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View Full Version : DrNip's HTPC (Finally)

DrNip
08-01-2010, 03:34 AM
After 3 weeks of delay I can finally say the o' ladies HTPC is complete. This build was the hardest build I have ever encountered. The hardest in that it tested my patience beyond all believe. I have never received so many DOA and non working hardware. Here is a list of hardware RMAed:

2 - EVGA Micro Mobo's. 1st would not post and the 2nd would not run RAID no matter what I did. Ended up going with a MSI mobo and is running like a champ.
2 - Western Digital Green Edition 500 GB HDD's. One was DOA and also realized they were only 5400RPM so RMAed them both.
1 - Western Digital Black Edition 500 GB HDD. I replaced the Green Edition HDD's with the Black Edition just for one of them to have write error after write error and so forth.
1 - 4GB GeIL Black Edition RAM - RAM sucked a fat one. Wouldn't even factory cas specs at 1333 even though it was rated at 1600. Error after error on Memtest.

So 6, count them, 6 RMA's just on this little HTPC. None of the RMA's could have been at the same time either to save me on shipping and time. So during all the RMA's I sat around too long and started upgraded parts of it. I ended up upgrading:

CPU - Started out with a Core i3 950 and ended up with a Core I5 655k
CPU Cooler - Started out with a Cooler Master and ended up with a Scythe
HDD - Started out with a Western Digital Black Edition RAID 0 and ended up with a Mushkin Enchanced Callisto Deluxe RAID 0

The budget on this build at 1st was around $600 at 1st but as usual I'm an addict and can't stick to the master plan. I know I went well over $1,000 on this but it is worth it. Enough of the chit chat and time for the goods.

Hardware

RAM - A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409)
GPU - XFX HD-545X-ZAF2 Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 1GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150470)
CPU Cooler - Scythe Big Shuriken SCBSK-1000 120mm CPU Cooler (http http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185129)
CPU - Intel Core i5-655K Clarkdale 3.2GHz ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116369)
Mobo - MSI P55M-GD41 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130253)
SSD RAID 0 Setup- Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe MKNSSDCL60GB-DX 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226151)
SSD 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Converter - SilverStone SDP08 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Bay Converter ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817997007)
HHD Backup- Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320)
PSU - Antec NeoPower 380W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103938)
DVD Burner - LITE-ON DVD Writer LightScribe (http http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335)
Case - LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B Micro ATX Media Center (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112186)
Bluetooth USB - AZiO USB 2.0 Micro Bluetooth Adapter (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833340012)
Keyboard - Sony Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard (http://www.buy.com/prod/sony-vgp-bkb1-bluetooth-wireless-keyboard-black/q/loc/101/212647013.html)
Mouse - VAIO Bluetooth Laser Mouse (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&XID=O:vgpbms33/b:dg_ggldf&productId=8198552921665092456)
OS - Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit OS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116762 )

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I will try to get some benches in today and post them up. Also pics above are with the GeIL RAM I RMAed so nevermind them. :D

Thinking of getting 4 of these Muhkin SSD's for my rig as they rock!
GFDuke
08-01-2010, 07:01 AM
nice setup man.
Neuromancer
08-01-2010, 11:58 AM
Damn you are insane!

SSDs in an HTPC???

(Okay my bedroom HTPC currently has a vertex2 in it LOL, but that will change after I get a second and it goes into the gaymer).

Are you going with an external tuner or waiting for ceton and comcast to adopt the m-cards?

Also the 5400RPM drives would be a better choice for the HTPC, less heat and energy, same 70+MB/s transfer rates :) (At least mine pull 70+ over gigabit... my 2TB drives are 5400 RPM I think as well. no problems streaming HD from them :) )
Kal-EL
08-01-2010, 02:01 PM
Man thats a lil rig. Nice work Travis ;)
DrNip
08-01-2010, 02:33 PM
Damn you are insane!

SSDs in an HTPC???

(Okay my bedroom HTPC currently has a vertex2 in it LOL, but that will change after I get a second and it goes into the gaymer).

Are you going with an external tuner or waiting for ceton and comcast to adopt the m-cards?

Also the 5400RPM drives would be a better choice for the HTPC, less heat and energy, same 70+MB/s transfer rates :) (At least mine pull 70+ over gigabit... my 2TB drives are 5400 RPM I think as well. no problems streaming HD from them :) )


The Western Digital Cavier Black is mainly just for backup, storage of pics and what not. Got to stay with the SSD's. No if ands or buts on that. I about bought one of these Mushkin's for my laptop but decided just to get a 7200RPM drive for it. Like I said I started out conservative on this build but just wasn't satisfied. Starting to kinda get off on this little rigs. Next one I will build even more small and more powerful.

Using the Samsung 40" TV for the monitor/TV. Wife and I canceled the cable a month ago as we were tired of paying $100 for nothing. We can watch all our cable shows on the internet for free. And I mean free as I don't pay for the internet!!! Job pays for it. :Hi:

Can you believe I crammed a 120mm fan in this thing?
Witchdoctor
08-01-2010, 04:22 PM
Nice HT set up ...

Time to enjoy a good movie .................. :thumbsup:
Kal-EL
08-01-2010, 04:56 PM
So are movies and music going on this thing?
DrNip
08-01-2010, 05:13 PM
Movies, music, skype to in-laws in Tulsa, pics, internet tv, web cruising, the occasional bench or two, porno, whatever and whenever. This is the wifes computer to do what she wants and when she wants. No more hoggin my computer. I kinda had to make it fast too because she was use to mine. Anything less and she might have confiscated mine.
FACE
08-01-2010, 05:18 PM
Movies, music, skype to in-laws in Tulsa, pics, internet tv, web cruising, the occasional bench or two, super awesome HD porno, whatever and whenever.

Fixed.... :taunt: schmexy rig for room homie. How hard was it to do all the cabling?
DrNip
08-01-2010, 05:22 PM
Pretty easy. It is a 380W modular PSU! Don't think I could have done it any other way or else it would have looked like crap and ventilated like crap.
FACE
08-01-2010, 05:25 PM
Sweet... but I was talking about the wall cabling... Is everything wall-plated, or drill n' feed? I have got to do something similar for the living room... friggin' rat's next back there. :ohcrap:
DrNip
08-01-2010, 05:32 PM
HAHA my bad. I did it the ghetto way. I cut out a whole in the wall behind the back panel of the TV and inserted a wall plate with a blue screw in junction box and did the same directly below it about 3 foot. Ran the cables through the wall and invisible. Here is a pic of the living rooms. I have it partially taking a part right now but you can get the general idea. When its all put together you can't see the wires. DrNip style. :cool3:

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kikicoco1334
08-01-2010, 08:31 PM
ok fo real! that's way too nice of a setup for htpc man!
punx223
08-01-2010, 10:20 PM
very nice nip..... guess im gonna have to do a build log on my HTPC just so you guys know im still alive ;)
Patch
08-01-2010, 10:50 PM
Nice Nip!

Shannon's alive!
Chuchnit
08-02-2010, 09:27 AM
Build looks sick buddy. I have this crazy itch to build a mini PC too, but I just can't scratch it. I bet that thing is the perfect email rig.
Neuromancer
08-03-2010, 05:48 AM
Love the wire mamanagement behind the Tv :) I am impressed. I used a LC-20 for mine...with ATI HD All in wonder tuner, its getting replaced today with a WD HD Live though :)

September the TV is getting replaced I may try and emulate your careful building skills there :). Although I really want to buy new furniture first *sigh.
DrNip
08-04-2010, 01:22 AM
Thanx. Wanna get a new LED Samsung but no way of talking the o lady into one of those now.