HTPC, power and vibration reduction from current build

[kevinfelker42]

I built a HTPC based on the integrated NVIDIA 7050PV. I wanted my build to be made out of standard parts (no laptop hard drives, mobile processors, etc.)

It's important to note that the top of this case is removed. It resides in my TV stand enclosure and the top is protected.

It's snappy and fairly silent, but I have a few complaints. I want to run it 24x7 since i'm often downloading 720p torrents of my favorite shows, so I'm obsessed with power reduction. I also know summer is coming up, which means it gets hot down here in the South. So wattage/heat reduction is also important.

Here's the current build followed by what I plan on changing:

-Spec-Research 01007 Black SECC ATX Mid HTPC Computer Case No Power Supply - Retail
-LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM
-Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D 120mm Case Fan - Retail
(suspended with a zalman bracket over the CPU heatsink)
-G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ - Retail
-AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO3600DDBOX - Retail
(using stock heatsink, fan removed, with above 120mm suspended over it)
-BIOSTAR TForce TF7050-M2 AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
-SeaSonic S12 II SS-380GB ATX12V 380W Power Supply - Retail
-SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

I've ordered a Watt Meter from Amazon, so I want to measure what my current power draw is from above, then I plan on adding the following components:

The seasonic has a fan which does not benefit thise case in the least beyond cooling itself. It's quiet, and very low on vibration, but it is a moving part and some of that 380w is wasted even at 80+ efficiency, so I plan on replacing with less Watts:
picoPSU-90, 90w output, 12v input DC-DC Power Supply w/ 80w AC power brick


Well I have a 65w CPU, so let's drop that to a 45W Athlon. My motherboard only shows support for BE-2350, otherwise I would have got the BE-2400:
AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
EDIT: I want to make sure people read that right. 45W, not 45nm. Some new desktop intel processors are 45nm, but still 65W.

Read on newegg the stock fan for the BE-2350 is noisy, so this passive beast will sit on top of it:
ZEROtherm BTF95 CPU Cooler - Retail

The samsung HD is probably the most constant noise of my HTPC, becasue it causes the entire case to vibrate. These new WD GP series draw only 4W idle and 8W at peak. The platters in this series are 250GB, so this one will have 3 platters. Only the 750GB and 1TB models have stabilatrack, perhaps becase of having more platters. the 750GB was ideal for that reason and the price point. They spin lower speeds too, but the platter density accomodates for this. My first test will be to see if this can handle a 1080p AVI:
Western Digital Caviar GP WD7500AACS 750GB 5400 to 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Other questions?

Anyone have a better DVD-R recommendation, this one can get noisy, but that must be the nature of 20x?

How does leaving the top of my case off affect airflow? Is this for better or worse given that it is in an enclosure?

Once I verify stability with a 90W PSU, I'm going to attempt adding a Radeon 3450, but that isn't necessary.

[Stickem]

The stock AMD cooler is the first thing that I always toss and replace with
an Arctic Cooling product. The Freezer 64 fits on my BE2350, and is VERY quiet, BUT I have 8 inches of "height" to play with. If you have less, then something with a lower profile will be needed. (AC Alpine?)

I find that LG DVD drives are very quiet.

I am unfamiliar with that case, but it is likely that running it with the top off will screw up your airflow control - the rear fan will not exhaust the heat,
but will pull its air from the missing case top just above it.

I have no suggestions for hard drives.

[kevinfelker42]

I would buy a Scythe ninja mini, but I already own the ZEROtherm BTF95 CPU Cooler.

I had planned on installing it originally, but realized it was too tall for the case despite my preplanning measurements.

Now with the top removed, I'm not worried about it being too tall.

This is the case if you are to peruse:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage ... X+Mid+HTPC


That's the real trick here, I'm attempting to build a system that does not produce heat, so hoping open air cooling will suffice beyond a one or two suspended <1000RPM 120MM scythes (I own 3 total, but plans changed).

Being enclosed, the only place for exhaust to go would be forward, and this case doesn't permit that.

I dunno, maybe with the Seasonic PSU out of the way, I can exhaust through the front where it would have sat.

[autoboy]

Instead of getting a new CPU, you can undervolt your current processor to below that of a 45W processor. Many have gotten their 3600+ to run at 1.0V at full load which would be nearer 20-30W. Research crystalcpuid or RMclock.

[kevinfelker42]

Has anyone undervolted a BE family processor?

I mean, could I get one down to 15W relatively speaking?

[Stickem]

Has anyone undervolted a BE family processor?

I mean, could I get one down to 15W relatively speaking?

That depends on what frequency you want/need to run at.
Using CrystalCPUID for custom settings, my BE2350 idles at .850 v with a
5x multiplier, but it's unlikely to be happy with that voltage at the full speed
10.5 multiplier.

Most (but not all) AVIs will run at the idle speed, but 720P needs more.

[kevinfelker42]

I have finished rebuilding my system adding the new PicoPSU 90W, WD GP 750GB, AMD Athlon BE-2350 45W Processor and Scythe Ninja Mini Heatsink.

It idles @26W and 25 degrees celcius on passive cooling.

It is absolutely silent.

I haven't changed any of the stock settings, so the BE-2350 idles with CnQ @ .99v, but will try and get the voltage lower.

Here is the album of the finished product:

http://olemiss.facebook.com/album.php?a ... id=6511674

[kevinfelker42]

I also wanted to post load wattage.

playing a:

480p 32W
720p x264: 36W
1080p x264: ~60W