Components recommendation for a HTPC

[eyz]

Hi,

tried asking for some components recommendation in one of the existing thread, but wasn't getting any good response. Hence, created a new thread.

I am intending to a building a HTPC, mainly for XBMC.

I am a little torn between going Ivy Bridge or Haswell, as Haswell seems to have some issues.

1) Mobo+chip combo:

i. Haswell: Gigabyte GA-H87N-wifi ITX & i3-4130 (Available locally at 306$SG)

Intel Core i3-4130, Antec ISK 110 VESA - System Build - PCPartPicker

ii. Ivy Bridge: Gigabyte GA-H77N-wifi ITX (163$SG) & i3-3245 (146$US) or i3-3225 (140$US), which would be shipped free from from Amazon

Can't seem to get any Ivy Bridge CPU with Intel HD4000 locally, except from http://sg.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...=/ha2pyFaduiS1S3xrXVHY/tXaHoIMmCaStS4B5VzJBw=, which is already EOL.

Intel Core i3-3245, Antec ISK 110 VESA - System Build - PCPartPicker

2) Casing & PSU: Antec ISK 110 VESA, 90W

3) Memory: 4/8GB of Kingston HyperX Plug and Play or the recommended G.Skill

4) HDD: SSD from Amazon, depending on any good deal.

My main concern is the power supply might not be enough for the setup. Both setup exceed the casing 90W supply. And it seems that the Kingston ram voltage is not suitable for ITX mobo, as indicated on the footnote of setup 1.

Furthermore, from what I had read from the XBMC forum, that only Haswell managed to push out full 24fps videos, but there seem to have have compatibility issue.

Hope to hear some advice from you guys.

Thanks.

 

[royfrosty]

So far only problem i had with XBMC is just that it will hang when i insert a music CD for playback and no media is shown. Need to Force close it in order to get it back.

Another thing i face is the direct movie playback need to keep change back the settings for my bluray movie playback due to it always goes 5fps only cause the settings for audio pass thru is set as default.

Else there is no issues so far i have faced using Haswell.

FYI The board does not qualify for Free Shipping. It only applies in US. To SG even with $125 and above, they wont ship out to SG. Thus the only way is to go through a forwarder. And a forwarder will charge you a bomb for your mobo and Cpu combo. Buy locally will be a better choice.

You will just need the following build

MSI H81i ITX + G3220 ~ $170 (You do not need till an i3, G3220 with igpu is powerful enough)
ADATA 4gb 1600mhz Value Ram ~ $45
WD Green 2tb ~ $106 (bigger storage space for all your contents)
Kingston V300 120gb ~ $115 (SSD for a responsive OS) optional
CM elite 110 ~ $85
Seasonic g360 360w 80+ Gold Modular PSU ~ $84

Total ~ $605

Additional purchase

Win 7 or 8.1 ~ $115-120

 

[eyz]

Hi Roy,

thanks for the repy.

I'm considering a i3, mainly because of the Intru 3D feature.

Anyway, I'd read up on the Intel support page, it seems most users are giving feedback that Haswell is getting fine with XBMC. Most probably, I'll go with the Haswell option.

However, I'm still a little apprehensive over the power supply.

Can anyone advice on this?

Thanks.

So far only problem i had with XBMC is just that it will hang when i insert a music CD for playback and no media is shown. Need to Force close it in order to get it back.

Another thing i face is the direct movie playback need to keep change back the settings for my bluray movie playback due to it always goes 5fps only cause the settings for audio pass thru is set as default.

Else there is no issues so far i have faced using Haswell.

FYI The board does not qualify for Free Shipping. It only applies in US. To SG even with $125 and above, they wont ship out to SG. Thus the only way is to go through a forwarder. And a forwarder will charge you a bomb for your mobo and Cpu combo. Buy locally will be a better choice.

You will just need the following build

MSI H81i ITX + G3220 ~ $170 (You do not need till an i3, G3220 with igpu is powerful enough)
ADATA 4gb 1600mhz Value Ram ~ $45
WD Green 2tb ~ $106 (bigger storage space for all your contents)
Kingston V300 120gb ~ $115 (SSD for a responsive OS) optional
CM elite 110 ~ $85
Seasonic g360 360w 80+ Gold Modular PSU ~ $84

Total ~ $605

Additional purchase

Win 7 or 8.1 ~ $115-120

 

[royfrosty]

PSU just go for 300w will do.

Haswell CPU are rated around 84w

The rest of the components does not even add up much. At most max would be 150w.

Giving you a little bit more overheads. Also yes lesser loading also lesser stress to your PSU fan. Quieter.

 

[eyz]

Sorry Roy, but I am planning to get the Antec ISK 110 VESA which comes with an external power adapter of 90w @ 92% efficiency.

So can I just get an external PSU , if my power adapter is underpowered?

 

[shadow84]

Sorry Roy, but I am planning to get the Antec ISK 110 VESA which comes with an external power adapter of 90w @ 92% efficiency.

So can I just get an external PSU , if my power adapter is underpowered?

If your system can only accept 90W, giving it a bigger wattage adaptor will just kill it. Best is to stick to what they give.

 

[wwenze]

If your system can only accept 90W, giving it a bigger wattage adaptor will just kill it. Best is to stick to what they give.

No it won't.

Source: Physics

 

[Hailgod]

If your system can only accept 90W, giving it a bigger wattage adaptor will just kill it. Best is to stick to what they give.

ive seen many people upgrade their laptop chargers. Dont see how it kills.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

If your system can only accept 90W, giving it a bigger wattage adaptor will just kill it. Best is to stick to what they give.

Bro this is like saying my desktop only need 300W getting 400W PSU will kill it..

Your theory is for potential differences (aka Voltage), not about power...

 

[shadow84]

Bro this is like saying my desktop only need 300W getting 400W PSU will kill it..

Your theory is for potential differences (aka Voltage), not about power...

Maybe i presumed wrongly based on the reviews... lol...

 

[Ark Law]

If your system can only accept 90W, giving it a bigger wattage adaptor will just kill it

No, system only draws as much as it needs to.

If system was designed with a max of 90W, wanna use 10kW power supply/brick also can.

But if use lower wattage power supply/brick than designed, risk shorting out the entire system

 

[t258jgn]

There're quite a few people building their PCs using Antec ISK 110 VESA with i5-4670 & i7-4770 without any problems.

 

[eyz]

guys, thanks for the input.

i really appreciate that you guys had gave a more indepth explanation on the power supply.

There're quite a few people building their PCs using Antec ISK 110 VESA with i5-4670 & i7-4770 without any problems.

yah, i had seen many diyer doing that. it's just that after assembling my components on pcpartpickers, the estimated wattage totalled over 90w, hence the apprehension.

anyway, i will go ahead with the build and update you guys at a later date.