[SOLVED] Building a HTPC ITX (maybe ITX, not sure yet)

[ThoughtFission]

I'm about to build an HTPC from a combination of used and new parts. This is for our living room and it will replace an old Macbook pro laptop that is on it's last legs. Cost will be a major consideration as I've been unemployed for a while now.

The things I would like to use it for are 4k video at 60fps, VPN router, NAS and some light gaming if possible but not absolutely required (have a PS4 pro). I would like to do this in an ITX frame but the cost of the boards seems prohibitive.

I already have a Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4gb GPU and a Intel 3930K processor.

Could I get some recommendations for the remaining required parts; motherboard, memory, power supply, case, fan etc.? This needs to sit on a TV stand and also it needs to be quiet.

Thanks!

PS, I posted the same to r/htpc

 

[davidgirgis]

see, I totally get it, you want small, powerful, quiet and inexpensive. There are plenty of options for that. But I'm a little against small just for the sake of small. Think of any home theater receiver, they're kinda bulky, yes quiet, but kinda big.

In fact quiet operation, which is necessary for those quiet scenes in movies, kinda requires a larger cooler to dissipate heat, so that you can leave the fans on a low RPM setting.

As far a nice looking HTPC case for all that and then some, look for the Steiger Dynamics cases, which is total overkill, but they do look nice in the living room.

Just for brainstorming, and only for the purpose of getting you to think outside the box, check out the following links...

https://www.steigerdynamics.com/htpc-products
https://openbenchtable.com/
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/core/core-500/black/
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/node/
https://www.silverstonetek.com/product_case.php?bno=28&tb=1&area=en

Also, you pay more for mini-ITX, mini-DTX, and mATX.
You may need a smaller PSU, too, which costs more, is less efficient...

Look at my build, just for ideas...

 

[davidgirgis]

You need a motherboard that supports LGA 2011 socket. I did a quick search on newegg, they're kinda old, expensive, and mostly used...
Have you considered a new modern platform? like a new CPU/MOBO combo deal from MicroCenter or newegg Shell Shocker deals, they have new ones every other day...maybe a B450 mobo like the MSI Tamahawk paired with a Ryzen 5 3600...
https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E168131...awk&cm_re=msi_tamahawk-_-13-144-267-_-Product
https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-5-3600/p/N82E16819113569

 

[ThoughtFission]

see, I totally get it, you want small, powerful, quiet and inexpensive. There are plenty of options for that. But I'm a little against small just for the sake of small. Think of any home theater receiver, they're kinda bulky, yes quiet, but kinda big.

In fact quiet operation, which is necessary for those quiet scenes in movies, kinda requires a larger cooler to dissipate heat, so that you can leave the fans on a low RPM setting.

As far a nice looking HTPC case for all that and then some, look for the Steiger Dynamics cases, which is total overkill, but they do look nice in the living room.

Just for brainstorming, and only for the purpose of getting you to think outside the box, check out the following links...

https://www.steigerdynamics.com/htpc-products
https://openbenchtable.com/
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/core/core-500/black/
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/node/
https://www.silverstonetek.com/product_case.php?bno=28&tb=1&area=en

Also, you pay more for mini-ITX, mini-DTX, and mATX.
You may need a smaller PSU, too, which costs more, is less efficient...

Look at my build, just for ideas...

First of all, nice build!

Thanks for sharing all of those links. The consensus seems to be that an ATX system would be the smarter way to go for several reasons. I agree with you. Unfortunate that Steiger doesn't sell just the cases. They're beautiful.

Really appreciate your insight, thanks.

 

[davidgirgis]

https://streacom.com/products/chassis/

 

[punkncat]

As far as a case for that size, look at Lian Li. I had a "Q" series that was awesome. 5 3.5" HDD slots in a stack, room for 2 more 3.5, piano black and gorgeous.
I would consider that finding a decent ITX motherboard for that CPU will cost nearly what you could buy a new CPU/mobo/RAM combo for unless you chance across something.