mini HTPC build (Habey EMC-800B, i3-2100T, SSD, etc.) - KEEPING IT SIMPLE - Page 12

This is true.

Good point. I think that's close to what I am trying to achieve -- that balance between power, noise and temperature.

Unfortunately, sometimes higher temperatures mean higher noise (like when the CPU fan is screaming) so that extra bit of cooling might mean less noise overall in the system. It takes playing around.

But, the goal all by itself should not be the lowest possible temperature because of the associate trade-offs/cost involved (size, money, noise, lack of power, etc.)

Call me crazy but I don't want a hot box tucked in the back of my armoire.

And that's where my bedroom HTPC is located. So I care about noise and heat for that scenario and I don't want to be kept up at night and I also don't want to be kept up by my fire alarm informing me that my HTPC has caught on fire.

So, you can fit 2 x 2.5" HDDs in the EMC-800B with the stock Intel cooler as long as you don't want the ODD. I've also noticed temps are MUCH better with a picoPSU vs. the included DC power board, even with a G620 and stock cooler installed. With ambient temperature of 72F, things are running around 105F-110F. With the included power board, an E-350 motherboard, no HDD/ODD tray and a single SSD temps were 120F-125F.

I bet that E-Q8 I posted (the EMC-800B w/o the ODD slot) with a picoPSU would make a very nice client PC build that wouldn't see those high temps. I wonder why the DC power board puts out so much heat?

What picoPSU are you using?

IIRC, it's the 120-WI-25. I am using a 72W laptop adapter from an old IBM T-41.


I removed the standard power board and undid the nut holding the power input jack onto the case. The picoPSU just fits right into the 24-pin ATX power input on the motherboard (using 20 pins) and then the power input jack for the picoPSU fits right into the same hole and the standard jack did and uses the same kind of nut.

The motherboard I was using with the standard power was an E-350. The one I am using with a picoPSU is an H61/G620 so it wouldn't be a worthwhile comparison between Habey power and picoPSU. The H61/G620 already has the picoPSU installed -- I was just swapping it from another case. The E-350 board is being RMA'd.

I am not sure if the much lower temps is the change in motherboards or change in power supplies. I have a lot more stuff jammed in there now with a 65W processor yet temps are much lower so it would seem it's the power supply but who knows. The stock fan is much bigger, maybe it moves more air or maybe the E-350 runs hot. I just checked it and at idle it's right around 100F.

I have the 800, and i have also purchased a 60mm, but it too is pretty loud for an HTPC

I have an ASUS F1A75-I Deluxe, I messed with the fan control but it didn't seem to change the fan speed or the noise. Could the fan be defective? its an Evercool EC6010M12A.

Check, check, and check. I have 2 fan connectors, one for the CPU and for the chassis. everything seems to be correct. Its not my first rodeo

The fan is not defective.
If that fan is the same as the Evercool EC6010M12CA, then it's a 3-pin fan that doesn't have a 4th wire for PWM speed control.
Your motherboard has two 4-pin headers to control PWM fans.
Either get a PWM fan to variably control the speed using your motherboard, or get a constant reduction in speed by reducing the supply voltage to the 3-pin fan. You can easily reduce the voltage to 5V or 7V by changing pin positions on the 4-pin Molex from your power supply. There are many guides to do this, here is one.

I don't use the AC-DC adapter that came with the Habey EMC-800B. It was too weak for the components I had inside my build. A4 3400, Optical drive, two Ram modules, ASRock A75M-ITX. The 12V line was consistently dropping below 11V and I was having stability issues. I purchased a 102W adapter and it is way more stable now. If you are going to even get close to 50W or are going to need more than that, I suggest you get a more powerful adapter.

I use this now: http://www.mini-box.com/110w-12v-8-5...-Power-Adapter

Sincerely,

William

This is the one I prefer at almost half the price of the one you listed.

http://hqrp.com/hqrp-120w-ac-adapter...us-laptop.html

Well I wasn't posting for the price; showing what I was using.

-William

Hi guys, I am new to the forum and just have a question regarding a modification that I saw somewhere. I think it was on this forum but I cannot find it for the life of me.
Someone had used a water jet cutter to cut a grille in the top of his Habey case right above the cpu and it looked great. It matched the outside holes pattern.
I was wondering if anyone on here knows who it is or where it is because I would love to get my hands on his cad drawing for it.

Cheers.

Let me know the price if you find him/her.

I want one for my bedroom HTPC Habey case.

Also, I just found this case. It solved all my problems. I am not allowed to post URL's yet but it is the "Realan E-Q8" for those of us who don't want an optical drive I think it's perfect.

I won't be able to give you a price as I will be outsourcing the job my self. I am just after his drawing so that I can take it to a local place that does water jet cutting and give it to them to cut. I am also in Australia so prices would be different anyway.

Cheers

Here is the link:

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=104468

Thanks a million!

If you want a case from the same manufacturer that supplies Habey but that has the top vents already there are two available:

Realan E-I5 (no ODD, 75mm high)


Realan E-I7 (ODD slot, 95mm high)



The E-Q8 has the same problem as the EMC-800/600: no top vents. However, the two cases above, also in the "E" series do.

I would love vents all the way across from front to back.

Hey Assassin, i have a habey 800 with an asus h61-i board, 4 gb gskill ripjaw x ram, ocz 50gb sata 2 ssd no optical drive. I'm currently using the stock power supply and adapter. would i benefit in any way by upgrading to that adapter? what about a pico psu? I have another thread on this forum explaining a video problem i'm having and i read somewhere the power supply could be a problem for a multitude of pc problems but its always the last place ppl look. any advice?

Thanks

What's the video problem?
Also, what CPU are you using?

Hi Stardog, i dont want to set this thread of track so here is the link to my post http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1380697 Thank you for any advice you can provide.

This supply works with the habey psu? It's 18v, not 12v... If it does... that's great news!