fans running at 50% it is pretty close to silent.

 

[binary visions]

Incidentally, that particular case I linked to has Antec Tri Cool fans which have fan controllers built right into them. They have a low/med/high setting.

 

[stosh]

http://www.directron.com/rheobuskitb.html

(I don't suggest you buy this one in particular, I just linked it as an example.)

I have one on my home PC and will all my fans running at 50% it is pretty close to silent.

I'm jealous!

The PC I build is noisey as fawk!

I think I have a heat problem in my PC though.

 

[binary visions]

Noise in your PC is coming from one of three major places:

Your case fans
Your CPU cooler
Your power supply

Case fans are cheap. Replace the ones you have with 120mm case fans from Scythe.

If it's your CPU cooler, buy a new one that will fit an 80mm or 120mm fan. Thermaltake, Zalman and Scythe all make good coolers that aren't noisy.

Replacing your power supply would be expensive but the above two places are the most likely sources of the majority of noise.

 

[Tenchiro]

I say, build one of these

 

[D_D]

You shouldn't have to do anything to get a quiet system. My mini-itx system is cooled by a single 40mm fan on the processor.
Fanless powersupplies have more than enough juice especially if you use laptop drives.
Cases should be ready to run straight out the box, no need to add fans.

 

[Pau11y]

hehehe... My apartment is hovering around 95 degrees right now so my case fans (variable RPM w/ temp sensor) are going NUTZ right now. I've got 3 120mm, 2 80mm in the PSU, and a 90mm on the CPU cooler. I can hear my 'puter, but considering the ambient air temp, I'm glad I can hear them.
Another trick is to peel the sticker from the fan and add a drop of Tri Flow in the bearings. Just remember to seal it back up again tho. I've done this to my GPU, North bridge, CPU, all 120mm case fans and it is a noticable difference in the noise reduction.

 

[stosh]

hehehe... My apartment is hovering around 95 degrees right now so my case fans (variable RPM w/ temp sensor) are going NUTZ right now. I've got 3 120mm, 2 80mm in the PSU, and a 90mm on the CPU cooler. I can hear my 'puter, but considering the ambient air temp, I'm glad I can hear them.
Another trick is to peel the sticker from the fan and add a drop of Tri Flow in the bearings. Just remember to seal it back up again tho. I've done this to my GPU, North bridge, CPU, all 120mm case fans and it is a noticable difference in the noise reduction.

awesome, thanks for the advice!