[img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/The%20Logo.png[/img]
Hell yeah, media centers. The ability to be even lazier than having to pick a DVD off the shelf.
In the first run (AKA This run), I'll be reviewing aswell as installing my selected case, along with the CPU fan and the overall build.
[B]Specifications:[/B]
[code]Intel i3-530 2.93GHz socket-1156
Scythe BIG Shuriken SCBSK-1000
RAM hasn't been decided
Corsair 450W Powersupply (Hasn't been ordered)
GIGABYTE H55M-S2H
Silverstone Grandia GD05
Samsung HD103SJ 1TB 7200RPM[/code]
Starting off with the CPU fan I've chosen, the Scythe BIG Shuriken SCBSK-1000
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_096.png][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_096.png[/img][/url]
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_094.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_094.jpg[/img][/url]
I've chosen this fan, both because it's so quiet, but also because it's lower than a lot other fans.
Comparison:
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_093.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_093.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_097.png][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_097.png[/img][/url]
Out of the box, this fan looks quite nice.
The overall build quality is much higher than the intel stock fans.
Then there's the case:
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_098.png][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_098.png[/img][/url]
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_099.png][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_099.png[/img][/url]
(Notice my pathetic attempt at using background eraser in the first image)
Installing the motherboard was a pain, as for whatever reason, the motherboard wouldn't fit.
I had to use brutal force to get the screw holes in place.
I grapped my stuff and went outside, [B]in the sun[/B] *gasp*
Due to global warming, this is the hottest summer in Denmark, since last I checked what the hottest summer in Denmark was.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_100.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_100.jpg[/img][/url]
And so, installing the fan begins!
First though, I had to open the case, and here I have a complaint.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_101.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_101.jpg[/img][/url]
The +$100 case doesn't have those screws that you can deattach with your fingers. :colbert:
Had to run around for half an hour, to find my set of screwdrivers, as I expected being able to install the CPU fan without the need of them.
Here's a nice look inside the case:
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_102.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_102.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_103.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_103.jpg[/img][/url]
(Pandora picture taken through the power supply's hole)
As you can see, it's got plenty of space, for anything than for the CPU cooler. (Longer drives hang across)
It's also got 3x120mm fans preinstalled, very useful.
All fans blow in by the way, and the air blows out the back.
Here's a thing though, the cables for the front panel is long as all hell.
I were able to stretch them out the power supply's hole about 5", now that's some long cables, and I don't understand exactly why.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_104.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_104.jpg[/img][/url]
No biggie I suppose, compared to the motherboard hardly fitting.
Let's take a look at what the Scythe [B][I]BIG[/I][/B] came with.
Right when you open the box at the top, you're greeted with lots of shiny metal parts.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_105.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_105.jpg[/img][/url]
These are for mounting the cooler with.
It also comes with the most pathetic attempt at storing coolpaste ever. I layed some other brands next to it, to show what it should've been like.
The long-green one came with my Zalman CPU cooler that was about the same price, did they really need to cheap a few cents off the price by not allowing us to save it for later?
I went with the AS5, as I'm pretty sure that hasn't been cheaped out on.
Moving on to installing the i3. I've waited quite some days for it to arrive (About a week), and now it's here.
With Gigabyte's motherboard, it's pretty standard how you install the CPU.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_106.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_106.jpg[/img][/url]
You pull the metal stick, and the plate can be lifted off. There's also the classic "Don't remove this till CPU's installed" plastic sign.
Installing the metal parts onto the CPU cooler was pretty easy. No manual needed.
The manual is 90% in Chinese, and then there's a short engrish section for "Metal assembly Chip for Socket etc"
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_107.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_107.jpg[/img][/url]
Simply stick it in there, and apply force.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_108.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_108.jpg[/img][/url]
There's also an AMD metal piece, but it's a lot more complicated, as it requires these extra locks.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_109.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_109.jpg[/img][/url]
Installing this CPU is a real pain if you've already got the motherboard installed, as there's no space for your fingers what so ever.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_110.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_110.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_112.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_112.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_113.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_113.jpg[/img][/url]
What the asshole, I had to spent 20 minutes on screwing out the motherboard, and forcing it back in place.
Why couldn't they had made a hole through it so you could've used a screwdriver to press it down? Would've been much easier.
I got it installed, and here's another pandora picture of how it looks like.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_114.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_114.jpg[/img][/url]
Had to take out the 5.25" metal casing, so I could install it, and now I'm glad I purchased a smaller CPU fan.
[url=http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_115.jpg][img]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_115.jpg[/img][/url]
There's no space at all, and this is without a DVD-Rom installed. With one installed, there'll be even less space above the CPU cooler.
[B]To sum it up:[/B]
I'm displeased with the internal design of the Silverstone case, as I've had many unneeded problems with it.
