Power Supply – Silverstone Nightjar ST30NF
Most power supplies possess a fan, adding them to the list of noise sources found inside a PC. Passively cooled power supplies, on the other hand, are silent, but rare, expensive and offer only limited power output. We chose the Silverstone Nightjar ST30NF, which is rated at 300 Watts but still remains silent. As we can see, we need to take the limited power output into consideration when we choose the remaining components for the HTPC.
Platform – AMD or Intel?
Unquestionably, Intel is the current performance leader in almost every category. Still, while we were assembling the components for the our platform, our focus lay on HDMI connectivity, the platform’s overall power consumption, and the value for money with regard to the system’s tasks – Blu-ray, HD DVD and HDTV.
Currently, Intel does not offer a single chipset that supports HDMI with HDCP – but AMD does. Since we’re aiming to build a home-theatre PC with Full-HD support and not a hardcore gaming system, we don’t need to use the fastest CPU. For our purposes, AMD offers the best value for money. In preparation for this project we compared several Intel and AMD platforms with one another, measuring their power consumption. We came to the conclusion that in the low-cost segment with HD support, the AMD platform has the lowest power consumption at the system level (CPU, graphics card, and motherboard combined).
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1. While you concentrated on the IR functionality of the case, you didn't mention the noise the supplied fans create. Given you've gone to all that trouble (and expense) of finding a fanless power supply why do you not consider case fan noise. Is it because the case is supplied with low noise fans? Have you measured the noise? What is the noise?
2. If you are so concerned about noise why not suggest that video data is stored on a server somewhere else and the OS be put on Compact Flash.
€30 to eliminate "data" noise completely for the life of you system seems positively cheap. Hard drive quietening solutions are not as effective or as cheap.
3. Is it me or does the case look like it would take up half your lounge(unless your lounge is the size of London)? Not exactly small it is? I can't think of anyone's living room that it wouldn't look intrusive in.
2.Agreed, i'm definatly going to go the compact flash option, and have a networked media server somewhere where it won't be as obtrusive.
3.Agreed again, what is it with these so called HTpc boxes that are big enough to hold a swimming pool? we have mATX mainboards, and half height cards, why not use them?
my inital idea is to get an HP DC7700 small form factor machine, still on the big side for a media centre machine, but a third the size of that offering. still fit a normal size 5.25" optical drive, and 3.5" hard disk. still got pciE x1, pciE x16, and 2x normal pci slots for half height cards. got a pciE NV8500 with HDMI, 4Gb ram (don't want paging on a compact flash drive)...
anyway, my only question is, how are you able to get dual satallite tuners to work with one CAM smart card module?
I did a similar thread over at avforums.co.uk a long while a go...
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348233
My media machine had to be low profile, and comes with a true low profile HDMI VGA card. (Sapphire 1600 HDMI etc)
The case has a has a IR port (and display) built in, and comes from standby with a normal MCE remote.
It is currently only running HD-DVDs, but i do intend to change to a multi HD drive.
I didn't bother with tuner cards as we don't get HD broadcasts via terrestial TV. (YET!)
It is near silent when running, and didn't cost the earth!
Bye Bye...
I did a similar thread over at avforums.co.uk a long while a go...
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348233
My media machine had to be low profile, and comes with a true low profile HDMI VGA card. (Sapphire 1600 HDMI etc)
The case has a has a IR port (and display) built in, and comes from standby with a normal MCE remote.
It is currently only running HD-DVDs, but i do intend to change to a multi HD drive.
I didn't bother with tuner cards as we don't get HD broadcasts via terrestial TV. (YET!)
It is near silent when running, and didn't cost the earth!
Bye Bye...
as use on Asus P5E V(M)HDMI!
Although I have been using a HTPC with Windows MCE(XP and Vista) for the last 2 and half years, im afraid early next year I will be dropping it. I have come to realise that to run, and keep up to date my Media Center is a constant and expensive hassle, with worries about heat, silence, power consumption, speed, drivers, cpu consumption, codecs, configuration etc.
I will admit that a well spec'd HTPC is very flexible, should be less hassle and can look good too, but it is still not perfect for something the Mrs can use! Even though she does see its uses and has been sold on the idea I cringe evertime i have to tell her to restart the TV! They are still not perfect as a living room entertainment device for the average user.
Early next year Sony releases the PlayTV twin tuner for the PS3. This is where my money is going next. It can do Photos, Music, Videos, uPnp network streaming, internet browsing, HD and Blu-Ray and now a full twin tuner PVR but is also quiet, user friendly and hassle free. Thats without even mentioning the gaming, all for £300!
Yes, i understand the HTPC is more flexible and upgradeable but I hope you all see my point?