[Thwiipp]

Hello all, just got some parts for my build for Christmas (love my Wife and Mom) so it got me a DG45FC and Aopen S120, I was looking at Hyper HFC-10828-C2 HSF for the E7200 or E7300 ill be putting there. Kind of modeling it after JohnHWman build. No the problem is I cant really find that HSF, I did find the HFA-10828-C2 to buy witch is the aluminum version, would this be good enough? Can anyone suggest an alternative? that can fit into my case ok and be fairly silent?


Second question is regarding the power brick, Can anyone suggest any that i can get form Amazon? I have so gift cards id like to use towards my build otherwise i guess ill go with what JohnHWman used.


ANd finally, Id like to be able to turn On and Off the HTPC using my remote, would this be possible, any suggetions for this. I thank everyone in advance for any help you can give.


Happy Holidays!

 

[dhy8386]

Hey,


Merry christmas on your first question:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120325113007


I bought from here. no problems. quick delivery.


Second, Johns build was quite good and i suggest you model it after that. As an alternative, i just made a comparable build using the new morex case. This case comes with a 160w pico style psu so you do not have to do anything extra to get PSU set up. Check out my posts in the official thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1050640

 

[WolfDV]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Thwiipp /forum/post/15399971


Hello all, just got some parts for my build for Christmas (love my Wife and Mom) so it got me a DG45FC and Aopen S120, I was looking at Hyper HFC-10828-C2 HSF for the E7200 or E7300 ill be putting there. Kind of modeling it after JohnHWman build. No the problem is I cant really find that HSF, I did find the HFA-10828-C2 to buy witch is the aluminum version, would this be good enough? Can anyone suggest an alternative? that can fit into my case ok and be fairly silent?

I use the HFA-10828-C2 on a e8600 in that aopen s120 case, cools great, and is silent. (the case has the two small side fans that also cool the system, namely the chipset and the 120watt picospu which can get warm) (I also cut out the metal near the fans to improve airflow) (and I use the 110watt PW12-8.5A adaptor with my picopsu; not sure if its on amazon, I got mine from minipc.ca)


and you wont find the hiper HFC-10828-C2 anywhere but ebay. Even taking to a hiper rep, the aluminum version works just as well for cheaper (it still uses a copper base)


Also not sure if you can on/off via remote; I haven't looked into that. I use a Logitech Divono Mini keyboard/mouse, and have the pc to wake via USB. I simply put it to sleep and wake it via this tiny device.

 

[xuniman]

I also followed JohnHWman's build when putting together my DG45FC and S120. I used the aluminum version of the Hiper cooler and it works fine, completely silent 99% of the time. I also cut out the metal on the side fans as John and WolfDV did and it makes the side fans much more quiet. I wouldn't suggest using the S120 case without the HD/Optical disc extension piece. It puts the top of the cooler right up against the metel top of the case.


I used the CIR XMTR/RCVR from Meritline (Item Code: 203-011-001) for the remote and it wakes/sleeps fine. I actually disassembled the Meritline unit and then cut the board in half so that it would fit under the motherboard facing out through the slot originally intended for the CF reader. By cutting up the fron panel plastic from the Meritline unit I was able to glue it to the backside of the front faceplate and hide the CIR device entirely. It looks very professional.


Good luck with the build!

 

[Thwiipp]

First off i want to thank all of you for your quick replies. I appreciate it. I wont be doing the optical drive extension (at least not now anyway) This build is basically intended to replace my modded xbox with XBMC. I want to be abel to play full res 264 vids as well as my HD mkvs. I plan to use it to run XBMC. Anyone know the best way for that? I was going to use XBMC Live off a thumbdrive. But i read it didnt work too well yet with this mobo. So im thinking for the Hard drive to either use Compact flash to SATA adapter http://cgi.ebay.com/CF-Compact-Flash...QQcmdZViewItem with an 8GB lexar card i have or use a small laptop drive like this http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ST96023AS-R Im hoping to be able the power up and down the system via remote to keep power consumption down to a minimum. Ill look into the meritline thing, though it out of stock. It got the copper version of the cooler form that ebay seller, thanks dhy8386, ended being cheaper that the aluminum version too! Any other helps tips and thoughts on this would be great. Thanks Again.

