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Slim BD for a new HTPC; H87M-ITX / i5-4570S

1864 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  sjorma
Hello,


This is what I have ordered and assembled yesterday:

ASRock H87M-ITX, Socket 1150, ITX

Intel Core i5-4570S Tray, 2,9 GHZ, 6MB Cache, LGA 1150, VGA, Low Power (in Tray a very tiny package ;-))

CPU cooler NOCTUA NH-L9i, LGA1150

Crucial Ballistix Sport Series 8GB-Kit DDR3-1600, CL9

Thermaltake SD 101, 180W PSU, mini-ITX

- fan to case NOCTUA 80 mm NF-R8 PWM

Kingston SSDNow V+200 240 GB SSD 2.5" (moving from a laptop)

WD Green Mobile 2TB, IntelliPower, SATA 6Gb/s

BlackGold BGT3620 2xDVB-C/-T/T2 (existing; European you guess here...)


and today

Win 7 Home Premium

DVBViewer & LAVFilters-0.61.1

DVBViewer Recording Service


and some other software... thanks for Mfusick & others for good tips just on time ( http://www.avsforum.com/t/1520973/list-of-software-you-install-when-doing-a-clean-install )


But my question is:

I intended not to install any optical drive but "The" HTPC need (must?) to have a Blu-ray drive.


Slim drive is new to me so what is different for installing a slim instead a normal 5,25" drive?

What I found so far are more described to be installed into a laptop/notebook but seem to be possible to install as well in a desktop with some adapters?

So what all is required:

- machanical adapter pieces

- cable adapter

- other?


Am I on the right track?


Or any suggestions for a complete Slim-BD drive kit for a HTPC


Thank in advance for your best advices
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sjorma  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24467417


I intended not to install any optical drive but "The" HTPC need (must?) to have a Blu-ray drive.

Why do you think you need it now? I never use mine.


I installed a slim in a Fractal Design case because it only has a spot for a slim drive. The case was for my co-worker who planned on ripping all his 300 discs and after I showed him how it worked he wasn't happy. I agreed to let him have my old case with 5.25" bays and I took his case with the slim Blu-ray drive. I liked the case and hate the drive, but since I never use it then it doesn't matter to me.


Hitting eject only pops the drive out enough to grab it. Then you pop the disc over the bearing catch and cram it back into the case. In other words it is just like using one on a laptop. It is completely removed from the "home theater" experience. Another negative for a slim drive is you have to buy a SATA+Power to Slim converter so you can connect it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24467453


Hitting eject only pops the drive out enough to grab it. Then you pop the disc over the bearing catch and cram it back into the case. In other words it is just like using one on a laptop. It is completely removed from the "home theater" experience. Another negative for a slim drive is you have to buy a SATA+Power to Slim converter so you can connect it.

Some CD/DVD/BD discs come occasionally and it's easier to look those directly in this HTPC that go to server/back-up PC. I'm used in "slim drive using" in a laptop and don't consider that a problem at all as it's not that often that it needs to be used (as you say also).

The DDR3 stick coolers are that high that a normal 5,25" don't fit and otherwise a slim leaves also more space for cooling air circulation, case isn't too roomy.

Anyway I'll do installing from a USB this evening and so I can comment later what it feels like without optical drive, just used to have it (even two) in all PC/HTPCs so far...maybe it's just a customary thing...


But BD suggestions are waited...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sjorma  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24467512


Some CD/DVD/BD discs come occasionally and it's easier to look those directly in this HTPC that go to server/back-up PC. I'm used in "slim drive using" in a laptop and don't consider that a problem at all as it's not that often that it needs to be used (as you say also).

The DDR3 stick coolers are that high that a normal 5,25" don't fit and otherwise a slim leaves also more space for cooling air circulation, case isn't too roomy.

Anyway I'll do installing from a USB this evening and so I can comment later what it feels like without optical drive, just used to have it (even two) in all PC/HTPCs so far...maybe it's just a customary thing...


But BD suggestions are waited...

