Assembling HTPC in Origen S16V and S14V cases - Page 3

Hi Scooter
how have you got on re your build S16V and especially the CPU Cooler?

LPT

Parts are scheduled to begin arriving tomorrow. I've put together the SW tools to monitor and report on CPU temperatures when I've got it up and running. I'm going mild on the OC. I'll likely settle in at 3.2 to 3.4 GHz.

Well I just ordered the S16V today and my other HTPC parts. When I get her put together I will post pictures. I went with the S16V because an inch in height does not bother me and I can later put a full ATX system in with a full size graphics card when it is time to upgrade my main system components. Also, I do not want to be limited with what type of memory I have to buy (ie S14V). I cant wait to get this beast and assemble it. I have been working the bugs out of AnyDVD-HD, TMT, PDVD 8, and WinDVD 9 for several months now. I feel like I have the hang of it down so I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.

Parts List:
Corsair 520W Modular PSU
Q8200 2.33Ghz CPU
4GB G.Skill 800Mhz Memory
9400 Gigabyte Motherboard
Zalman 9500 Heatsink
OrigenAE S16V (Black)
WD6400AAKS 640GB Hard Drive
LG GGW-H20L (Blu-ray/HDDVD)

I think you will be very happy.

I did get the IR221 kit, which works great with TMT and VMC. However, my PC is positioned low to the ground, so I ended up using a USB IR receiver positioned higher.

I ordered my S16V from Pcalchemy.com, but I see they went out of business on Jan. 1.

-Dave

BLK02,

Please be aware that the Zalman 9500's bracket can (depending on how you install it) extend over the closest memory slot as was the case with my Gigabyte GA-p35-ds3l and can prevent the use of some high memory sticks (such as CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-8500C5D) in that slot (see attached screen capture).

Although I discovered it only during installation it wasn't a major problem because I ordered only two 1G sticks and I used the other memory slot. Other than that you'll enjoy the SV16 it's a beauty and well designed.

That's a good point.

My full-ATX motherboard has DIMM slots that extend under the optical drive in the S16V case, thereby limiting the height of DIMMs I can use. For example, these DIMMs will not fit with my motherboard installed in an S16V.

-Dave

Is the IR221 really important to have in order to control the S16V from the couch. I plan on having a DiNovo Edge next to the couch so I did not think it was that important to buy the upgraded IR module. My remote uses RF anyway.

I'm looking for a Power Supply recommendation. I purchased the Enermax 850 for installation in the S16V, but the modular connectors interfere with the LG Blu-Ray drive. Anyone have a favorite in the 850 watt class?

A couple comments on that chart. You can still install the IRTrans driver with the IR221 to enable operation of the VFD of the S16V. The IR221 module works with the remote that came with my S16V, but that remote is probably an MS-compatible remote. Also, the IR221 module works fine with other applications that work with MS remotes. For example, it works well with TMT.

I also use an MCE keyboard, so it is nice to have the keyboard working before logging in. The latest IRTrans software can run as a service. However, the VFD does not dim when I put my HTPC into standby if the IRTrans is running as a service. The VFD does dim if IRTrans is running as an application.

-Dave

Zygmunt,

I just realized that your name is on the invoice for my S16V. I did not realize you were one of the only two retailers of OrigenAE in the U.S. Its nice to have a supplier so involved with the community. I am glad I bought from you and not from the second retailer now that I know the case is actually coming from you.

All my Newegg parts arrived today. The case should arrive tomorrow. I will post some eye candy when it comes in and I will let you know about the build experience. I mounted my processor, Zalman 9500 heatsink, and memory tonight. I did not run into any trouble with the clips from the Zalman 9500 interfering with the memory module locations. Also, the Zalman 9500 fits nicely next to the IGP Nvidia 9400 heatsink with the airflow directed towards the I/O plate. It feels like christmas all over again. My only issue now is finding a DVI cable long enough to string through the wall to my 50" NEC plasma that is hanging above the fireplace mantel. The 50" NEC plasma is a commercial monitor that I had in one of my shops. It has VGA, DVI, BCN, etc. I am also running down a Cat5e cable from my computer room upstairs to the HTPC location this weekend. Thank goodness I have a friend in the Home Theater install business.

How do you remove the plastic bezel on the LG GGW-H20L. The instructions for the S16V state that you need to remove the stock plastic bezel on your optical drive. I dont want to start prying on the thing without knowing which direction I should be prying. Also, is this even neccesary since the stock plastic bezel on the LG is perfectly flat?

Thanks

If you turn the drive over you'll notice three small hooks that hold the bezel in place on the tray. Notice to that the bezel is keyed to the tray at both ends. What worked for me was to bow the bezel outward from the center, releasing the hooks, while pushing up on one end of the bezel to release it from the tray.

What about the face of the drive other than the tray bezel?

That stays on.

I had to abandon the Nexus Cooler and installed the intel cooler. With the Nexus, the idle temperature was 49C. With the intel cooler, it's 37C. Looking at the base plate of the Nexus cooler, scratching seems to indicate it touched the CPU just at the corners. After I've gotten the S/W worked out, I'll return to the hardware and attempt to reduce temps further.

