Question Help building low noise, low consumption HTPC

[quake004]

PC mainly for watching movies in the living room and just enough graphics to play games like Witcher 3 at 1080p medium settings. With an optic drive, maximum dimensions of the case of 460 x 340 x 105 mm. Minimize noise and power consumption.

 

[jeremyj_83]

Something like this might work.
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2400G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-L9a-AM4 33.84 CFM CPU Cooler ($39.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock - B450 GAMING-ITX/AC Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard ($120.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team - T-Force Vulcan 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX8200 Pro 512 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial - BX500 960 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($113.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Inwin - CE685.FH300TB3 MicroATX Slim Case w/300 W Power Supply ($95.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG - WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $734.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-05-02 13:31 EDT-0400

 

[quake004]

Thanks. Which graphic would go in it?

 

[jeremyj_83]

You would use the integrated graphics of the Ryzen CPU. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-5-2400g-zen-vega-cpu-gpu,5467.html

 

[jeremyj_83]

If you wanted to add a GPU you could use a 1050Ti or 1650 with the 1650 being the faster of the two.

 

[King_V]

If you're good with medium/low settings for games at 1080p, you could go with the
ASRock A300W barebones kit (small case, motherboard, wifi, external power brick) $150
Ryzen 5 2400G (supposedly the wraith WILL fit in the A300W, if you take the shroud off) ~$140
Crucial MX500 SATA 2.5" SSD ~$130
HyperX 2x8GB 2933MHz RAM (the A300W uses LAPTOP memory) - HX429S17IB2K2 ~ $104

- $524 total

It's tiny - 155mm x 155mm x 80mm
(optionally the 3200Mhz RAM, HX432S20IB2K2 2x8 for $24 more)



I am guessing with how much storage you want/need, and I went with the 2.5" drive because, if you go with M.2, the M.2 supports NVMe ONLY. There's a QVL list for what's supported for M.2 drives, and while others work, it MIGHT be a gamble if you pick one not on the list.

If you don't need 16GB of RAM, you can get 2x4GB, and obviously that will drop the price some.


I have one of these, but I went super-low-end, getting 2x4GB 2400MHz (I stuck with the QVL list for RAM), and an Athlon 200GE CPU with a 128GB Patriot NVMe SSD (my previous system's install, which this one would replace, was in total under 30GB). My goal was Linux OS, and keep the TOTAL cost under $300. I use it to connect to work, do some web-browsing, Facebook, YouTube, etc., and retro gaming.

Keep in mind, this thing is so tiny because there is no PCIe slot!! You MUST use a Ryzen with integrated graphics! Ergo, no chance of upgrading to a better video card in the future.



EDIT: I also seem to recall a YouTube video where someone built one of these with 3200MHz RAM and it worked. Officially not supported, but you know how that goes.

 

[quake004]

I'm sorry I forgot to say I'm from Spain, I couldn't find that case here. It's a pitty because I really liked that build.

 

[jeremyj_83]

Here is a different build.
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor (€165.76 @ Amazon Espana)
Motherboard: ASRock - B450 GAMING-ITX/AC Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard (€131.87 @ Amazon Espana)
Memory: G.Skill - Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory (€85.82 @ Alternate)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX8200 Pro 512 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive (€110.36 @ Amazon Espana)
Storage: Crucial - BX500 960 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (€121.85 @ PC Componentes)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB GAMING Video Card (€293.24 @ PC Componentes)
Case: Silverstone - ML07B HTPC Case (€75.49 @ PC Componentes)
Power Supply: Corsair - SF 600 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply (€119.90 @ Amazon Espana)
Optical Drive: Panasonic - UJ-265 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer (€129.95 @ Amazon Espana)
Case Fan: Enermax - UCTB12P 71.25 CFM 120mm Fan (€9.30 @ Amazon Espana)
Case Fan: Enermax - UCTB12P 71.25 CFM 120mm Fan (€9.30 @ Amazon Espana)
Case Fan: Enermax - UCTB12P 71.25 CFM 120mm Fan (€9.30 @ Amazon Espana)
Total: €1262.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-05-03 15:52 CEST+0200