If I have to do any ripping I simply use the BD drive in my laptop and copy it over (to my server). I never play the discs directly, but that's just how I do it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24467526


If I have to do any ripping I simply use the BD drive in my laptop and copy it over (to my server). I never play the discs directly, but that's just how I do it.

+1. I still have my old cheap bluray player for the occasional rental but basically I never use it anymore.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24467453


Hitting eject only pops the drive out enough to grab it. Then you pop the disc over the bearing catch and cram it back into the case. In other words it is just like using one on a laptop. It is completely removed from the "home theater" experience. Another negative for a slim drive is you have to buy a SATA+Power to Slim converter so you can connect it.
http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-12-7mm-Interface-Blu-Ray-SOB02/dp/B00BY3LCLI

Quote:
Originally Posted by EricN  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24472888

http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-12-7mm-Interface-Blu-Ray-SOB02/dp/B00BY3LCLI

My $80 one isn't a slot load. I'd do without at that price.
Toshiba TS-TB23 is a nice BD drive and can be found new on eBay for $80 including the slim SATA adapter.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sjorma  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24467417


Hello,


This is what I have ordered and assembled yesterday:

ASRock H87M-ITX, Sockel 1150, ITX

Intel Core i5-4570S Tray, 2,9 GHZ, 6MB Cache, LGA 1150, VGA, Low Power (in Tray a very tiny package ;-))

Cooler NOCTUA NH-L9i, LGA1150

8GB-Kit Corsair Dominator Platinum PC3-12800U CL8-8-8-24

Thermaltake SD 101, 180W Netzteil, mini-ITX

- fan to case NOCTUA 80 mm NF-R8 PWM

Kingston SSDNow V+200 240 GB SSD 2.5" (moving from a laptop)

WD Green Mobile 2TB, IntelliPower, SATA 6Gb/s

BlackGold BGT3620 2xDVB-C/-T/T2 (existing; European you guess here...)

Took a photo also from inside...tried to make cables as neat as possible.

Both Noctua CPU cooler and case fan are with the supplied Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.).
2014-03-12-1966.jpg 790k .jpg file


Thanks for good advices, I think I try to to find that Toshiba TS-TB23L

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Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24473153


My $80 one isn't a slot load. I'd do without at that price.

The Silverstone is a burner, which for no good reason I thought this thread was about.

Quote:
Originally Posted by EricN  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24477680


The Silverstone is a burner, which for no good reason I thought this thread was about.

If you can afford to burn Blu-ray discs then paying $120 for the drive isn't that bad.
I've bought several of these Panasonic UJ265 BD-RE from these guys and they're really good: http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?Parent2ID=1&productid=11278 .


Better price on eBay ($75 + FS): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-UJ265-6X-Internal-SATA-Slot-Load-Blu-ray-Burner-Player-BD-R-BD-RE-BDXL-/231147546675


It does have the faceplate and working eject button (which is why I bought them plus the left eject works in the HT-80 case).

Quote:
Originally Posted by sjorma  /t/1522021/slim-bd-for-a-new-htpc-h87m-itx-i5-4570s#post_24476291


Thanks for good advices, I think I try to to find that Toshiba TS-TB23L

I got for BD player Teac BD-W26SS-BM3, Slimline, Slot-in (got it yesterday with UPS) and InLine Art.-Nr.:39950G installation frame.

I took away extra ~4 cm from the the back-end so it's shorter to SD101 own 5.25" bay frame.



All stuff in and SD101's frame and part of cabling still visible. I got also Akasa Proslim SATA 3 15 cm cables that are long enough to all drives (black cables in front of the battery, one SATA Connector still free on H87M-ITX.


Own frame fastened, cables arranged on edges and front panel on place. Good space for air flow above NOCTUA. Didn't need a separate "SlimLine SATA adapter" as SD101 180 W PSU has one mSATA (6-pin Slimline SATA) connector (on the right side of the opening, at the end of BD player).


And one more from the front, outer cover still open...



Thanks for all the advices, this is what it become.
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