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My new build, opinions please

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:07 pm
by glic83
Hi all, 1st time poster here.
Based in Ireland so ill be buying from Hardwarversand.de

I'm putting together a new build and its main purpose will be watching movies, tv shows etc.
Im not putting in a graphics card at the moment but may in the future for light gaming.
So heres my build just looking for feedback. I think the case allows for upgrading and has
plenty of air flow so should be cool and ideally as silent as possible.

Case:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/Mini/60296 ... il.article

Mobo:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/DDR3/59306 ... TX.article

CPU:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/Socket+115 ... 55.article

CPU Cooler:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/Intel+AMD/ ... MD.article

Ram:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/1600+Low+V ... L9.article

SSD:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/Solid-Stat ... ic.article

Power Supply:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... .changed=1

Case Fan:
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... .changed=1

I already have a 2tb hard drive so the ssd would be for the operating system.
Any feedback much appreciated.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:17 pm
by JustAnEngineer
Does the Hyper 212 Evo fit into that BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX case?

Have you considered a Micro-ATX motherboard and a Core i3 processor, instead?

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:56 pm
by superneat
Couple of observations,

The EVO will fit, but it will block the PCIe slot so you won't be able to use it for a graphics card. There are around 5 or 6 alternative coolers you could use without blocking the slot.

The RAM you have chosen is rated at 1.8v which is high, you should be looking for 1.5v or lower RAM. Also it's DDR3 1600 which will only work at 1333 speed with a Sandy Bridge CPU, get DDR3 1333 if you find it cheaper.

Other than that, looks good. If you need a wireless keyboard and mouse for couch surfing than consider the Logitech K400, I bought one for myself today, after seeing great reviews of it. You can get it on Amazon for €35 delivered to Ireland.

LINK

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:02 pm
by DPete27
The BitFenix case is more suited for a LAN Gaming box. It's certainly not a bad choice, but have you looked at cases like the Cooler Master Elite 120? The Elite 120 is smaller, cheaper, and more geared toward lower power uses like you're listing here. (Here's a good review to read) In the end though, cases are more personal preference than anything else.

Also, I would suggest something in the Ivy Bridge processor graphics category for HTPC use like an i3-3225 or similar. (IVB HTPC article here)
Even an AMD Trinity CPU like the A8-5500 would do nicely. (Trinity HTPC article) If you go that route, you'll be looking at an FM2 mITX board.

PS: Here's a picture of the Hyper 212 EVO with a graphics card installed in the first PCI slot. I've yet to see a 120mm heatsink that interferes with PCI slots, The 212 Evo also shouldn't block any of your RAM slots. Heatsinks with thicker fins might block them though.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:37 am
by glic83
Firstly thanks for the replys,

It was toss up between the Elite 120 and the Prodigy,
After reading review of the 2 i went with the prodigy as it offered the extra space, its a nice ooking case (imo).
Seeing the review it offered better cooling and ran cooler at idle now granted it is a bigger case.

If i do decide i want to put in a graphics card i would be limited with the elite 120, the heat in that case just seems too
much so the fans would be going a lot harder than they would have to with the Prodigy. In saying that i do like the look of
the 120 and if it was only a little bit bigger i would probably have went with it but the Prodigy seems to offer better
bang for buck.

Re- the CPU the reason i went for the G645 is because it seems to fit my requirements as it will do everything i need it to do
although i would like an i3 my budget for my build is around €400 so id have to toatally change my build if i was going with an i3
or up the budget. I did also consider an AMD APU for the build but there is a severe lack of FM2 M-itx motherboards around at the min.

I'll keep reading around, im sure my build will change a few times before i actually make the purchase lol

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:41 am
by yogibbear
Can you somehow scrounge together the cash to get a 128GB Samsung 830 instead of the 64GB one?... I feel that 64GB is just a little too small to fit a few games on there as well as the OS... to get the best performance gain from having one.

Also the Celeron processor is kind of lame... an i3 3325 would be MUCH MUCH more awesome... though if it's just a HTPC box in a non-HTPC case then yeah sure... just seems weird to get a Celeron and stick a HUGE heatsink on it... not like you're going to OC for a HTPC build in an ITX case that is oversized... seems you could save money on the case for something else and get a smaller PSU (probably an included 300W one in a SUGO SG-05 style case) thus affording the i3 and a larger SSD.

