Trying to finagle another one, Pproject-003

[Fire$torm]

I'll try to keep this short.

My Uncle has decided to replace his old rear projection big screen TV with one of these. (http://www.vizio.com/led-lcd-hdtvs/vf551xvt.html) He likes the idea of streaming Netflix to the Vizio as well as my collection of vids on the server. My intent is to convince him he needs a dedicated HTPC. If he goes for it that will give the team another cruncher :D

Questions:

*Does anyone have an old (preferably non-functional) mono or stereo audio amp? Not a receiver, just an amplifier with a simple face, something like this one? (http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/viewimage.x/00000000/redding1/291_edited-1.JPG?vvid=4664927&allow_track_link=1&track=027bc30fee-df68&sp=1&vsid=1&vgp=0&vimgs=291_edited-1.JPG,295_edited-1_005.JPG,007_edited-1_005.JPG,305_edited-1_004.JPG,313_edited-1_004.JPG,315_edited-1.JPG,317_edited-1_002.JPG,320_edited-1.JPG#) (I have that same amp but mine works :P ) I want to use the amp case to build the HTPC. Cost for HTPC cases are ridiculously high. Oh, almost forgot, the amp needs to be at least 5.25" H x 17.5" W x 13.25" D.

*With CPU cost/performance being paramount should I go Sandy Bridge, Fusion APU or discrete CPU/GPU setup? Preferably quad core.

More info:

The OS will be Linux.
I will probably use XMBC (http://xbmc.org/about/) w/ Aeon Skin (http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=96014) for the HTPC app.
I will use my Tuniq PSU for the HTPC having already replaced it with a used OCZ in my server (Blackie).
All other hardware picks depend on CPU cost, of course, but HDD will be 2.5" and I will likely go with Gigabyte for the MB.

Future upgrades (keeping fingers crossed) will include a NAS unit like one of Netgear's ReadyNAS systems.

[Fire$torm]

Hmmmmm, OK.

I think it will be cheaper to fab my own case. Found a couple of suppliers for the aluminum face plate and other materials at reasonable prices. Need to reinstall AutoCAD so I can flush out my design ideas. Then see if I can export them to Blender for photorealistic rendering.

As for the CPU, it looks like it is going to be the AMD Llano A8-3850 APU which has the HD 6550 Mobility GPU. Performance wise the A8-3850 compares favorably to i5-2310~i5-2400 Sandy Bridge in CPU power but blows Sandy Bridge out of the water in GPU power. An added bonus is that you can crunch with the 6550 albeit only on projects that have single precision apps. Still for approx $138.00 it is a very viable alternative to Intel's offerings.

For motherboards these are the ones I'm considering: GIGABYTE GA-A75M-S2V (http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-A75MS2V&title=GIGABYTE-GA-A75M-S2V-Socket-FM1-AMD-A75-DDR3-AMD-CrossFireX-SATA3-USB3-0-A-V-GbE-MATX-Motherboard) - Asus F1A75-M LE (http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-F1A75ME&title=Asus-F1A75-M-LE-Socket-FM1-AMD-A75-FCH-CrossFireX-A-V-GbE-SATA3-USB3-0-MATX-Motherboard) - Biostar TA75M+ (http://www.amazon.com/Biostar-TA75M-DDR3-SATA3-Motherboard/dp/B0058SYF7I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312407520&sr=1-1) and the MSI A75MA-G55. (http://www.amazon.com/MSI-A75MA-G55-Socket-CrossFireX-Motherboard/dp/B0058M3RNW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312407492&sr=1-1)

Memory will be 4GBs of Corsair RAM and HDDs will be something like the Seagate ST980813AS 80GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148713) and the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9250410AS. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148375)

[Fire$torm]

Rough draft of my first design concept.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5118/htpcfirstdraft.png

[John P. Myers]

looks nice :) make me one too :D

[Fire$torm]

Starting working on the the interior layout.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4585/htpcinternallayout.png


looks nice :) make me one too :D

Sorry but this one is a One Off. No dups.

