AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › 1st time HTPC builder needing TLC
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

1st time HTPC builder needing TLC - Page 2

post #31 of 59
10/21/12 at 7:02pm
You also need to account for Win updates and all the actual htpc software your likely to use . Also, ssd typically start to drop off on there performance levels after they reach close to being full . So the idea is not to fill it up completely .

All your media software is going to load much faster and be a smoother experience .

With all that said, you can still do just fine with a 64 gig ssd but need to be a bit more selective of what you install on it . Keep Windows lean and mean as well !!
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #32 of 59
10/21/12 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stamina1914 View Post

I've got to ask. I understand why folks would want to use an SSD for the OS makes sense. But if Winows 7 for example is only about 30GBs wouldn't a 120 be a bit much. I guess my question is being I green with all of this, what else other than the OS should one place on the SSD for better performance.

Most days the difference in price is $20 between 64GB and 128GB so why not? The next greatest thing might take up enough room that you'd wish you had the space.
Reply
Reply
post #33 of 59
10/23/12 at 6:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

Ok, but one I pointed you at had a higher level of 80+ certification (Bronze instead of Plus) and it was $5 cheaper. frown.gif

Sorry to make you frown.gif

But you did help me to learn about that size of PS.

I guessing that I went with the other one because it had 3 vs 2 year warranty and some vs zero reviews.
Reply
Reply
post #34 of 59
10/23/12 at 6:57am
At the end of the day, either one is good and you'll be able to watch some movies smile.gif.
Reply
Reply
post #35 of 59
10/23/12 at 7:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaterBoyz View Post

All ritee then, I spent more money.
Got this HDD: Western Digital WD Green WD20EARX 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"
Got this Memory
Got this Fan times 3
$109.99
$39.99
$9.84
$2.99 shipping
======
$162.81
So what's next? ... remote and a cablecard device and ???

I hate finding stuff I bought yesterday is on sale today at the VERY SAME PLACE non the less.
Reply
Reply
post #36 of 59
10/23/12 at 5:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaterBoyz View Post

I hate finding stuff I bought yesterday is on sale today at the VERY SAME PLACE non the less.


Whenever this happens, you can appeal to the retailer (their Customer Service Dept.) to do a price adjustment. Many companies will do this for their customers if they drop the price on an item that a customer purchased earlier at a higher price (if that purchase was made within 30 days of the price drop). I have been successful in getting price adjustments within 30 days from Newegg and Microcenter. I don't know which retailer you purchased from, but it wouldn't hurt to check out their policy on price adjustments, or call their Customer Service number and ask.
Reply
Reply
post #37 of 59
10/23/12 at 6:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vlad Theimpaler View Post

Whenever this happens, you can appeal to the retailer (their Customer Service Dept.) to do a price adjustment. Many companies will do this for their customers if they drop the price on an item that a customer purchased earlier at a higher price (if that purchase was made within 30 days of the price drop). I have been successful in getting price adjustments within 30 days from Newegg and Microcenter. I don't know which retailer you purchased from, but it wouldn't hurt to check out their policy on price adjustments, or call their Customer Service number and ask.

I'll contact NewEgg in the A.M. and plead my case.

Thanks for the encouraging words.
Reply
Reply
post #38 of 59
10/25/12 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
OK got my case fans.

I bought 3 fans since that is the max for the case (1 front 2 rear) and they were inexpensive. Not sayin' I'm gonna use all 3 ... yet.
LINKY

My M/board GA-B75M-D3H has only one system fan connector.

Here is the book info.



Since the fan connector has both the 3-pin and the Molex I'm not sure exactly which way to go.
Somewhere I read that I could plug in the 3-pin into the MB and plug in the Molex also. That way the MB doesn't have to use its' 12V to drive the fan but does get the RPM feedback.


Here is the plug.


Also, in the manual the description for the system fan is the same as the CPU fan (normal, silent, manual, disabled) even though the system fan connector shows pin 4 as "reserve" which tells me it is not used.
I'm confused.

I may wait-n-see as to how the temps are to determine if I need a second or third fan. I can also use Assassin's fan power mod of 5V to get air movement with minimal noise.

Your thoughts?

