I've built a few systems before in the past but nothing this unique. I've done alot of research on various nes/snes/n64 case mods that have been done and have narrowed it down to what I want.
I'm hoping to build a mini-itx in a regular nintendo shell that makes use of the actual nes controller ports and also 2 snes ports I would like to add in. I would like this build to play most emulators these days atari through maybe ps1 in addition to being a bit of a htpc. Not sure if something like this could play blu-rays as well. My budget isn't very limited but I'll be building a second one of these for a friend whos budget is around 200-300$. My friends build doesnt need the htpc add-ins however. Here is what I have worked out so far.
Build 1 - Htpc w/gaming emulators
Motherboard: http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-890gx-wifi-890gxitx-a-e.html (cheapest I could find in canada was 133$ shipped)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680 (currently have a spare 80$ish)
GPU: Built in
Wifi: Built in
Memory: 2g dd3 pc-1333(spares)
SSD: Crucial 64g or 120g vertex(spares)
USB Addins: I'll be using the internal pins for 4 usb ports with 2 nes adapters and 2 snes adapters
Optical Drive: Not sure on this yet..see below
PSU: Biggest problem right now...see below
Build 2 - strictly gaming emulator
Motherboard: http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-890gx-wifi-890gxitx-a-e.html (cheapest I could find in canada was 133$ shipped)
CPU: Was considering a refurb Regor chip (41$ @newegg)
GPU: Built in
Wifi: Built in
Memory: 2g dd3 pc-1333(spares)
HD: Spare Laptop hard drive
USB Addins: I'll be using the internal pins for 4 usb ports with 2 nes adapters and 2 snes adapters
Optical Drive: NA
PSU: TBD
Ok so my biggest question for this build is the power requirements. I've tried to use the power supply calculators but I'm not sure if a mini itx board uses more or less power than the standard. It does have wifi and an onboard gpu which I'm sure add a few watts. If I can stay under 160 watts then I can use a picopsu with a power brick. My other option, which I have seen work, is to use one of the longer narrow mini itx power supplies but it would require me to cut a little extra out of my case. This kind of power supply would net me around 220 watts. It would add some noise as well but would be somewhat cheaper. I was thinking if I end up having to go this route then I might be able to toss in a blu ray optical as well. I'm currently considering going with the 220watt supply for my build in additional to a blu ray drive. I guess what it boils down to is...
Would my build run on a 160watt picopsu without the blu ray optical?
Would my friends build run on a 150watt pico? or could I go even lower for cost reasons?
Also any suggestions or tips for this kind of thing would be greatly appreciated.
I'm hoping to build a mini-itx in a regular nintendo shell that makes use of the actual nes controller ports and also 2 snes ports I would like to add in. I would like this build to play most emulators these days atari through maybe ps1 in addition to being a bit of a htpc. Not sure if something like this could play blu-rays as well. My budget isn't very limited but I'll be building a second one of these for a friend whos budget is around 200-300$. My friends build doesnt need the htpc add-ins however. Here is what I have worked out so far.
Build 1 - Htpc w/gaming emulators
Motherboard: http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-890gx-wifi-890gxitx-a-e.html (cheapest I could find in canada was 133$ shipped)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680 (currently have a spare 80$ish)
GPU: Built in
Wifi: Built in
Memory: 2g dd3 pc-1333(spares)
SSD: Crucial 64g or 120g vertex(spares)
USB Addins: I'll be using the internal pins for 4 usb ports with 2 nes adapters and 2 snes adapters
Optical Drive: Not sure on this yet..see below
PSU: Biggest problem right now...see below
Build 2 - strictly gaming emulator
Motherboard: http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-890gx-wifi-890gxitx-a-e.html (cheapest I could find in canada was 133$ shipped)
CPU: Was considering a refurb Regor chip (41$ @newegg)
GPU: Built in
Wifi: Built in
Memory: 2g dd3 pc-1333(spares)
HD: Spare Laptop hard drive
USB Addins: I'll be using the internal pins for 4 usb ports with 2 nes adapters and 2 snes adapters
Optical Drive: NA
PSU: TBD
Ok so my biggest question for this build is the power requirements. I've tried to use the power supply calculators but I'm not sure if a mini itx board uses more or less power than the standard. It does have wifi and an onboard gpu which I'm sure add a few watts. If I can stay under 160 watts then I can use a picopsu with a power brick. My other option, which I have seen work, is to use one of the longer narrow mini itx power supplies but it would require me to cut a little extra out of my case. This kind of power supply would net me around 220 watts. It would add some noise as well but would be somewhat cheaper. I was thinking if I end up having to go this route then I might be able to toss in a blu ray optical as well. I'm currently considering going with the 220watt supply for my build in additional to a blu ray drive. I guess what it boils down to is...
Would my build run on a 160watt picopsu without the blu ray optical?
Would my friends build run on a 150watt pico? or could I go even lower for cost reasons?
Also any suggestions or tips for this kind of thing would be greatly appreciated.
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