Home Theater PC

[magicc8ball]

It has been along time since I have been on these forums and I hope I can still get the help I once did.

I am wanting to build a HTPC to run Plex on so that I can leave it on during the day for music streaming and movie watching and W.E else. Right now I am using my Gaming PC which is way overkill build log is below.
http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=43288

I am thinking about doing passive cooling and probably in a mini itx tower. Not sure how passive I can make it with that small of a case.
My plan is just to build a cheap amd platform and use the on-board video with about 4 gigs of ram and a small ssd for bootup Storage will be external unless there is a case that will support 4 hard drives(Raid 10), if not then I will get an external enclosure with usb 3.0.

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

That last thing I will say is should I just go out and pick up an cheap laptop?

 

[magicc8ball]

List of Equipment:

MSI FM2-A75IA-E53 FM2 AMD A75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130664

AMD A6-5400K Trinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282

Kingston HyperX Black 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104360

Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR60GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226247

LG Black 14X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136250

APEX MI-008
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154091

The one problem I am running into is finding a cooler for the CPU that will fit this case....
I was wanting to go passive but I do not think I will be able to with this case.
Anyone have any ideas, or cases that you use for your HTPC?

 

[tinytomlogan]

Id honestly just set it up as a server mate with on board graphics. Certainly wouldnt have it in the front room. Use home plugs and hide it away somewhere.

I say this because thts exactly what I have done with my home server and all my TV's are home plugged up to the network to access Plex on the server.

 

[hmmblah]

Id honestly just set it up as a server mate with on board graphics. Certainly wouldnt have it in the front room. Use home plugs and hide it away somewhere.

I say this because thts exactly what I have done with my home server and all my TV's are home plugged up to the network to access Plex on the server.

x2

If your TVs don't have built in clients you can use a variety of small (and cheap) devices to connect and stream from your server.

 

[magicc8ball]

ok maybe I should have said home theater server lol.

I want this to be my server for Plex and some other file sharing and what not.
I was not going to get a graphics card just use an APU like the A6 5400k, this should do the job just fine dont you think?

I did change my list of gear up tho.

BitFenix Prodigy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345017

ASRock FM2A85X-ITX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157357

Kingston HyperX Black Series 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104387

AMD A6-5400K Trinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282

LG Black 14X BD-R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136250

Mushkin Enhanced Chronos
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226247

SILVERSTONE HE02 CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835220055

I changed to this case so I can put all of my storage drives within the case and not have to purchase and extra external HDD enclosure. The motherboards are switched out to support the 4 HDD 1 SSD and the Blu-ray drive being installed.

What are your opinions on the SSD as the drive for the OS? Should I not worry about it or does it make sense to have a seperate drive for the OS. The power supply I figured was one that anyone would trust in there server.

For the cooler has anyone here used this as a passive cooler?