Mini ITX / HTPC build - Advice please?

[shinobivs]

I've put together a spec for a mini itx living room build. Basically the system is going to be used to store all my music / video (which isn't a huge amount) all in one place while also be able to browse the net and do a bit of wed design work. It has to be pretty silent and sit next to my xbox and sky box.

Any thoughts would be great. Also it's been a while since my last home build so if anyone can see potential problems that would be a great help. The spec I have put together is...

CPU
Intel Core i3 2120 (already bought at a bargain price)

MOBO
Asrock H67M-ITX 1155 mini-Itx Motherboard

CPU FAN
Need some advice on this... has to be low profile and pretty silent. I cant see the stock fan being any good.

SSD
Probably going to pick up a 128gb Sandisk Extreme or something

RAM
Corsair Memory Vengeance Low Profi Jet Black 4GB DDR3

CASE
Lian Li PC-Q09FW HTPC Chassis 150W PSU

CASE FAN
Sharkoon 1000 Golf Ball 80MM

 

[ScrewySqrl]

something like this might work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233103

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233059

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835610012

 

[shinobivs]

These links should work now...

CPU
Intel Core i3 2120 (already bought at a bargain price)

MOBO
Asrock H67M-ITX 1155 mini-Itx Motherboard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asrock-H67M-ITX-1155-mini-Itx-Motherboard/dp/B004RQAT3G/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1347891845&sr=1-1"

CPU FAN
Need some advice on this... has to be low profile and pretty silent. I cant see the stock fan being any good.

SSD
Probably going to pick up a 128gb Sandisk Extreme or something

RAM
Corsair Memory Vengeance Low Profi Jet Black 4GB DDR3
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-lp-jet-black-pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-xmp-15v

CASE
Lian Li PC-Q09FW HTPC Chassis 150W PSU
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-li-pc-q09fw-white-mini-itx-aluminium-htpc-case-with-usb3-and-150w-flex-psu

CASE FAN
Sharkoon 1000 Golf Ball 80MM
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/80mm-sharkoon-1000-golf-ball-ultra-quiet-89-db(a)-case-fan-114-cfm

 

[shinobivs]

everything looks solid except

1. do you really need an additional fan? it looks like your case already comes with one and that rig wont be generating much heat at all. My HTPC is 100% passive (less fans = hotter but less noise, key if its in your main living/tv room especially if its on 24/7)

2. Ive never owned Lianli so i cant speak to them personally however i would be careful with bundled PSU's ALOT of people complain/have them fail.

3. Unless you have a server or something youre going to need an HDD in addition to a SSD. Be aware your currently selected case only supports 1 2.5 inch drive according to specifications. Might be better to pick up a nice green high capacity 2.5 HDD, or if your budget allows a larger SSD.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136780
Might work

4. Are you going to have an optical drive? or are you just going to download and stream? Might be difficult to install windows with a flash drive ( although its fairly easy to it with a linux distro linux =/= windows), and your PSU might only have connectors for 1 sata device.

5. For all these reasons you might wanna look at a microATX case, they make plenty of htpc friendly models altough its still small it will be a decent amount larger than minITX

Brilliant reply! thanks for making the effort to help.

I think you're right with a case fan, If need be I can buy one later down the line.

I forgot to mention in my orignal post that I have a cased 500gb Samsung Spinpoint F1 HDD that i intend to sit on top of the system for my video and then keep all my music on the SSD. The hdd has external power.

I plan to install windows off USB so no need for an optical drive, I think they are slowly becoming obsolete.

You mentioned people having trouble with the PSU in the case, do you think I'm better off getting the external power block version for a few extra pounds?
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lian-li-pc-q09b-black-mini-itx-case-with-110w-power-adapter

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Lan-Li is a pretty reliable case maker, I think their 150W PSU will be fine for your purposes

 

[shinobivs]

Lan-Li is a pretty reliable case maker, I think their 150W PSU will be fine for your purposes

I've found it hard work to get a review or comparison on the two versions (PSU vs power block). I suppose that if my system is only running at say 80/90w then the PSU is going to be pretty quiet as its nowhere near its capacity.

 

[shinobivs]

Ordered it all bar the case fan and a heatsink