[John P. Myers]

Add one of these. (http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1664/1/) Who couldn't use 38,000 days worth of movies in their HTPC? :p

[Fire$torm]

Got bored so I did some more work on my HTPC idea.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4757/htpc002800x600.png

[spingadus]

Since it's an HTPC, wouldn't you want larger fans to keep the noise down?

[Fire$torm]

Since it's an HTPC, wouldn't you want larger fans to keep the noise down?

Those are 120mm fans in front. I am considering using Scythe SY1225SL12SL (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185056) fans for intake. Those are about as quiet as you can get.

[spingadus]

Those are 120mm fans in front. I am considering using Scythe SY1225SL12SL (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185056) fans for intake. Those are about as quiet as you can get.

Ah, k. I couldn't tell size just by looking at it.

What are you planning for the outtake fan? 200mm? 240mm on top?

This is pretty cool seeing it being designed.

[Fire$torm]

Ah, k. I couldn't tell size just by looking at it.

What are you planning for the outtake fan? 200mm? 240mm on top?

This is pretty cool seeing it being designed.

Nope. Since this system will use the APU graphics I don't have to worry about a ton of heat. I might try to make room for a single 120mm in the back. The CPU cooler is Corsair's H50 but maybe in lieu of the other 120mm fan I may opt for the H100. I also plan on replacing the PSU fan with one that pushes a little more air but I want to maintain positive internal air pressure.

[Fire$torm]

I finally found the data I needed to create proper rear expansion card slots for the case. I found it in one of the best kept secrets of the PC industry called "PCI Express™ Card Electromechanical Specification Revision 1.1". For anyone interested in this jewel of knowledge click this link. (http://www.mediafire.com/?j8kanskvyioksyi) Happy reading.

Anyhow here is the case updated with a four slot configuration needed for a μATX motherboard.

(Click to enlarge)
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1583/htpcwithslots800x600sma.png (http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8929/htpcwithslots800x600.png)

[Fire$torm]

For anyone interested......

This project is currently on hold until at least the end of the year. That not withstanding, I am close to selecting its name. Leaning towards something from the Egyptian mythos.

Anyhow, the reason for the delay is that I was able to convince my Uncle to UPGRADE his desktop. I was getting seriously fed up with WinXP Home Edition on that P4 of his. If anyone remembers the Kiethinator system built from team donated parts, I will be using that case as a temporary home for this new build.

New Parts include
MB: GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-USB3 AM3+ (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128490)) [Ordered about an hour ago]
CPU: AMD Phenom II 840 (Link (http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0371961)) [Purchased from Micro Center]
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600 CL9 4GB [From a 6GB kit (link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145342)) I bought awhile back that turned out not to be compatible with my X58 MB]
OS: Win7 Home Premium x64 (Goodbye XP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Recycled parts
Case: eMachines 1440 Mini Tower (Which was just a re-badged Dell)
Video: nVidia Geforce FX 5200 PCIe
HDD: An old Seagate 40GB SATA 1.5Gps unit

With this upgrade I now have leverage needed to convince my Uncle to allow me to crunch with it. He has ZERO interest in doing it himself. WUProp, FreeHal and possibly Surveill are shoe-ins. Now the trick will be getting him to set it up for GPU crunching. If he allows it I will substitute the nVidia card with one of the two Sapphire HD 4850s I have for backup. I think I can swing it as the new MB has an HD 4250 IGP. That will be more than sufficient for his 17" NEC flat screen. Unfortunately it will next to impossible to get him to allow CPU work on this system. :(

So anyhow, possibly more stones for the team coffers. Keep your fingers crossed.

F$

[DrPop]

Hahaha! Good form, F$! :D Always using your weight to advantage. :D :D hehe...actually, I'm sure he will appreciate the faster rig!

