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Mfusick's New HTPC Build !!! (Pictures included) - Page 6

post #151 of 180
5/15/12 at 4:08pm
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pics of the server and HTPC build should be up soon...
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post #152 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:42am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

pics of the server and HTPC build should be up soon...


I ended up using an old Thermaltake ARMOR 10 bay case I had left over from a core 2 duo E8400 build years back. I took the Core2 and put it into a coolermaster Elite case and made it an office PC.

I re-used this case below for server. I had to do some drilling and mods to it but it worked great.

I added two 4 bay HDD cages... So 8 HDD's plus the stock 2 and a 2.5" SSD. Only 10 HDD's to start but I have some room for 4 more.


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post #153 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:43am
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post #154 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:43am
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This was me just messing around in the build. I actually did it different/ better as final


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post #155 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:44am
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My little ATX Asrock Board looks so small in this case!
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post #156 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:46am
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The Scrap pile and bone yard








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post #157 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:47am
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post #158 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:48am
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post #159 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:49am
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I already had a few SATA cards.

I ended up using a 4XSATAII PCI and a 2XSATAIII PCI=X

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post #160 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:49am
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post #161 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:50am
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Don't mind the mess or the unfinished basement. It's a work in progress. I just slapped that countertop down without even screwing it or installing it just to have a work space for a bit. lol.

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post #162 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:51am
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post #163 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:52am
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post #164 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:52am
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post #165 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:53am
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I ended up hacking the WHS2011 to install to a 60GB SSD I bought for $48

I won't use a HDD for anything but storage. I happy I did that. I almost used a 320GB WD blue.
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post #166 of 180
6/2/12 at 10:55am
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It comes with a SATA end that allows it to be used internal or external when you take it apart without voiding the warranty or breaking anything.

Pretty cool.


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post #167 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:00am
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I also built a cheap HTPC in an APEX case with an i3

Here is the back:


Here is the top


The front with no cover on it:


Top down no case cover:


FRONT view:


The whole thing was very cheap. Less than $300



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post #168 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:01am
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Some more parts stacked on top of my treadmill in the basement waiting for assembly

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post #169 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:03am
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29$ and 5$ shipping makes this case one of the best deals out there.

Comes with a 500 480watt PSU and is easy to build in.

Great value for a budget build.





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post #170 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:05am
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I bought a pair of G630's. One I used in my personal HTPC. I ended up going with an ASROCK EXTREME Z68 + Gkill RipJawz 8GB with a ANtec 300 case and Antec ECO PSU.
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post #171 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:06am
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I also ended up using Muskin Memory in the server and some Crucial for another PC.
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post #172 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:07am
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post #173 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:08am
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$99 is a steal for this. Great Drive for my personal HTPC

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post #174 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:09am
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My HTPC case. Antec300. Nice case for the money but poor quality control.. Mine arrived defective. PITA

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post #175 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:10am
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post #176 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:12am
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Got this PSU for $29. Nice deal
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post #177 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:14am
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First motherboard I chose was Z68 Asrock PRO

I could not get it to turn on. I sent it back RMA.

Turns out it was the crappy Antec300 Case. Power button on case is broken.

I ended up upgrading the motherboard and the new board had a power switch on the motherboard. I hit that in frustration and it popped right on no problem. I later tested and confirmed it was indeed the Antec300 Case.

Antec son.. I am disapoint.


Here is the original Board before the RMA


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post #178 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:15am
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Another Motherboard. Nice board.

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post #179 of 180
6/2/12 at 11:19am
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I also borrowed my Dad's i3 laptop because it was slow as dirt.

I changed out his drive to a 120GB SSD. Clean installed office pro and set it back up how it was with all his documents. Then returned it.

I never told him what I did. I wanted to see if he noticed. lol.











Personally I don't know how people use or tolerate these stock laptops. What a difference an SSD can make.
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post #180 of 180
7/17/12 at 11:40am
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I have a couple more projects I been working on including a DUAL 120GB SSD OS install on RAID0.

1000mb sec benchmarks speeds. Pretty cool stuff.

Cost me $69 x2 for two Vertex3's. So that is $140 plus tax for a 240GB SSD with 1000MB/sec transfer speeds.

Close to double that of most $140 128GB SSD's in both capacity and speed for the same price.
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