In general, the longer LG optical drive restricted my component choices for the S16V case.

Here is a case shot of the S16V before the drive bay installation with the Zalman 9500 and the Gigabyte 9400 MicroATX MB fully installed. I had the Corsair 520watt Modular PSU installed prior to the MB installation which worked out ok, but it would have been easier to connect the 4-Pin power on this MB without it in. I had to remove one of the rear case fans so I could fit my hand in to connect the 4-Pin power. Also, tape down as many cables as possible on the bottom of the case, so the MB can be installed on top of them. Even with the MicroATX board I still had to hunt for space. I cant imagine doing this with a full size ATX board.

You will have to remove the tray bezel in order to make the LG GGW-H20L work properly. The stock tray bezel will not fit through the opening on the front of the case.

Here you can see three small tabs. First, you must eject the drive tray using the emergency eject hole along the bottom of the drive (I used a paper clip). If you turnover the drive with the stock tray bezel still installed you will see the three small tabs. These must be pushed out in order to slide the tray bezel off. I cut small strips of zip tie and placed them next to each tab in order to pry them all loose at once. Once you get all the tabs pryed loose the bezel slides off smooth as butter.

Also, I ran out of fan headers on the Gigabyte 9400. I have no where to plug in the hard drive cage fan. The Gigabyte 9400 only comes with two fan headers (one CPU_FAN and one SYS_FAN). The S16V has three case fans that need power plus you have the heatsink fan. I have already used the Y adapter cable to plug both the rear case fans into the SYS_FAN header, but I am still short power for the hard drive cage fan. Any ideas?

Also, the power switch connector from the S16V case does not explicitly say which side is positive. I see an arrow pointing down on the black wire side of the connector but no +/- symbols. I know this might be a dumb question but I am asking anyway. Is the red wire positive???

Well the S16V is all up and running. I just installed RealTemp 3.00 90to see what my GPU and Core temps were. These temps were taken right after the Vista Ultimate 32x install. I have not adjusted the fan speed on the CPU cooler yet. I wanted to see if these temps were close to what you have seen with this processor in this case (see below)??? With my OCZ Vendetta 2 and the Q9450 I get around 38 on all cores in my main rig, but there is alot more open space and larger fans. I see what you mean about the two rear case fans being slow. I bought a single fan controller for the hard drive cage so I could control its speed. I wonder if the same thing could be applied to the two rear case fans with a Y adapter. I believe the TJMax of 100 is alittle high for the new quad cores according to all the research I have read. I use TJMax of 95 for my Q9450.

Run State = Idle
Vista Ultimate 32x
RealTemp 3.00
TJMax = 100
Q8200 @ 2166Ghz
Core 0 = 53
Core 1 = 44
Core 2 = 51
Core 3 = 51
GPU = 62

Well when you install IRtrans v09.01.06 from OrigenAE's website make sure you go to the program folder and right click the IRtans tray icon and run it as administrator. Vista Ultimate 32x did not prompt me about blocking the software from starting until I did this and I had UAC off. I was pulling my hair out thinking I had to manually register the .dll file, which is not the case with the new version of IRtrans from OrigenAE's website. Also, the auto installation prompts with the new version of IRtrans are slightly different than the prompts present on the updated user guide on OrigenAE's website and they are alot different than the prompts present in the user guide that came with my S16V. You kind of have to figure your way through it. Make sure and select the MCE plugin for installation because the auto install will not select this feature by default with this new version (the user guide with my S16V case must be atleast two versions old for IRtrans because it instucts me to manually register the .dll file).

How do you get the S16V to wake up from S3 or turn on from the remote. I tried to use the PC power button on the remote but all it did was turn on my Xbox 360. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Hi Zygmunt
Got the IRTransView_64.dll!!!! It is working.

Great box, and thanks for the help. But since you are the "expert" here. I got just one problem. The Gigabyte NVidia 9400 MoBo, (saw it in your selection for the "prebuilt systems" good idea by the way.)

Anyway, I am using the NVidia sound and only one HDMI cable (that is why I am using the NVidia instead of the RealTek). It pops a lot whenever a new application starts to send sound. And ussually pops when the program stops (or maybe it is the standard Vista sound taking over). Anyway have tried all the Vista sound settings for CD CD quality DVD... All the different bits and Mhz... Still the pop.

Any Ideas, or do you just use the RealTek, and you do not have a problem with this sound?

Thanks for all your help.

Basicly the remaining problems I have I think a Asus Xonar 1.3 will fix. Good sound, WILL change the pc HDMI output from a PC to a standard vidio HDMI.... (like a bluray or satelite - the PC hdmi forces me to set the LCD input to be a PC to scale properly. All other HDMI device I can select a lot of different types of Input on the LCD and they all work. Only the PC HDMI requires a PC on the TV to scale correctly).

I used the procedure here:http://www.origenae.co.kr/board/bbs/...e_faq&wr_id=31

I used the PC power button on the Origen remote. Works like a charm. The Green Media Center button turns our XBOX on.

Reading the many posts relating to builds of the S16 can anyone out there enlighten me from your experience, what should be the order, first to last installation procedure when first 'firing' up a new Origenae S16 ?
IE: Bios, Origenae, Hardware software/updates,