Best offers
|
Edge Z30 Midsize Desktop (2.66GHz... | $1099.00 Velocity Micro More info |
|
iMac All-In-One Desktop (3.06GHz... | $1699.00 AppleStore.com More info |
|
Pavilion p6210f Mini-Tower Desktop... | $599.98 STAPLES More info |
|
Compaq Presario CQ5210F Mini-Tower... | $399.98 STAPLES More info |
|
iMac All-In-One Desktop (3.06GHz... | $1199.00 AppleStore.com More info |
- how to build a low power pc
- cpu cooling liquid
- build your own home theater pc
- micro atx motherboard for htpc
- micro atx motherboards low power
- building low power pc
- low power micro atx motherboard
- cpu cooling fan orientation
- quiet home theater pc
- low power home
- micro atx motherboard reviews
- reviews micro atx motherboard home theater
- rattling noise case
- zalman cnps9500 turn led off
- pc power supply making rattling noise
Partners
The Games selection
adventure :
Ray
Adventure game, South Park style. Pick the way the story goes by picking an answer among those offered.
|
violent :
Interactive Buddy
Unwind on your interactive buddy: Do anything you want to him, it will earn you money, and you can buy other stuff to torture him with.
|
Sponsored links
We wanted a case that would blend well with other A/V components, provide minimal visual distraction, and support our current Micro ATX motherboard and possible future full-ATX upgrades. Zalman's HD135 fit the bill, with an appearance similar to 17" by 5" home theater receivers.

Its mid-sized appearance is a bit deceiving however, as an extended power supply section allows full-sized parts to fit in the traditional orientation.

Alternatives are available from traditional full-line case manufacturers, as well as HTPC specialists such as Ahanix and Silverstone. Buyer beware, however: the slimmest cases use riser cards for expansion slots, narrowing motherboard choice to those with matching slot positions.
CPU Cooling
When it comes to CPU cooling, bigger is better; large coolers are able to do the job at slower fan speeds, creating less noise. Height restrictions, however, prevented us from selecting vertical coolers such as Zalman's CNPS9500 LED. Fortunately we had Sunon's new Waturbo Liquid Circulation Cooling System on hand.

The Waturbo uses a small impeller under the fan motor to circulate cooling liquid throughout a chamber in its center. Besides bringing heat from the base to the top of its sink more efficiently, the pump and seals effectively prevent rattling noises as the bearings "break in".
Note that while the "best choice" for any given chassis tends to be the largest cooler that fits, but it's still important to read cooler reviews for details on fan noise and cooler performance.
- Will my HTPC be able to display Blu-Ray? [Homebuilt Systems]
- AMD Processor vs. XBox360 or PS3 [CPU & Components]
- Extreme Gaming PC Build [Homebuilt Systems]
- Recommended Builds by Usage [Homebuilt Systems]
- System Builder Marathon (Media PCs): Day 1 [Tom's Guide]
Questions? Ask Tom's community!




