Building my media centrum (low noise, low power)

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Telhma

New Member
Intro:
Hello all, I builded a few years back my computer for editing images, and i loved to do it. it's a 4790K water cooled and overclocked CPU. Problem is that it's using a lot of power (well, not that much compared to gaming machines, i think i runs like 250W when it's running on full power), and it's running loud.

Main question and situation:
Now i want to build my own media pc, and if it's possible. i want it to run at less then 50W when it's playing a video, streaming from the net, or playing some music. But i do not know where to start looking for the components. It seems a lot harder to look for components with that in mind then for components to get extreme performance.

I had in mind, to go with a Asus Z97-E motherboard, But i have no clue if it supports some form of fan control system, so maybe i have to go for the Z97-A. somebody here who knows something about that??

Next is the processor, and here my brain totally goes insane. I don't think i need that much processor power to run the tasks i explained above. So i had in mind to use the Intel® Core™ i5-4690K, and underclock it to around 2/2,5 GHZ to reduce the heat, because i want to passively cool it with a Noctua NH-D15, with the fans only kicking in when the processor is running really hot
BUT: For a fraction of the prize, there is also the Pentium G3258. would that be capable to run my applications, with no overheating issues. keeping in mind i do not gonna install a graphical card ?

Beside of that, i think to install 4 or 8 GB ram (1600). and use a Slax linux distribution for now, that i can copy to the ram on boot from a USB-flash drive. maybe later i decide to add a SSD and put ubunto on it, I do not expect that a SSD will use that much power.

A fanless power supply and a case will be added to make the system working.

Is there something i overlook. or that i need to do totally different. I am no experience builder. and i have totally know experience with building with power and sound management in mind.

Thanks for the help // Telhma
 
Last edited by a moderator:
T

Telhma

New Member
I have tought about that option also, but I do not see the advantage. I think the ddr3 ram will be not a trouble maker in my setup. Does the power consumption of ddr4 make such a difference?

Thanks for the replay!

Greetings
 
Laquer Head

Laquer Head

Well-Known Member
Telhma said:
I have tought about that option also, but I do not see the advantage. I think the ddr3 ram will be not a trouble maker in my setup. Does the power consumption of ddr4 make such a difference?

Thanks for the replay!

Greetings
Click to expand...

What does this even mean?

DDR4 is the way to go if your building new, DDR3 is old now!
 
T

Telhma

New Member
Laquer Head said:
What does this even mean?

DDR4 is the way to go if your building new, DDR3 is old now!
Click to expand...
It means that i do not see where DDR4 can give a better performance then DDR3. in a setup where i want to under-clock.

but, if i would go for both the setups and the possibility's i have in the store here, they would cost me this:

Old technology:
  • Asus Z97-E = 899 SEK
  • Intel i5 4690K = 2290 SEK
  • 8GB DDR3 1600= 399 SEK
  • Total= 3588 SEK or 429,49 USD
New technology
  • Asus Z170-A = 1589 SEK
  • Intel i5 6600K = 2385 SEK
  • 8GB DDR4 2400 = 499 SEK
  • Total 4473 or 535,43 USD
I understand that the motherboard is totally different, and i understand that the newer system is better in all ways. but i used the cheapest parts available to buy here, to get the closest to what i had in mind to use with the older technology.
The difference in prize will be like 100USD.

For the things i want to use the computer for, i think i will get the same results with both the setups, or am i wrong??? i can be totally wrong off course. you guys are way much in to computer stuff then i am. I do not know if it's worth to pay 100USD extra, just for a newer setup. Okej. it is true, if i want to upgrade later to a X99, i can use the DDR4 memory again, and that would me save there 48 dollar again.

I hope you understand what i just wrote here :D

Greetzz
 
Intel_man

Intel_man

VIP Member
Why are you spec'ing for a K cpu when you're looking for low power consumption? It's not like you're going to overclock anyways.
 
C

Cisco001

Well-Known Member
Why are you using high-end component for a htpc?
If power consumption and noise is a concern, you get those intel nuc/ gigabyte brix. Or even grab a laptop and plug in HDMI & wireless keyboard and job done.
 
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