Can I build a movie PC out of a Lian-Li C37 HTPC? I bought one for cheap (on accident).

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mrjenkins44

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Ok so I was looking to build a slim HTPC for my living room. I just want it to be able to watch movies, whether streaming, avis/mpegs, blu-ray, etc. But I did not check the dimensions at all. I found a used one eBay for pretty cheap. When the case arrived, I opened it, and it dawned on me that the inside is too shallow to put a decent video card or a heatsink.

I was going to sell it, but then I thought...is it still possible to make it? Are their motherboards with powerful built in graphics and a heatsink that will work??

Here are the specs:

http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-c37/
 
Solution
Aeacus
You can put a GPU in that case but GPU has to be low profile and not longer than 210mm.

Luckily for you, i know one such good GPU, a MSI GTX 1050 Ti 4GB LP,
specs: https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GeForce-GTX-1050-Ti-4GT-LP.html#hero-specification
newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137081

It's low profile and only 184mm long.

Btw, built-in graphics isn't inside the MoBo, it's inside the CPU. For example, i5-6500 has built in Intel HD 530 graphics chip.
Comparison too between HD 530 and GTX 1050 Ti,
link: http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-HD-530-Desktop-Skylake-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1050-Ti/m33102vs3649

Here's rest of the build, just in case when all you have is the Lian-Li case.

PCPartPicker part...
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Aeacus

Aeacus

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You can put a GPU in that case but GPU has to be low profile and not longer than 210mm.

Luckily for you, i know one such good GPU, a MSI GTX 1050 Ti 4GB LP,
specs: https://www.msi.com/Graphics-card/GeForce-GTX-1050-Ti-4GT-LP.html#hero-specification
newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137081

It's low profile and only 184mm long.

Btw, built-in graphics isn't inside the MoBo, it's inside the CPU. For example, i5-6500 has built in Intel HD 530 graphics chip.
Comparison too between HD 530 and GTX 1050 Ti,
link: http://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-HD-530-Desktop-Skylake-vs-Nvidia-GTX-1050-Ti/m33102vs3649

Here's rest of the build, just in case when all you have is the Lian-Li case.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.69 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H110M PRO-D Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($50.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: SK hynix SL308 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($77.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.78 @ OutletPC)
Case: Lian-Li PC-C37B HTPC Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($46.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $627.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-07 08:50 EST-0500

Add the GPU and total is about $783.
 
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Solution
M

mrjenkins44

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Wow thank you. That helped me a lot. Let me ask you, do I really need a CPU that powerful for just watching videos? I will not be doing any gaming on it, but I would like to be able to watch 1080p without issue.

Oh and how do I cool the processor with such limited room??
 
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Aeacus

Aeacus

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You're welcome.

If you don't plan to game on your HTPC then i3-6100 is better in single-core performance than i5-6500. It's also cheaper.
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hV7CmG/intel-cpu-bx80662i36100

Edit:
i3-6100 comes with Intel's stock cooler and it should be enough to cool your CPU.

But if you're worried that Intel's stock CPU cooler won't cut it then you can upgrade CPU cooler to aftermarket one. Case supports up to 65mm high CPU cooler.

Here i suggest Reeven Brontes RC-1001b
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hgBrxr/reeven-brontes-rc-1001b-304-cfm-sleeve-bearing-cpu-cooler-rc-1001b

CPU cooler is 59mm high and it fits your case.
Here's also review about it: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mini-itx-cpu-air-cooler-round-up,4406.html
 
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BadActor

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For basic playback and limited streaming, even the i3 should be plenty. It also uses the HD 530 graphics and comes with a stock HSF which would work OK as long as the noise is acceptable. You may need to add extra fans to the case if temps run to warm.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus H110M-A/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($46.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: PNY CS1311 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Jet)
Case: Lian-Li PC-C37B HTPC Case ($149.99 @ B&H)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 520W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ B&H)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $581.39
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-07 09:27 EST-0500
 
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Aeacus

Aeacus

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G3258 is one of the best OC (overclock) CPUs but when to compare it to the i3-6100, it falls behind quite a bit (mostly due to the fact it's 2 years older than i3-6100).
comparison: http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Pentium-G3258-vs-Intel-Core-i3-6100/2434vs3511

Going with G3258 also means reworking most of the build since it's LGA1150 socket CPU and not LGA1151 socket CPU as i3-6100 is. G3258 supports only DDR3 RAM and when going with it, different MoBo and RAM must be picked.

For extra cooling, the Lian-Li case supports 1x 70mm slim fan on it's side.
Here's one such fan,
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Silent-70mm-10mm-Bearing-Cooling/dp/B00NEDBWE8

Edit:
A reworked build as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($66.99 @ B&H)
Motherboard: MSI B85M-E45 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($52.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($49.43 @ Jet)
Storage: SK hynix SL308 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($77.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.78 @ OutletPC)
Case: Lian-Li PC-C37B HTPC Case (Purchased For $0.00)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($46.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($88.58 @ OutletPC)
Total: $497.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-07 09:42 EST-0500
 
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