 

[JohnHWman]



Quote:
Originally Posted by xuniman /forum/post/15407206


I also followed JohnHWman's build when putting together my DG45FC and S120.

I'm glad that my build details helped some of you guys

My build is running almost everyday and it is very quiet from the beginning. So far the only issue is Intel HDMI audio driver issue when connected to my Yammy DSP-Z11 A/V amplifier but I solved this with HDMIon tool.


Thwiipp : if you dont plan to use the ODD S120A extension as I did, you must think to cut the S120 case metal top cover above the Hyper HSF and drill numerous holes on the ABS plastic top case cover to let fresh outside air comming within the CPU HSF. Adding a rubber joint between the two parts is also interresting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thwiipp /forum/post/15399971


Second question is regarding the power brick, Can anyone suggest any that i can get form Amazon? I have so gift cards id like to use towards my build otherwise i guess ill go with what JohnHWman used.

As already mentionned in the DG45FC *official* thread ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...4#post14895634 ), the 120W power brick I'm using is quite too large for the application. You can use a 85/90W 12V AC/DC brick with PicoPSU120 (yellow version) and you'll have above 30W headroom with E7200 !


Hope this helps


John

 

[Thwiipp]

Ah , thanks John, didn't think of the fact that you had extra ventilation with the ODD expansion. I guess Ill dremel a 80 mm hole above with a mesh grill on the top cover to make look good.


Anyone have any thoughts on the HDD things i mentioned? Anything else. and the XBMC stuff?


Oh yeah, Should i get some heat spreaders for my Ram? The Ram i have didn't come with any.

 

[xuniman]

Thanks for paving the way on the S120 John! I did my first DG45FC in an APEX M-100 case so that I could use a full size BDROM drive but after seeing your great work on the S120 my second DG45FC build used your design almost exactly, even including the 4.7k resistors. The only change I made was the IR unit mods I talked about in the earlier post (I also put the IR blaster outputs into the back of the Drive Extension - between the backplane slot and the side of the case).


Thwiipp - I originally thought about cutting a whole for the CPU cooler airflow also but I really didn't think I could do it without messing up the finish on the plastic cover. I also thought that I will probably get an optical drive eventually so why not just go with the expansion from the start. The expansion module has a nice plastic piece that covers the optical hole if you aren't using it so it looks very nice anyway.


I used a 160g 5400rpm version in my build and have been very pleased. It is basically silent and the response has been more than adequate for the HTPC needs.


I've only played with XBMC in Linux so I can't help you on that (in Linux it is really pretty and works fine but there is still no Blu-ray support).


I don't think you need heatspreaders for the ram. The case stays very cool and heatspreaders may even be a problem in that they press up against the pico power supply when it's squeezed into the S120.

 

[Thwiipp]

Well i thought about the finish, but figured i would be ok if i was careful, I can cover the top in low tack tape and dremel, i have small edging left from when i cut a window in my wife's PC so I figured id use that to clean up the finish. What do people think of the compact flash SATA adapter i linked to? Does that seem like a feasable idea, or should I go with the 60GB 7200 laptop hard drive.


Also how do these bundles look for the PSU: http://preview.*******.com/8jurxc


or http://preview.*******.com/8k53o4


Sorry if it seems im asking a ton of questions, this is my first HTPC build, trying to make sure everything goes right.


Thanks again everyone!


I used tiny url to shorten the really long links but its blanking them out so you have to fix that to see the proper link

 

[siwon]

post pics, I'm getting ready to build a couple as well but being in canada the prices are jumping up and down like a yoyo

 

[JohnHWman]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Thwiipp /forum/post/15415972


Ah , thanks John, didn't think of the fact that you had extra ventilation with the ODD expansion.

