New HTPC/Gaming rig - advice please

[spook123]

Hi Guys,

I am currently spec'ing a quiet HTPC/Gaming rig. I will use this, obviously as a HTPC, but also like my racing sims. So far I have decided on a:

Silverstone Grandia GD04 case
XFX 750W Modular Hybrid psu
Asus P8Z77-M mobo
I5 3570k cpu
Scythe Shuriken Rev B Quiet low profile cooler
240gb SSD
DVD Drive
Memory?

HIS HD7950 IceQ graphic card


Can you guru's cast your eye over this & tell me if it will all fit in the Grandia GD04 case before I order. I have a feeling the graphics card is too long as it is a tad over 11". Has anyone got this combo?

What other cards would you guys recommend if the above is no good. Is it even worth dropping to a 7850/70 which is clockable, although I would rather not due to heat/noise etc.

Also, what spec memory would anyone recommend?

Cheers peeps, Shane

 

[leathart123]

get a blu-ray drive if it is going to be a htpc because then you an watch hd movies on it and for memory like 8gb of something like 2133mhz if you really want but 1600mhz ram should be fine maybe

 

[SavageCupcake]

I'd drop the psu to 650w seeing as its an itx (1 card only). For memory id say 8gb of 1600mhz should be fine but get 1866 if its not to much more expensive . As for the gpu it depends on the sims your playing. My 7870 handles pretty much any game pretty well and sims aren't normally the most taxing on gpu's.

 

[leathart123]

yeah actually look at a 7870 LE because perform the same as the 7950 but i think they are smaller

 

[SavageCupcake]

yeah actually look at a 7870 LE because perform the same as the 7950 but i think they are smaller

Its like a 7930 mate. Id get the 7870 le version if you can but check the clearance

 

[spook123]

Hey guys,

mmm, food for thought. All my games are racing sims really, iracing, raceroom etc.

I presume you mean this one, very cheap in comparison to a 7950, makes the bank manager happy, (as in the misses) -

http://www.waeplus.co.uk/item/281675/Club2GB-D5-X-HD7870-Joker-Card---------R?ref=gooshop
or http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...+FREE+GAMES!+?productId=53474&page=3&rqcType=

with free games, not that I play them, but if I had them you never know, lol. Looks like its the way to go though

Cheers for the input guys, Shane


update/
Guys,

The only downside I am reading on the 7970 le's are the power consumption & the noise, unfortunately, these two things are bad in a HTPC.

Mmmmm, the plot thickens

 

[SavageCupcake]

If your worried about that then get the 7870 with a decent cooler

 

[spook123]

Yarp

Aye, I think that is the way now. Because this HTPC will be on 24/7 doing something or other, as they say every little helps, lol. I did like the looks of how it performed though for the money, buggritt

Cheers again though, the hunt goes on

 

[SavageCupcake]

I'm pretty sure when the monitor is off with an amd card it as good as shuts off to save more power so power useage shouldn't be that high when your not using it

 

[spook123]

Would be nice to know that for certain. The only issue is if I am watching anything else, then the amp is on, which the HTPC will run through so technically the graphics card may see a load.

One to try to research a bit more I think.

Cheers again, Shane

 

[SavageCupcake]

If the amp isn't connected to the gpu (HDMI) then i doubt it'll affect it

 

[spook123]

Unfortunately it is, & because of how the system is, whenever the tv is on, all audio is routed through the amp.

or

Do you mean connected physically, but not activated on that input. Mmm, that may be it as obviously no active signal will be sent from the amp

Cheers again

 

[SavageCupcake]

I mean it as in actively. Atleast thats how i think it works.