Best passively cooled mini-itx HTPC case?

livEwirE · 27-03-2013 02:34PM #1

Hi guys,

I'm ideally looking at building an m-itx HTPC based on an fm2 board.

I'm just looking for some ideas of what cases people here are using and which are the best passively cooled ones to go for? I'm not interested in fan based cooling as I'm looking for a completely silent system. I had my heart set on the Streacom FC8 EVO case but after reading several build logs it sounds like way too much hassle to install an fm2 based board in it that will fit well with the included heatpipes:(

Any advice appreciated thanks:D

Serephucus · 27-03-2013 04:44PM

That's probably the one I would have recommended. Why do you want an FX processor exactly? Surely a 35W TDP i3 would do just as well for HTPC stuff?

livEwirE · 27-03-2013 05:01PM

I suppose I was attracted by the whole Trinity APU thing, I'm no expert on these things but the integrated video playback of the AMD A6-5400K is a major factor for me. I want to ensure I have the best possible playback of HD video and audio on the machine.

Serephucus · 27-03-2013 05:04PM

Well, no question the APU has more graphics power, but an i3 is still tonnes and tonnes more than is required for 1080p playback, so it's sort of moot.

livEwirE · 27-03-2013 05:09PM

Fair point there mate:) Do core i3 boards all use intel 3000/4000 integrated graphics? I'm trying to avoid the widespead Intel 23.976 fps problem

I know it was all over the web a couple of years ago - is it still a problem? Would an i3 board be less power hungry than an amd apu?

Serephucus · 27-03-2013 05:18PM

Not sure to be honest. I was never aware of that problem.

And not all CPUs use the same graphics, but the best is currently HD4000. I'd have a look at the i3 3225. It's a decently powerful i3, but uses 4000 graphics vs. 2500 like other i3s.

Edit: My bad, the 3225 is a 55W chip. There's the 3220T which is 35W, but uses 2500 graphics. Might want to look into what the movie playback with it is, but I was using a G550 for a while (also 2500 graphics) and it was playing 1080p content fine, though I wasn't looking for problems, etc.).

trev179 · 27-03-2013 07:01PM

Would the sound from your recommended specs above if fed to an amplifier be able to play dts-ma?

27-03-2013 07:40PM

OP, Will you be using Windows or Linux?

livEwirE · 29-03-2013 11:31AM

I'll be using Windows with an XBMC frontend.

Best passively cooled mini-itx HTPC case?

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