BoomR
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2011
- Messages
- 1,256
- Motherboard
- Gigabyte Z490 VISION D
- CPU
- i9-10850K
- Graphics
- RX 580
- Mac
- Classic Mac
- Mobile Phone
BoomR's HTPC Build - i7 2600K - GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 - 8GB RAM
Apple OS X Lion @ Mac Apps Store (10.7.3)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-lion/id444303913?mt=12
Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 rev 1.3 mATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZBHMN8/
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) Processor with Intel HD Graphics 3000
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-2600K-Quad-Core-Processor-Cache/dp/B004FA8NOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1350153438&sr=1-1&keywords=i7+2600k
EDIT:
On-board Graphics via i7-2600K's HD3000 graphics
UPDATE! Asus ATI Radeon HD6450 Silence 1 GB DDR3 VGA/DVI/HDMI Low Profile PCI-Express Video Card
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Radeon-Silence-Profile-PCI-Express/dp/B004X8EO6Q
PCI-E Express 16 x Riser Cable with Latch
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058UVVX2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
Crucial 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600MHz Destop Memory Kit
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006WAGGUK/
Corsair 120 GB Force Series 3 SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UBNN76/
Sony BC-5650H-01 Black 6X SATA Combo Slim Slot Blu-ray
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007WLRI32/
Athena Power FLEX ATX 320 Watt Replacement Power Supply AP-MFATX32
http://www.frys.com/product/6367661
Wesena, e5-B (Black) - 100% Aluminum, Ultra low profile HTPC chassis
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052T7JLC/
IOGEAR USB 2.1 Bluetooth Micro Adapter (GBU421)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018O9JIG/
Logitech diNovo Mini
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011FOOI2/
Comments
This build is the latest addition to my home theater setup. OK...OK... this is probably overkill (more horsepower than one needs for a HTPC), but it was a fun build! The Wesena case is an AMAZING piece of craftsmanship. The chassis cover (top) is held in place by magnets. The tolerances are spot-on, and everything fits like a champ!
A few images of the inside:
Rear view:
Front panel connections:
To build this beast, I followed precisely all the instructions here (using the very latest UniBeast and MultiBeast tools):
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2011/10/unibeast-install-mac-os-x-lion-using.html
My MultiBeast settings are exactly as shown in the link above. Prior to OSX installation, I followed the instructions for optimal BIOS settings from Lnx2Mac's blog:
http://lnx2mac.blogspot.com/2010/07/optimal-bios-configuration.html
I was having lots of problems at various stages of the OS install. I would get random reboots/power-cycles at different points in the process. Originally, I purchased a Mini-ITX "external" power supply that was only 150W. I came to the conclusion that the reboots were happening at points where more demand was being made on the power supply. I determined that 150W was just not enough power for a mATX motherboard & my components. I ran out to Fry's, exchanged the external PS for the one listed above, and installed that in the chassis. BINGO - the install went FLAWLESSLY.
The main application for this build is running Plex Media Center - streaming my BD rips from my NAS, plus Netflix, Hulu, and general Web surfing from the family room:
EDIT:
I gave up on trying to get HDMI working on the HD3000 on-board graphics. No matter what I tried, I could not get to the desktop successfully. After the gray Apple screen with spinning progress indicator, my monitor would simply go into HDMI sleep mode. So I chose to find a "silent" model video card (see above updated parts list). I also needed to pick up a PCIe riser cable so I could successfully connect the card to the PCIe 16x slot. In this HTPC case, the expansion card backplane/holder orients the card horizontally (see image of chassis back).
EDIT:
I also ditched my BluRay player in lieu of the BluRay drive in my HTPC. Found a great Mac BD software app that works just fine. I also switched the position of my HTPC and my TiVO box, as the HTPC was getting a little warm for my tastes sitting on top of my Sony A/V receiver.