Oh Yea...
The case came with brass stand-offs AND red fiber washers. Where do I place the washers? Do I even use the washers?
Edited by WaterBoyz - 10/25/12 at 6:53pm
Reply
Reply
post #39 of 59
11/2/12 at 8:43am
Thread Starter 
Hummmm

Have I reached my weekly limit of elementary questions ???

I'm gonna have to get out the Swifter Duster any day now.

Bumpin'
Reply
Reply
post #40 of 59
11/2/12 at 9:44am
I would wait and see on the 2nd and 3rd fans. If your temps are good you will only be adding noise.

Washer goes between bolt and MB
Reply
Reply
post #41 of 59
11/11/12 at 4:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dreman32 View Post

I would wait and see on the 2nd and 3rd fans. If your temps are good you will only be adding noise.
Washer goes between bolt and MB
Sorry I didn't reply sooner to say THANKS.

I placed the fans up to the chassis and there does not seem to be enough holes for good airflow. Me believing that I know more than the engineers (***) I have cut out the entire hole. No restrictive screen.

I'm gonna place one fan in back, positioned closer to the card slots. The power supply fan will pull from the back right corner. I'm thinking the airflow will be from the front left and be pulled out the back right. The card slot covers have hole so I will block some of them. There are two sets of hole patterns in the top cover in the back right which I will block. The one fan and the power supply fan will pull air in from the front left, across the CPU fan and out the back right. Based on the CPU temps I could add a second fan in the back right. Depending on how loud the fan(s) is at 12V I could run them at 5V VS CPU temps.

***
Since I've worked on various types of machines for 35+ years in the field, I've seen the over/under designs of engineers working in a sterile environment with white coats.
Reply
Reply
post #42 of 59
11/12/12 at 5:29pm
Thread Starter 
OK
got it built and the BIOS screen came up.

YEA smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif

I did install the two chassis fans in the back and re-pinned the plugs for 5V. Since these were 3-wire anyway, the most the MB could do was tell me their speed.

Do have one question relating to the front panel connections to the MotherBoard which is a Giga B75-D3H.
Per the manual it has HD or AC'97 audio connectors.
What should go where?
Thanks..........

HD pin-out
Mic2-L
Gnd
Mic2-R
-ACZ-det
Line2-R
Gnd
Faudio-JD
No pin
Line2-L
Gnd

AC'97 audio pin-out
Mic
Gnd
Mic pwr
NC
Line out R
NC
NC
No pin
Line out L
NC

My front panel wires
Mic in
Mic bias
Gnd
Spkr L
Spkr R
Rtn L
Rtn R
Edited by WaterBoyz - 12/8/12 at 10:31am
Reply
Reply
post #43 of 59
11/12/12 at 5:35pm
Usually the motherboard has both and the pin that's filled in on the plug determines if its ac97 or hd audio

It should fit on one. That's your answer.

I would try HDD audio first.
Reply
Reply
post #44 of 59
11/12/12 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the quick reply.

I have no immediate plans to use the front panel for any 7:1 or 5:1 sound system.
Just mainly for convenience.

The wires from the front panel are individual pins. Not a header plug.


From the online PDF manual
See page 19


F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
The front panel audio header supports Intel High Definition audio (HD) and AC'97 audio. You may connect
your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module
connector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module
connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it.

For HD Front Panel Audio: For AC'97 Front Panel Audio:
•• The front panel audio header supports HD audio by default.
•• Audio signals will be present on both of the front and back panel audio connections
simultaneously.
•• Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire
instead of a single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio module that has
different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.

Pin No. Definition for HD
1 MIC2_L
2 GND
3 MIC2_R
4 -ACZ_DET
5 LINE2_R
6 GND
7 FAUDIO_JD
8 No Pin
9 LINE2_L
10 GND
Pin No. Definition AC'97
1 MIC
2 GND
3 MIC Power
4 NC
5 Line Out (R)
6 NC
7 NC
8 No Pin
9 Line Out (L)
10 NC
Reply
Reply
post #45 of 59
12/8/12 at 10:32am
Thread Starter 
Bumpin'
Reply
Reply
post #46 of 59
12/8/12 at 10:49am
Quote:
•• Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire
instead of a single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio module that has
different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.
How much clearer could they be?
Reply
Reply
post #47 of 59
12/8/12 at 11:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by olyteddy View Post

How much clearer could they be?
The case came out in 2003.
The last review at TigerDirect was in 2006.
The last Newegg review I found was in 2008.
The contents of the product do not refer to a "manual", just case with power supply.
Powmax website gone.
Powmax phone number not good.