See the cutout I made on ODD S120A-3CM extension floor:

I've also added of a rubber joint around the CPU HSF cutout.

Then I've closed all the floor holes on this part to ensure that no warm air would comeback from the bottom case.

The CPU HSF fresh air is coming from the extension PCI slot (which has been opened on the rear panel of the extension).

View from above extension:

The ODD is cooled by the external fresh air as well !


John

 

[Thwiipp]

Thanks John, not going to be adding the optical drive right now though, my budget doesn't extend that far unfortunately. Ill be making a 8mm hole with a black mesh grill on the top. What is the rubber joint for anyway? and what kind of tape did you use for the floor holes?


Anyone have any thoughts on the HDD stuff linked to? or the PSU Bundles?


Thanks

 

[Thwiipp]

Anyone?

 

[Thwiipp]

Hi all,


I have a little questions, I've been considering getting a e5200 instead of the e7200 or 7300, specs are fairly close, It would save me a good $30, will it be fine for what i need, or should i go with my original decision. Thanks

 

[JohnHWman]

E5200 should be OK, indeed. I'm not expecting HD playback issue with it since E5200 and E7200 are very close in their specs. I choosed E7200 because I paid it the price of a E5200 on the bay !

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thwiipp /forum/post/15432919


What is the rubber joint for anyway? and what kind of tape did you use for the floor holes?

The rubber joint is to ensure that no 'inside' warm air could been sucked by the CPU HSF, only external air (fresh). The tape was large 'electrical' type.


John

 

[Thwiipp]

Thanks a lot John, What did you use for that rubber joint anyway?


I'm just about set to get all my remaining parts, still gonna debate whether i want to spend the extra money on the 7300, i may just go with the 5200 as long i wont have any performance issues. Im think im going to pick up this bundle for the PSU http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120350837030


Now For the IR I found this item http://www.antec.com/usa/productDeta...n=us&id=30124# the Antec MULTIMEDIA STATION BASIC. It has a cable that goes between the MB and PSU and allows for the PC to be turned on and off via remote like i was looking for. I figured I could remove the PCB for the 3.5 drive bay cover and fit it somewhere in the case, i would have to do a bit of maneuvering with power cable this looks like a pretty good option. Any one have any experience with this? My other option would have just been to pick up a Pinnacle MCE kit.

 

[xuniman]

That power supply combo should be fine. I used the same PICO PSU with an 80 watt adapter and it has no trouble with my 7200 based system. If you are still going to use the S120 case the antec IR unit might be problematic. If I remmeber correctly the cable that goes between the PSU connector and the MB adds a bit of height to the MB power connector and that could push the PICO up to a place that's hard t find room for. Even if the cable allows you to bend it the S120 is really tight so finding where to put that extrac cable/connector could be a real problem.

 

[Thwiipp]

I may go with the 80W if i see a better price, It wasn't a huge difference on ebay so i figured for the 120W.


The power cable for the Antec IR unit has a decent length actually: here's a photo: http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/...s/antec_03.JPG Is it possible to route that somewhere within the case. This seems like to only option I found to be able to power on/off via remote. Trying to keep it power/ and wife friendly.

 

[xuniman]

You can see from John's assembly photo's ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...n#post14808858 ) that there is really no room in the case for that cable plus the Pico PSU. The cable length might let you move it over to the portion of the board where the NB and SB chips are but I don't think you will find enough space over there because it will probably end up right on top of the stock heatsink (even if you don't add the additional heatsink that John and I added for the graphics chip).


The Meritline unit does shutdown/wake the PC to/from S3 sleep using the built-in CIR chip on the motherboard and most (if not all) of the MCE USB IR units will do the same. S3 sleep looks and sounds like the PC is OFF, none of the fans or hard drives run and all the lights are off (with the exception of the Ethernet lights which stay on during a full power down also).

 

[Thwiipp]

Does S3 work well though?, Ive heard issues with it and resuming and USB devices and such.