So Ive decided on the full atx silverstone case here http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=160491 Now I have the mobo and Im going to pair it with one of the energy efficient AMD 4850e processors. The case should have good ventilation so what would you guys reccomend as a cooler. I have plenty of space and have heard some of the scythe ones are good, but I'm low on cash so any good bargains would be great. GPU wise I have read that the 3650's make a good choice for HTPCs but could someone reccomend a good passive one that actually cools! Preferably fro eBuyer. Im think of the corsair power supply thats often recommended as I cant see any reasonabke passive ones? Thanks.
Should work, as your CPU stays around the 45W mark and tolerates a relatively high temperature of 73C (although in practice, it won't get over 50C). You will need something large like the Scythe. The GPU can be passively cooled as long as its TDP is around the 50W mark. The 3650 is about 55W Which is fine, although it is outperformed by a HD 4550 which has a TDP of 25W and comes in a passively cooled flavour out of the box. Newer GPUs of comparable performance always generate less heat... There are a number of passively cooled PSUs, but they won't exceed 250 to 300W and don't take nicely to being pushed. Luckily, your system should not require nearly that much power. Alternatively, get a pasively cooled case. Look at the HFX case which has been reviewed right here on Bit-Tech.
There are PSUs that can't be heard even though they have a fan. For example the Corsairs are very quiet.
A friend of mine has a Scythe Ninja B cooling the AMD x2 4850e in his newly built HTPC. He also installed a Silverstone ST30NF 300W passive PSU, and just to put the cherry on top, he topped it off with a 30GB SSD for the OS. (file storage not a problem as he streams media from his file server upstairs via gigabit LAN.) So the only sound it makes is when playing a DVD!
OK so going to go with this GPU: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151453 Passive and powerful, overkill for a HTPC maybe a tad but I like the looks of it. CPU cooling wise, the case is kinda fixed as I like the retro german autobahnshnpeaudiospreigen styling, and I really dont like the look of setting up the passive cases. Im just too much of a cowboy! So I have three Scythes to choose from. Each will be run passively sans-fan. Option 1: Scythe Mini Ninja £26 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140470 Option 2: Scythe Ninja II 120mm £28 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148075 Option 3: Scythe Mugen (Infinity) £32 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127427 I think the all copper version looks incredibly sexy but I dont want to spend £50 on cooling a mobile cpu! Im tempted by thye mini but for 2 quid Ill probably opt for the bigger if it makes any difference? On teh PSU front I think that a passive one is just not going to be necessary as the htpc WILL contain 2 HDDs which wont obiviously be totally silent. The models im choosng between are the CX400 @ £40 and VX550 @ £58 Could anyone reccomend a very quiet DVD writer combo drive thats black and not too badly priced. Also the case comes bundled with 2 x 80mm fans rated at 21db. Would it be worth replacing these. I presume you cant remove them with passive components inside. Any reccomendation on quiet 80mm fans that dont cost the earth? Thanks for all the advice. All new to me as my gaming rig sounds like an overclocked hoover on acid Dean.
21dB is pretty quiet already --I don't think you'll find any quieter fans than your case already has. Otherwise check out the Panaflo 80mm NMB-MAT RB-80-L low flow fans at the same dB rating. Your best source is Dorothy Bradbury, who not only sells them cheap but hand-picks individual fans from each production batch for best balance and low noise.