So.....can someone help me here?
Reply
Reply
post #48 of 59
12/8/12 at 11:28am
The cable should say either HD Audio or AC'97, which one? Choose HD Audio if you have 2.
Reply
Reply
post #49 of 59
12/8/12 at 12:33pm
You need to either post picture so we can see WTF your talking about or asking... or search google for the answer.

I have no clue how to help you because I have no clue what your asking.

Try a single sentence concise question...

I will try.

Sorry my ADD won't understand anything else... if your question is burried in nonsense I just skim over it.

You can't expect others to care about your post as much as you do.
Reply
Reply
post #50 of 59
12/8/12 at 12:35pm
If it is 2003 case I would go with AC97 audio...
Reply
Reply
post #51 of 59
12/8/12 at 3:22pm
Reply
Reply
post #52 of 59
12/8/12 at 4:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy_Steb View Post


Thanks Andy, that is what I needed help with.


And for MF here are the pics.


Reply
Reply
post #53 of 59
12/8/12 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
OK, got the case built.
The two fans in the rear are running at 5-volt.
I blocked the vents at the card slots also the top cover vents.
I figured the power supply fan and the two rear ones will suck the air out of the case.
Neither case fan is connected to the motherboard since the fans are 3-wire.
Yes, I cut out the screening for the two rear fans since the OEM holes seem to be restrictive.















Reply
Reply
post #54 of 59
12/9/12 at 5:52am
I would not block any of the vent holes in that case . You will get a lot of static ventilation from those areas . Get some fan guards / grill for those rear fans . About a buck a piece.
You can and should plug the fans into the mother board. This way when you shut down the system you will not have to shut off the psu . Else wise the fans will run even when the system is powered down .
Reply
Reply
post #55 of 59
12/10/12 at 8:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by flocko View Post

I would not block any of the vent holes in that case . You will get a lot of static ventilation from those areas . Get some fan guards / grill for those rear fans . About a buck a piece.
You can and should plug the fans into the mother board. This way when you shut down the system you will not have to shut off the psu . Else wise the fans will run even when the system is powered down .

Thanks for your comments.

The two rear fans and the power supply fan should pull enough from the front panel and other openings to exhaust out the back. The CPU fan should keep some things stirred up so there will be minimal dead air. I have a 3rd fan that I could mount inside the front panel if need be. Remember, this is a $13 case and built pretty loose.

I'll have to test the fan issue in various power down and low power conditions. The two fans run at 5-Volt so they are deadly silent but still are moving air. I don't really care about the minimal energy consumption. I'm guessing my current Comcast STB draws more at idle than this PC will under load.

What are people using to monitor the CPU temp without going into the BIOS mode?
Reply
Reply
post #56 of 59
1/25/13 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
Bumping for this....

What are people using to monitor the CPU temp without going into the BIOS mode?
Reply
Reply
post #57 of 59
1/25/13 at 9:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaterBoyz View Post

Bumping for this....

What are people using to monitor the CPU temp without going into the BIOS mode?
CoreTemp or SpeedFan, but why would you want to monitor them? HTPC isn't very CPU intensive. I only ever look if I'm doing some heavy encoding.
Reply
Reply
post #58 of 59
1/25/13 at 9:21pm
Thread Starter 
Some questions were raised about my modified cooling vents and fans as to a possible cooling problem.

I wanted something that I could monitor the CPU temp to prove (I hope) that my modifications and fan usage was working as planned.

You may want to read further up to get a handle on what I have done with the fans and case.

Thanks for your prompt reply to my "bump".
Reply
Reply
post #59 of 59
1/29/13 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 
Been running a few days learning WMC system.
According to RealTemp the highest so far was 44*C.
Normally runs around 33*C and sometimes moves toward 37*C.

I think I'm OK for now with the cooling setup posted previously.

Your thoughts?
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Home Theater Computers

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › 1st time HTPC builder needing TLC