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the Pocket Rocket Project

4/17/2008 4:53:58 PM

paul

1013 posts

the Pocket Rocket Project
(N/A) Modified By paul on 4/17/2008 7:06:12 PM)

Well I decided I needed an HTPC to complete my home theatre setup. It'll be used as basically a DVD player, with the benefit of playing movies stored on my main computer. My wife uses DirecTV's HD DVR, so there's no need to have a full blown HTPC setup.

I wanted it be pack quite a punch, since it will crunch 24/7, too, so I'm using a Q6600 GO cpu, 2GB of 800 ram, IDE DVD burner & 250GB hdd, since all those parts I have laying around. The IDE stuff will work well, and the cpu I just pulled out of my main rig and replaced it with a Q9450. And did I mention it'll be overclocked and crunching, too?

PSU will be an Antec EarthWatts 500, since I have one. It's 80+ certified, and doesn't have long cables like some premium PSU's, great for this install.

Here's a thread on it's progress.

First off, here's an Aspire Qpack case I've had laying around, it's one of the better cooled hatbox cases around, with a decent amount of room-

Next is an Asus P5E-VM mATX motherboard with HDMI out, full range of overclocking features, and pretty beefy regulation-

For cpu cooling, I modded the case to try and fit a Thermaltake Big Typhoon, but it wouldn't clear the psu. So I used a Zalman 9700 LED, which will help airflow, since instead of blowing air down on the mobo, it pushes to the rear, and out the case's rear 120mm exhaust fan. Here's a pic of the install-

pocket rocket 012sm.jpg

Co-owner, the Group of 10 ~~100~~ ~~200~~ 300

4/17/2008 7:56:52 PM

Kinguni

2085 posts

Re: the Pocket Rocket Project
(Canada)

You'd do well building and selling those Paul.

4/18/2008 5:26:25 AM

skildude

199 posts

Re: the Pocket Rocket Project
(N/A)

Now you need a PSU with a huge fan to help suck out the heat.

BTW do oyu have enough RAM sitting there

4/18/2008 2:45:16 PM

paul

1013 posts

Re: the Pocket Rocket Project
(N/A)

I'll have to check that psu, most of the Antec's I've used have 2 speed fans, one I had before, had a fan lead on it, that when you plugged it into a mobo fan header, you could read the fan speed, plus it would kick up a notch.

The rear case fan on the QPack seems to be in the 1500-2000 rpm type, it does move a good bit of air. If you look right past the front of the hsf, you'll see I mounted an 80mm fan blowing down right over the memory slots. I can reverse it so it blows up on the hdd. Will have to see what needs cooling more. I had to cut into the area where the hdd would reside normally to fit the hsf in there, so i'll have to mount the hdd under the dvd burner with those adapters that used to come with hdds.

And yes, that ram will be gone through to see which works, they are mostly 512MB modules of Ballistix, some/most have gone south and need to be rma'ed. That's another thing, Ballistix ram has had a horrendous failure rate, I've yet to hear the reason why, but i have tons of it from the various rebates they offered over the past few years. WHile i love the Micron D9 chips they use, I've gotten into the habit of keeping a fan on them to keep them from overheating.

Co-owner, the Group of 10 ~~100~~ ~~200~~ 300

4/22/2008 9:38:14 AM

paul

1013 posts

Re: the Pocket Rocket Project
(N/A)

Removed the OEM case fan, replaced it with a similar one, without the blue led's. So far the big Zalman is up to the task, first Zalman I've used on a quad, and was suprised at the results. But, it is the 110mm version, anything smaller just wouldn't cut it on a clocked quad. Here's where we are so far, the board regulation is not on par with other full sized overclocking boards, but it is a step in the right direction.