mITX HTPC PSU Requirement

[bartrocs]

Hey Guys,

I am building a new mITX HTPC and need your help. Will the 200w PSU supplied with the case be enough to power these components?

Case:

Lian Li PC-Q11 Red Aluminium HTPC Case USB3.0

Zalman ZM500-HP 500W Power Supply

Motherboard:

Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3 Mini-ITX Motherboard B3

CPU/GPU:

Intel Core i5 2500

RAM:

Corsair CMV4GX3M2A1333C9 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3

HDD/Optical:

Samsung SH-B123A 12X Blu-ray DVD Combo Drive

Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB WD2002FAEX

OS:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit OEM

Other:

Compro VideoMate E750 PCIe Dual Digital TV Card

Nano USB Wireless 802.11n Dongle Adapter

Lenovo Multimedia Remote with Keyboard

Will all this run on a measly 200w?

Thanks in advance guys, start posting

EDIT: Changed CPU from 2500K to 2500 (only $20 more than 2400 + better performance) and changed case from Aywun MI-008 (crappy) to Lian Li Q11 (good looking, adequate cooling)

Also added a PSU

 

[Karlos_the_n00b]

I am really not sure but if I had to pick an answer I would say...... pass

Not sure what your buget is but you could always buy one of these just to be safe http://www.overclock...sfx_power_psu/5

I did google the spec sheet for that case though (http://www.aywun.com...tails.asp?ID=97) and it only mentions the following power connectors w/20+4, 2x SATA, 2 x molex which means your a 4 pin power connector short for the CPU which makes me want to change my answer from pass to no. Maybe even no, no way.

Edit: btw, what CPU cooler you planning to use cus that case leaves you very little room?

 

[bartrocs]

I am really not sure but if I had to pick an answer I would say...... pass

Not sure what your buget is but you could always buy one of these just to be safe http://www.overclock...sfx_power_psu/5

I did google the spec sheet for that case though (http://www.aywun.com...tails.asp?ID=97) and it only mentions the following power connectors w/20+4, 2x SATA, 2 x molex which means your a 4 pin power connector short for the CPU which makes me want to change my answer from pass to no. Maybe even no, no way.

Edit: btw, what CPU cooler you planning to use cus that case leaves you very little room?

Thanks for your reply. Does the CPU have its own connector? I thought it was powered by the mobo (my first build). The CPU cooler will probably be stock or I found a very low profile one on the website I plan to order this stuff from.

 

[Karlos_the_n00b]

Ok, check this out http://www.gigabyte....spx?pid=3783#ov

See that four pin connector near the CPU block? It doesn't look like the power supply it comes with has that connector. That or.... Ok do you know that before you had 24 pin power connectors you actually had 20 pin? Ok, forget that. Lets just say your a four pin power connector short

May I also ask what your building this PC for? Or rather why you choose a 2500K? Its just that's more than you need for a media PC and chips with K's in the name are overclocking chips that the H67 boards can't use. If it was me then I'd go down to like a i5 2300 an that could be considered overkill but get a second opinion on that, I might be well off base.

To be honest if this is your first build then you might not be making things easy for yourself making it a ITX pc. What you really want to do is go read some reviews of these types of cases and look at what hardware they use to test them so you can see how they fit it all in and get some pointers. You might want to change the case your going for in all honesty it seems a bit dated just looking at the power supply. The cases in the review below allow you to fit stock coolers, but this is not true for all ITX cases, hence me sugesting reading some reviews on whichever case you decide to go for. http://www.tomshardw...ew-32143-5.html

Just do some looking about and make sure your comfortable going with that case.

Hope this helps.

 

[bartrocs]

Ok, check this out http://www.gigabyte....spx?pid=3783#ov

See that four pin connector near the CPU block? It doesn't look like the power supply it comes with has that connector. That or.... Ok do you know that before you had 24 pin power connectors you actually had 20 pin? Ok, forget that. Lets just say your a four pin power connector short

May I also ask what your building this PC for? Or rather why you choose a 2500K? Its just that's more than you need for a media PC and chips with K's in the name are overclocking chips that the H67 boards can't use. If it was me then I'd go down to like a i5 2300 an that could be considered overkill but get a second opinion on that, I might be well off base.

To be honest if this is your first build then you might not be making things easy for yourself making it a ITX pc. What you really want to do is go read some reviews of these types of cases and look at what hardware they use to test them so you can see how they fit it all in and get some pointers. You might want to change the case your going for in all honesty it seems a bit dated just looking at the power supply. The cases in the review below allow you to fit stock coolers, but this is not true for all ITX cases, hence me sugesting reading some reviews on whichever case you decide to go for. http://www.tomshardw...ew-32143-5.html

Just do some looking about and make sure your comfortable going with that case.

