Silent but Snappy: M-ATX HTPC Build

Sep 10, 2013
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Hello,
I'm planning on building a silent PC.
While it is probably overkill for it's intended primary use (playing video from a NAS), i would like it to be near silent but still snappy and capable, without melting on me.

I've been selecting my components and working out a few ideas.

Components i'm solid about (though pointers are always welcome):

Case: Silverstone SST-TJ08B-E Temjin
CPU Cooler: Raijintek Erebos Core 120mm (without fans)

When looking at the specifications, the erebos should fit the temjin, but i'm shearing it close there.
I'm planning to have the single 180mm fan of the temjin take care of the airflow for the erebos.
*anyone feel this combo won't work? (insufficient cooling/space?)

PSU: Seasonic P-Series 400W Fanless

Can't go wrong with this one, 400W should be plenty/overkill but i'll have to go with this due to availability, and a good psu is never a bad thing to have.

(+I'm adding a wifi card, any generic thingamajig should suffice i reckon.)

Now for the parts i'm unsure about, in broad strokes:

AMD APU, without discrete graphics -or- Intel with a fanless gpu?

*AMD build:

Mobo: GA-F2A88XM-HD3
CPU: AMD A8 or A10 (undecided) that fits the FM2+ socket, and fits my purposes best.

*Intel Build:

Mobo: Undecided M-ATX (many options, any generic cheapo mobo will do i guess?)
CPU: low powered i3
GPU: Asus Gefore GT210 Fanless

There are a few questions spooking around my brain, such as:

*Will the Raijintek - fanless Erebos combination be enough to cool the APU?
*I'm not planning on gaming or anything 3D related on this system, will it still be a beneficial purchase over the intel build?

*Would the GT210 enough for HTPC purposes? (lacking HDMI 1.4, and perhaps lacking other things i'm unaware of?)
It's just that a nearly unused second hand one is available to me.

Any ideas, insights, pointers are welcome, thanks!

EDIT: Forgot about the drive and ram,
drive: Any 120-ish SSD, might go 850 EVO
Ram: 8GB of anything that fits, 1866 mhz if AMD APU
 
Solution
With the 45w mode, of the A8-7600, and the A10 7800. cooling shouldn't be a problem. There are a fair number of low profile coolers, that would be suitable, if you need to go with one.
Your project is doable.
For good research, go to www.silentpcreview.com

The TJ-08E is an excellent choice.
I use one, and it is close to inaudible.

On the cpu, I suggest a intel I3. Probably the i3-4330. It has HD4600 integrated graphics which should be more than enough for HD movie playback.
You could always add a discrete graphics card later.
It is only a 54w unit so cooling should not be an issue.
The amd offerings have stronger graphics but that is no advantage unless you will play fast action games.
The amd chips are more power hungry.

Or... if price is not a big issue, look at the recently released Broadwell chips with iris pro graphics.
Here is a review:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9320/intel-broadwell-review-i7-5775c-i5-5765c

On the SSD, look for 240gb if you can. 120gb gets filled up quickly.


 
Sep 10, 2013
141
0
10,710
Thanks for the replies, they are very helpful.

Right now i'm leaning towards the A8 7600.
I read a review on it on silentpc, the adjustable TDP is interesting.

Broadwell-TD is also intriguing, with the i5 having more powerful built in graphics over the A10 (apparently).
For the price however, i feel i could go the discrete graphics route.
(*on that point, i'm dropping the GT210, i suspected it was crap, thanks for confirming)

I'm also more biased towards the A8 7600 because i haven't had an AMD cpu yet, so i figure i'll try it out.
As for the SSD, i agree. 120GB filling up very quickly is a valid point.
Even though i have a NAS, i don't want to be constantly managing storage space.
Might switch to a bigger Transcend.

Pre-post update:
Was just looking at my favorite retailer and seems the A8 7600 is out of stock, currently only the 7650K is in stock, tough according to AMD it doesn't have the switchable TDP:
http://www.amd.com/en-us/products/processors/desktop/a-series-apu

The A10-7800 is available though, which also sports a 45W mode. I might just go with that.

The sole concern for is is whether the cooling will be adequate;
Though i feel it should be, so unless someone is certain it won't be, i'm willing to find out.
 


As long as you are watching movie and not doing more strenous things, u may get away with it.

For comparison the gargantua NoFan cooler, is reviewed to dissipate the standard 65w, by itself, at the max TDP.