I mean.. given there's no GPU... and you're just plugging in a 2TB HDD... you could buy one of those vesa mount tiny cases... and shove everything into that... Intel Stock cooler is pretty good on the Ivybridges for a HTPC build.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:18 am
by superneat
DPete27 wrote:
PS: Here's a picture of the Hyper 212 EVO with a graphics card installed in the first PCI slot. I've yet to see a 120mm heatsink that interferes with PCI slots, The 212 Evo also shouldn't block any of your RAM slots. Heatsinks with thicker fins might block them though.


The mITX ASRock board the OP linked to, has the CPU socket much closer the the PCI slot, than the mATX motherboard you have linked to. It will block the slot if fitted in it's intended orientation.

As far as the CPU choice, I've owned Sandy Bridge Celerons, Pentiums and I3's, currently using and Ivy I3, and the differnce between them all, while doing basic HTPC duties, will be difficult to notice.

If a graphics card is added later, as long as it's not mid-high range, the CPU shouldn't be that much of a bottleneck, if adding a GPU over €150-€200, then I would spring for the I3 instead.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:29 am
by DPete27
superneat wrote:
The mITX ASRock board the OP linked to, has the CPU socket much closer the the PCI slot, than the mATX motherboard you have linked to. It will block the slot if fitted in it's intended orientation.

I see that now, my bad. I was only thinking that the first expansion slot is always the same distance from the top of the mobo and didn't consider the location of the socket.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:39 am
by glic83
Yogibbear, the cpu was a pentium 645 2.9 ghz its just the pic on the site has celeron box for some reason ?

anyway just put a build together for Amd as ive noticed that they now have an FM2 board from Asrock on the site in m-ITX

Same build as above but with this board
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... &agid=2011

and an Amd APU
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... &agid=2000

Slightly cheaper than the build above not much in it

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:16 am
by glic83
and ive put together another build with an i3- 3220 3.3 ghz

http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... &agid=1617

and the ASrock B75 mobo
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... &agid=1605

everything else the same
( i know i still have to change the ram and probably the cooler)

this is the dearest build as you'd imagine
bout 460 euro including delivery.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:51 am
by MarkD
I have the i3-3225 with a stock cooler and don't see why you'd need anything else. It is quiet and the processor doesn't put out much heat in HTPC use. I way overspent on the MB - Asus P8Z77-I because I wanted the wireless and USB3, and it has a Samsung 830 128G SSD and a 2GB Samsung HDD. The case is a Silverstone SG06 with the smaller (325 watt?) PS. No optical drive.

If you go with core3, I'd advise you not buy the aftermarket cooler and spend the money on something you'd use.

I've heard the AMD graphics are better, but this is hooked up to a 37 inch Vizio TV and I really couldn't imagine any improvement being visible to the eye.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:06 pm
by yogibbear
You don't need an aftermarket cooler. The prodigy is going to feel like this giant empty box. I think you are using waaaaaay too big a case considering no gpu and only 2 drives.... yeah it looks nice but it's dimensions are pretty big for a "HTPC" use. Also because there's no GPU... I can't see you needing more than a 200W PSU... (If not < 150W if it were 90 efficient). Couldn't you fit it into something like this: http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... 199&apop=0

If on the other hand you think you might add a GPU, or additional HDDs in the future then the prodigy does make sense.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:18 pm
by ludi
yogibbear wrote:
You don't need an aftermarket cooler. The prodigy is going to feel like this giant empty box. I think you are using waaaaaay too big a case considering no gpu and only 2 drives.... yeah it looks nice but it's dimensions are pretty big for a "HTPC" use. Also because there's no GPU... I can't see you needing more than a 200W PSU... (If not < 150W if it were 90 efficient). Couldn't you fit it into something like this: http://lb.hardwareversand.de/articledet ... 199&apop=0

OP did mention possibility of adding a discrete GPU for future gaming, and storage drive bloat is a common problem for HTPC setups, so it doesn't hurt to future-proof the case somewhat.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 2:14 pm
by glic83
Im taking on board what people are saying i might get rid of the after market cooler so, and up the ssd to a 128gb instead.
Re the reason for the prodigy i already have a 2tb hard drive nearly full of High def movies and tv shows so i will end putting in another drive
at some stage, I would like to put in a graphics card and at least i would have the space with this case.
Its main use for now will be as a htpc so thats why i wanted it as silent as possible and why i was opting for an after market cooler.

But ill have another look at the system and re-jig it a bit.
Thanks for the input so far.

Re: My new build, opinions please

Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 8:19 pm
by JustAnEngineer
Have you looked at micro-ATX cases like the Silverstone Grandia GD04 or GD05 or the Antec NSK3480 or Silverstone Temjin TJ08B-E?