Hope this helps.

IS the PSU interchangeable? if it is Ill replace it with a Silverstone 450w SFX PSU. If not Ill consider another case. The reason I want this case is that it has a full 5.25" optical drive. This is good because I cannot find mITX case that has a full 5.25" optical drive. Also I probably will change the CPU to a 2400

 

[Karlos_the_n00b]

IS the PSU interchangeable? if it is Ill replace it with a Silverstone 450w SFX PSU. If not Ill consider another case. The reason I want this case is that it has a full 5.25" optical drive. This is good because I cannot find mITX case that has a full 5.25" optical drive. Also I probably will change the CPU to a 2400

They certainly look interchangeable and I have no reason to thing they shouldn't be. Unfortunately I can't say for sure as sometime the case manufactures make slightly different sized PSU's than standard sizes (or so I believe) to give you more room and since I can't see anything actually stating the measurements of the PSU then your not going to be sure till you get the case.

I know the Lian-Li cases allow you to use proper 5.25" drives and full size power supply's however they can be a little pricey and aren't anywhere near as small as that case.

Just going off the pictures though, it does look like you would be able to swap the power supply that comes in that case with the [font=Verdana, sans-serif, FreeSans]Silverstone 450w SFX.[/font]

Think the 2400 would be better suited to this type of rig. Well, that's what I'd go for.

Hope this helps.

 

[Karlos_the_n00b]

LOL

Just noticed that you changed to a Lian-Li right as I posted my last reply.

This review might help you if you haven't already seen it as it shows you how they built it.

http://www.bit-tech....x-case-review/1

You might want to consider getting a module PSU for it though so you don't need to tie up all the cables inside. Choice is all yours though.

Personally I really like the Lian-Li cases despite how much bigger they are and the red on looks mint imho.

 

[bartrocs]

LOL

Just noticed that you changed to a Lian-Li right as I posted my last reply.

This review might help you if you haven't already seen it as it shows you how they built it.

http://www.bit-tech....x-case-review/1

You might want to consider getting a module PSU for it though so you don't need to tie up all the cables inside. Choice is all yours though.

Personally I really like the Lian-Li cases despite how much bigger they are and the red on looks mint imho.

Yeah I was having my doubts about the Aywun cases but realized that the solution was sitting right in front of me! The Lian Li cases had a full 5.25" drive so now im happy. It also looks really nice. I also followed your advice and change the PSU to a modular one.

Thanks for all your help man you really did help me out alot and averted a potential disaster.

 

[Karlos_the_n00b]

Your very welcome. I'm happy I could help.

If your not sure what I mean by modular take a look at this. This is the PSU your looking at getting right?

http://www.phoronix....ider_500w&num=2

Now take a look at this one. I'm not recommending you buy this one, I'm just using it as an example:

http://www.overclock...dular_atx_psu/1

See how the cables plug in the front so you can select which one's you want to use? That's what I meant by modular. The silverstone one you listed is non-modular. Modular PSU's can be a little more expensive but a good investment with ITX rigs because less cables are in the case meaning you get better airflow. You don't have to go this route but its worth considering

Other than that the only thing I have to add is GET THE RED PC-Q11, IT LOOKS MINT!!!!!!

 

[bartrocs]

Your very welcome. I'm happy I could help.

If your not sure what I mean by modular take a look at this. This is the PSU your looking at getting right?

http://www.phoronix....ider_500w&num=2

Now take a look at this one. I'm not recommending you buy this one, I'm just using it as an example:

http://www.overclock...dular_atx_psu/1

See how the cables plug in the front so you can select which one's you want to use? That's what I meant by modular. The silverstone one you listed is non-modular. Modular PSU's can be a little more expensive but a good investment with ITX rigs because less cables are in the case meaning you get better airflow. You don't have to go this route but its worth considering

Other than that the only thing I have to add is GET THE RED PC-Q11, IT LOOKS MINT!!!!!!

Yea I changed the PSU and I am definately getting the red PC-Q11 because it matches my red limited edition xbox 360. Also it does look quite ahem......AWESOME!!!!! Anyway thanks for helping. You cleared up alot of things for me.

P.S This PC was meant as a B-Day Present for my dad so you helped me even more than you think. (he has an old pentium D Processor)

Thanks again