Completely Silent Home Theater PC

[Dutch1975]

So, I want to build a totally silent HTPC. Here is the list of parts I want to buy. I will be taking the fan out of the cpu cooler because I like things to be totally silent. Is there anything I am missing or should know before attempting this build? Is there any chance of my HTPC overheating if I am only using it for home theater purposes?

SILVERSTONE Tek Nightjar NJ520 520W Completely Fanless ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply with Zero dBA Acoustics
$149.99
MSI Z97 PC Mate LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$109.99
SilverStone Technology Grandia Series Aluminum HTPC Computer Case for ATX / SSI-CEB, Black (GD09B)
$74.99
Samsung 850 EVO 1 TB Internal SSD SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" MZ-75E1T0
$349
LG Electronics 14x Internal BDXL Blu-Ray Burner Rewriter WH14NS40 - Bulk Drive - Black
$53.63
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 Silentwings CPU Cooler LGA775/1150/1155/1156/1366/2011 FM1/FM2/AM3/AM3
$90.89 + $12.50 shipping
Intel Pentium G3450 Processor - BX80646G3450
$76.99
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64bit (Full) System Builder OEM DVD 1 Pack [Old Packaging]
$150

Ceton InfiniTV Card already owned
Apprx $1055

 

[i7Baby]

Looks fine. It should run fine too.

I'd recommend an i3 instead of the pentium for better graphics

 

[noidea_77]

Limitation of CPU cooler for the case: 138mm, hight of the cooler 163mm.

 

[madmatt30]

Honestly ??
Buying the darkrock & removing the fan is a terrible idea.
Forget your fanless idea ,buy a raijintek Pallas
http://pcpartpicker.com/search/?cc=us&q=Pallas

Limit the fan speed to 600rpm.

It'll cool the entire board & the caps buzzing in your TV will make more noise .

& for htpc only use I would 100% go with an i3 or one of the lower tdp amd apu's - namely the a8-7600.

 

[Wolfshadw]

There's no such thing as a completely silent computer (unless you never turn it on). Now I don't know about your place, but in mine, my HTPC is fairly quiet (using stock components). I can't hear it over the ambient sounds of my small apartment (or my tinnitus) and I certainly can't hear it when it's in use.

IMO, functional computer + fanless components = bad idea.

-Wolf sends

 

[jmsellars1]

I'm a quiet freak myself with computers and I agree, it is never 100% silent. In your build for example, you have the optical drive which while click and whirr when starting up for example. Sometimes you get bits of electrical noise from components as well.

I would just go with 2 very quiet fans instead (PSU and CPU), a 120mm fan running at <700RPM is basically inaudible anyway. Noctua's PWM fans tend to go down to 300RPM, I can't even hear that if I put my ear next to the case. Good thing about this is the peace of mind as well, if your PC overheats your fans will just become audible instead of your PC shutting down or components getting damaged.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608025&cm_re=nh-l12-_-35-608-025-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

The fan on that PSU stops under low load and is still quiet under load. The fan on that CPU cooler is 300RPM under low load and still quiet under load as well.

 

[madmatt30]

Bear this in mind.
That height for CPU cooler stated is WITHOUT an optical drive installed.
With an optical the max height is below 90mm.
The Pallas is a LOT better cooler than the noctua ,& quieter.

Also I doubt the grandia series cases will fare at all well going fanless.
Theyre all based around running positive case pressure with prefitted intakes.

You would be better going with an matx build with the ml series cases which are heavily vented / meshed on the backs & sides.

 

[jsmithepa]

Dark Rock without fan... if it fits... as long as ur not pushing too hard, may get away with it.

With that kind of budget...

Here is my Zero Decibel HTPC. Optical is a non-working dummy 'cuz I can't find the blank cover. No electronic noise that I can hear, but fan noise, no matter how slight do bother me. Not gonna argue about it, is something I wanted to own for a long time. Is stress tested with Prime95. Not a gaming machine. YMMV.

 

[madmatt30]

^ custom made surely - or is that a commercial case??? A case that acts as a giant heatsink - I like it.

 

[Dutch1975]

Thanks! I will have to look for a better radiator.

Limitation of CPU cooler for the case: 138mm, hight of the cooler 163mm.

 

[Dutch1975]

Awesome looking build!!

I don't want to spend more than 1200 on build.

Dark Rock without fan... if it fits... as long as ur not pushing too hard, may get away with it.

With that kind of budget...

Here is my Zero Decibel HTPC. Optical is a non-working dummy 'cuz I can't find the blank cover. No electronic noise that I can hear, but fan noise, no matter how slight do bother me. Not gonna argue about it, is something I wanted to own for a long time. Is stress tested with Prime95. Not a gaming machine. YMMV.

 

[nikoli707]

im using a pentium g3420t processor, a left over sandy bridge 2500k stock cpu cooler, and an antec vp450 power supply for my htpc and its pretty darn quiet, sometimes hard to tell its on, though not 'completely silent'. honestly the vp450 fan is what makes the most noise. could get a fanless power supply. otherwise i have the cpu cooler set to silent mode in the bios and its virtually silent. that dark rock 3 will definitely not be silent. if i were you i would get a haswell 't' processor or a g3258(undervolt the crap out of it) and fanless cpu cooler. my g3420t at stock will only hit 50c in prime95 with the stock intel cooler set to silent mode in the bios. otherwise my g3420t has no problem running the dolphin emulator or picking up steam streaming games from my main gaming rig. i haven't even tried to undervolt it either which im sure i could remove .1-.2ghz and/or 0.05v on the core.

 

[Dutch1975]

I want this build to be fanless. Yes, the bluray player will make noise. I might use foam insulation to quiet it.

I'm a quiet freak myself with computers and I agree, it is never 100% silent. In your build for example, you have the optical drive which while click and whirr when starting up for example. Sometimes you get bits of electrical noise from components as well.

I would just go with 2 very quiet fans instead (PSU and CPU), a 120mm fan running at <700RPM is basically inaudible anyway. Noctua's PWM fans tend to go down to 300RPM, I can't even hear that if I put my ear next to the case. Good thing about this is the peace of mind as well, if your PC overheats your fans will just become audible instead of your PC shutting down or components getting damaged.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608025&cm_re=nh-l12-_-35-608-025-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088

The fan on that PSU stops under low load and is still quiet under load. The fan on that CPU cooler is 300RPM under low load and still quiet under load as well.

 

[nikoli707]

you could relocate all the electronics to a separate room like the pros do.