[Fire$torm]

Last night I started planning out the project for my Uncle's system as it requires modding the emachines Mini tower. This includes fabing the front drive bay (for horizontal use), front and rear cooling using 1 120mm & 2 80mm fans and finally the front facade. I've already have my first wound. Caught the cuticle of my left thumb with the drill........ OUCH! It never fails, every project likes to leave its mark on me. :P

F$

[Cruncher Pete]

Ouch, that ,must have hurt. Now I know what the F$ truly stands for. I bet you said it very loud too..:)

Keep on crunching and have a nice day...
CP.

[Fire$torm]

Needed to take a break from the garage so I thought I'd show you a pic :D

This system now goes by the name Python, as in hand gun. My Uncle is a gun fan as having a life long career law enforcement in military, civilian & government branches.

A work in progress....
559

[DrPop]

Man, when you decide to massage a case, you really go to town! :D

[Duke of Buckingham]

http://www.pctroubleshooterz.com/images/manwithpcbroken.jpg
I am almost there F$

http://home.comcast.net/~madmonk13/confusion/images/C-toilet-computer-C.jpg
About Computers I only do s****, so I am in the right place

Thanks for detail instructions, I gave up long ago maybe yesterday.

[Fire$torm]

Man, when you decide to massage a case, you really go to town! :D

What can I say. It's for family.

@Duke: =)) =)) =))


Time for another pic........

561

Almost finished but that will have to wait. I'm kinda burned out, lots of stuff going around here at the moment. If you look closely you see that the end of the facade on the right still needs work, have to work on the exposed wood edges and the case needs to be painted. I also made a couple of boo boos. The CD-Rom that I had planned to use won't work because the new MB is SATA only.............. duh! Had to commandeer the only optical SATA drive in the house, the one that was in my desktop...... :(( :(( And I misjudged the available space for the HDD. The 2.5" drive in the pic is the OS drive from my server. So now I'm down one cruncher until I dig out an old PATA 3.5" drive I have somewhere around here.

Oh the joy.

BTW: Did you notice the something extra I installed? Hint: Its not CUDA compatible.

[DrPop]

BTW: Did you notice the something extra I installed? Hint: Its not CUDA compatible.

Looking nice! Hmmm...not CUDA compatible? Better enlighten us, o wise one! :)

[Fire$torm]

Looking nice! Hmmm...not CUDA compatible? Better enlighten us, o wise one! :)

Why Stream of course :D

Sorry for the late reply. I just had my "A Tech's Week From HELL". Working on my Uncle's computer, aka Python, wasn't that bad but getting my Uncle to understand Win7...........................

Then one of the two old HDDs I installed in Blackie turned out to have a "Soft Failure" but I didn't recognize it. I like to keep my OS, swap & temp folder on separate partitions/HDDs. The torture went like this, Windows XP would install, then I'd do all the driver installs and then run Windows Update for the 90+ hotfixes. The moment I'd try to do something with the computer it would start flaking out..... And the errors that were reported would vary.

Went through that 3 times with XP. Even running SMART diagnostics on that drive revealed nothing. Finally I tried installing Win7, same thing happened. When it dawned on me, like mega "DUH!!!", to try only one drive, I of course choose the the bad one first..... ~X( ~X( ~X(


Maybe I should have posted this under "You know you've Boinc'ed too much".

[Fire$torm]

So after my uber fail with Ubuntu, that I posted in the Boinc + Linux + GPU = pain thread, I have a temporary cruncher to fill the void left by 7-of-9 since I stopped running her last spring. And since the HTPC build is on hold, I had the 4850 collecting dust so I figured I'd hack my Uncle's old GX280 to use with that card.

So here it is. I named it Drone.......

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7878/thedrone1small.jpg

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/7608/dronedesktopsmall.jpg

Edit: In case you were wondering...........

The computers original form

http://www.bosbuy.net/assets/images/dell-optigx-desktopgx280.jpg