If you would be OK with an external optical drive you could do this.
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor (€165.76 @ Amazon Espana)
Motherboard: ASRock - B450 GAMING-ITX/AC Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard (€131.87 @ Amazon Espana)
Memory: G.Skill - Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory (€85.82 @ Alternate)
Storage: ADATA - XPG SX8200 Pro 512 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive (€110.36 @ Amazon Espana)
Storage: Crucial - BX500 960 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (€121.85 @ PC Componentes)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB GAMING Video Card (€293.24 @ PC Componentes)
Case: Silverstone - RVZ01B-E HTPC Case (€94.38 @ Amazon Espana)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (€94.45 @ Amazon Espana)
Case Fan: Enermax - UCTB12P 71.25 CFM 120mm Fan (€9.30 @ Amazon Espana)
Total: €1107.03
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-05-03 15:48 CEST+0200
This has a full GPU since the 2600 doesn't have an internal GPU, but the case allows for an ATX PSU which saves a bit of money.

Both of these you could remove the Ryzen 2600 and go with the 2400G at which point you wouldn't need the GPU since the 2400G has integrated graphics. You would go from a 6c/12T with the 2600 to a 4c/8t with the 2400G.

 

[geofelt]

What is your budget?
Do you have a link as to where you might shop?
For a HTPC, start with the case.
What can go inside is dependent on that.
Your case size restrictions will determine what you can do.
Needing a dvd drive may also be a limiter.
Here is a Silverstone milo 03b:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAD6F6K30377

 

[quake004]

The price for those previous builds is ok as a budget. I use pccomponentes.com or amazon.es for price reference but I'll end up buying the parts in the secondary market, except motherboard and storage. Yes I've seen a big portion of htpc cases doesn't have a place for the optical drive anymore. And the place where I have to put the pc is very small so there aren't really many options. The Silverstone Milo 03b would fit exactly in height and it has a bit more depth than the cabinet but I don't think it would be bad. It will have 80 mm in the side so the air can move into the cabinet. I think I'll go with the 2400G just to have a low temperature because I don't think the airflow will be too good. Thanks, I appreciate your help a lot.

 

[geofelt]

The 2200g is great for gaming on a budget, but it may run hotter than you want.
It will be good for fast action games. it is a 65w processor.

Intel G5500 is low power and the included HD630 graphics will be ok for HD movie playback.

 

[King_V]

The 2200g is great for gaming on a budget, but it may run hotter than you want.
It will be good for fast action games. it is a 65w processor.

Intel G5500 is low power and the included HD630 graphics will be ok for HD movie playback.

But the HD630 is not going to run Witcher 3 at 1080p medium settings.

 

[geofelt]

But the HD630 is not going to run Witcher 3 at 1080p medium settings.

True enough. It depends on important gaming is vs. movies.

And... it looks like 2200g is not sufficient for witcher 3 at 1080P so a discrete graphics card will be needed regardless.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-3-2200g-raven-ridge-cpu,5472-5.html
Looks like about GT1030 capability.
For such gaming, GTX1050 or better seems to be in order.

 

[King_V]

Yeah, agreed - a 2200g won't don it, whereas a 2400g might cover it, but that would be low settings, and expect about 30 fps at 1080p. Though, it's described as: "We can confidently recommend the Ryzen 5 2400G for 1080p gaming at low settings in The Witcher 3. The game plays really well."

See the bottom of this page.


I don't think the heat will be a major issue, though, unless there's a lot of obstruction.

If a discrete card is in order (and I think low-settings at 30fps means that more GPU power is called for), then cost and performance wise, I'd suggest an RX 570 over a GTX 1050, but then we're talking more heat, power use, etc. But performance-per-dollar (where heat/cooling isn't a problem), the RX 570 is the superior choice over the 1050 and the 1650.