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Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:46 am
by DaveF
nige2000 wrote:
one of my biggest fears of the water cooling is the leaks on expensive parts
im a sucker for a nice case which one did you use?
well you'd leak test for 48hours without the mobo etc powered on. Just the pump(s) and fans. If nothing leaks during that time then generally the loop is sound. I didnt have any leaks at all on the mobo part which was a relief as it has by far the most complex fittings. To be honest, the compression fittings are well engineered.
The case is a Corsair 900D.
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:48 am
by DaveF
Diapason wrote:Another question: say I wanted a HTPC that could also play DVDs or even Blu-rays, what would such a thing cost to put together with remotely decent spec? Further discussions last night have put this project on serious hiatus I suspect, but I'm still curious. Case as before would have to be small.
Definitely buy all the bits and bobs seperately and build it yourself if you can. It will save you money and you'll actually learn a few things about your PC.
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:51 am
by Diapason
Yeah. To be honest, I overplayed my hand at home and talk of speakers everywhere and amps and computers and DACs and streamers has probably just ruined it. We might be back in Zeppelin territory before long.
For some reason, I find this whole computer thing to be just that bit more expensive and that bit more hassle than I think it should be at every turn!
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:05 pm
by nige2000
Diapason wrote:Yeah. To be honest, I overplayed my hand at home and talk of speakers everywhere and amps and computers and DACs and streamers has probably just ruined it. We might be back in Zeppelin territory before long.
For some reason, I find this whole computer thing to be just that bit more expensive and that bit more hassle than I think it should be at every turn!
htpc is expensive compared to which player that plays music, videos from dvd,cd usb, blu-ray external hard drive and has internet/browser/radio/youtube etc,etc etc and completely silent operation?
i dont believe theres anything out there as versatile
you can build htpc pcs for around 300 euro but there usually bulky and loud
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:18 pm
by Diapason
So say I had 500 or 600 Euro and a complete lack of experience with a soldering iron;
And say I'm looking for something that could be used to download video stuff and play it (at correct resolution and refresh rates, etc., without any serious artefacts) on an attached TV (or more accurately plasma monitor, but whatever);
And say that both hardware and interface need to be user-friendly enough for other members of the family to use (ideally controllable via a smartphone/tablet);
And say that I'd like to potentially use it for music playback at some point in the future where sound quality does not have to be at the highest level;
And say I'm willing to learn how to do stuff and might be looking for a winter project.
Am I at all on the right track, or does the budget need to go up? Do I need any other things to add to this, or can a one-box solution be made to work?
(I'm sorry for repeatedly asking these and similar questions. Every time I think I'm going to go down this road I realise that I've underestimated the job and/or budget and I run out of steam very quickly. It's mainly a mental block about the whole thing, but I'm honestly not *really* an idiot, appearances here notwithstanding!!)
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:41 pm
by nige2000
this is home theater pc build not a audiophile pc right?
cause that would put us over to the lunacy thread
its possible to use parts that have seemed to work well in the dedicated audio pc with very little xtra cost, leaving a conversion very simple and cost effective if wanted
vlc player and jriver have good tablet apps that are relatively simple
would recommend keeping all media on a external drive usb3/sata so thats its transportable, the other option is ssd and a storage hard drive
one pc case and power brick that's all
bluray will push the budget up and might require extra graphics power
so without bluray about 500 and with 600+ id imagine
ill post a proposed shopping list later
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:44 pm
by Diapason
nige2000 wrote:
ill post a proposed shopping list later
That would be utterly excellent, thanks very much!
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:34 pm
by nige2000
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:48 pm
by Diapason
That's a fantastic post. I'll digest that when I have a moment later.
Really appreciate this, and your efforts won't have been in vain. I'm definitely going to do *something* this time.
Re: Audio Pc or audio Pc/media center
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:11 pm
by nige2000
meant to add
ive a couple of s/h parts here that might suit too