To get the motherboard to fit, I had to force it in, and to install the bottom left screw I had to slightly bent my motherboard.
I'm also extremely worried about my power supply overheating, as the only thing that'll be cooling it down, is a hole in the bottom of the case that's very near to the ground.
The external design however, is lovely. It fits perfectly in my living room, next to my black Yamaha surround amplifier.
I'm very pleased with the Scythe [B][I]BIG[/I][/B] Shuriken, as it's got a wide support of processors, and the install was somewhat easy, even though I had to take the motherboard out.
I should've installed the cooler before putting in the motherboard though so that's a fault from my side.
So, now all I gotta do, is wait for my HDD, RAM, PSU and BD-DVD Rom to arrive, or for me to afford buying it. :v:
ib4 i3 more like i PEE!
[editline]06:19PM[/editline]
anyway cool stuff
At first, I though of going with an Atom, but seeing as it was the bare minimum for playing 1080p, I decided to pay a little extra, just to be on the safe side.
The case is really nice looking from outside. That Scythe Shuriken looks amazing and HUGE.
[editline]06:22PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Tools;22371863]At first, I though of going with an Atom, but seeing as it was the bare minimum for playing 1080p, I decided to pay a little extra, just to be on the safe side.[/QUOTE]
I really like the i3 i dont know why people think they are shit, my netbook has one and it runs a dream
Well the Scythe Shuriken is the widest CPU fan I've ever seen.
It's even wider than my Zalman 10X Extreme, that I use for my desktop.
[img]http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1034/zalman_cnps_10x_extreme_001.jpg[/img]
I also choose the i3, because it's small, and perfect for "smaller applications", such as watching HD movies, or in general things that doesn't include 3000 exploding barrels.
Yeh urm whats that i<3dvhardware.net???
Edited. dvhardware.net can suck my cock.
[QUOTE=derlicious;22371886]The case is really nice looking from outside. That Scythe Shuriken looks amazing and HUGE.
[editline]06:22PM[/editline]
I really like the i3 i dont know why people think they are shit, my netbook has one and it runs a dream[/QUOTE]
If it has an i3 it isn't a netbook.
Its a really small laptop that i call a netbook.
[QUOTE=derlicious;22375343]Its a really small laptop that i call a netbook.[/QUOTE]
Nope intel made regulations on what is classified a netbook so what you have is an ultra portable.
[QUOTE=Tools;22371708]
[URL="http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/potatoshoppede/Installing%20fan/IMAGE_103.jpg"][IMG]http://worldofweregoingofflinesoonsodontbotherlol.com/forum_images/Constriction%20of%20MediaCenter/thumbnails/installing%20fan/IMAGE_103.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
(Pandora picture taken through the power supply's hole)
[/QUOTE]
I think you mean Panorama. :eng99:
[QUOTE=bender9944;22436346]I think you mean Panorama. :eng99:[/QUOTE]
:buddy:
Always get it confused, even when it's written on my phone with huge letters.
I personally like the smaller Atom/ION motherboards, because it CAN playback 1080p, makes virtually no noise (save for a single, optional fan), and consumes almost no power, so you don't have to worry about turning it off constantly to save power.
Oh yeah, and I like the really small mini-ITX cases.
[QUOTE=robmaister12;22436502]I personally like the smaller Atom/ION motherboards, because it CAN playback 1080p, makes virtually no noise (save for a single, optional fan), and consumes almost no power, so you don't have to worry about turning it off constantly to save power.
Oh yeah, and I like the really small mini-ITX cases.[/QUOTE]
True, but I couldn't find a Mini-ITX case that had an external 5.25", and I'd rather have a ton of extra power wasted, than running on the edge.
[QUOTE=Tools;22371708]
[B]To sum it up:[/B]
I'm displeased with the internal design of the Silverstone case, as I've had many unneeded problems with it.
To get the motherboard to fit, I had to force it in, and to install the bottom left screw I had to slightly bent my motherboard.
I'm also extremely worried about my power supply overheating, as the only thing that'll be cooling it down, is a hole in the bottom of the case that's very near to the ground.
[/QUOTE]
I thought that'd be a given as it's HTPC, I mean I've made a few over the years and none of the cases aren't without their faults, it's nearly impossible to make a nice case that small without some flaws. In the end I made my own because at least then I could custom build it to match exactly what I need it for.
[QUOTE=derlicious;22371886]The case is really nice looking from outside. That Scythe Shuriken looks amazing and HUGE.[/QUOTE]
Uh by definition isn't a low profile, HTPC designed cooler not going to be huge?
Personally my next HTPC sorta build will probably be silence over size as I've learnt the hard way that it's nicer this way, Scythe Orochi where I come
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