Performance HTPC (Untested 2019 Edition)

This is a work in progress page, where you will find my component selection for the 2018-2019 edition of the Performance HTPC.

	System Performance HTPC Build	Highlights Slim mini-ITX case Strong CPU for gaming High quality sound card GPU for 4K and gaming Semi-passive PSU	Price Full Parts List

Building a small form factor gaming HTPC that is powerful and silent is not easy at all. This is my fourth iteration and it has upgraded with the latest available components. Like last year’s excellent, this build delivers very good 1080p gaming performance while staying practically silent.

I was initially planning to use an Intel Core i5-8400 processor, but due to supply challenges, I cannot recommend it as it is popping in and out of stock and selling much higher than original price.

I decided to go for AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor, which is a 65W CPU (like Intel i5-8400) and delivers similar performance as i5-8400. AMD Ryzen 5 2600 runs super cool and keeps everything quiet while providing enough performance for media server tasks and games.

Scythe Big Shuriken 2 CPU cooler seems to have some availability challenges, so I decided to replace it with the Noctua NH-L9x65 SE-AM4.

I have been very satisfied with ASUS ROG gaming motherboards, so I opted for ASUS ROG Strix X470-I mini-ITX motherboard for this build.

Graphic card coolers can easily be the noisiest component in your computer. It seems that the graphics card I have been using since my 2016 build (EVGA GTX 1060 SC) is still great choice for super quiet 1080p gaming. It supports 4K at 60Hz and VR.

In this 2018 reference performance HTPC, I decided to upgrade Silverstone ML07 to the higher quality Silverstone FTZ01-E case. This continues to be a “home theater box” version of the revolutionary Raven RVZ01 case. The both ML07 and FTZ01-E have a PCI-E riser making them perfect choice for your gaming HTPC.

As in my previous Performance HTPC build, I’m planning to install two Noctua NF-S12A ULN case fans on the GPU side to pull air into the case and one case fan on the CPU side to push air out of the case.

The following components have not been tested yet and you should always seek the advice of a professional before acting on something that I have published on this work in progress page.

Required parts

Component	Recommendation	Where
Component Case	Recommendation SilverStone SST-FTZ01B-E Mini-ITXAdvanced case design This aluminum case looks really stylish. It no longer supports optical disk drive.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component CPU	Recommendation AMD Ryzen 5 2600Performance for games This low TDP (65 watt) processor provides great performance even for more demanding tasks.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component CPU Cooler	Recommendation Noctua NH-L9x65 SE-AM4 (Not final)Quiet CPU cooler Not a final choice yet. I will need to test this Noctua NH-L9x65 processor cooler to see whether it is quiet enough for this build. According to the case specifications, this CPU cooler should fit inside the case fine.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Motherboard	Recommendation ASUS ROG Strix X470-IBest audio quality Strix X470-I Gaming gives you comprehensive control over fans and fans stay whisper-quiet. ROG’s SupremeFX audio technology delivers an excellent audio quality.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Graphics Card	Recommendation EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 SCSilent gaming card EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 card is still an excellent choice for silent running HTPCs whilst offering strong performance. I’m using it on my current 2016-2017 Performance HTPC build. It’s still the best recommendation thanks to its power efficiency and performance.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Memory	Recommendation CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 8GB DDR4Solid memory for a good price Both Kingston HyperX Fury and Corsair Vengeance have very fast performance and a low heat signature. You should get at least 8GB.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component System Boot Drive	Recommendation Samsung 860 EVO M.2 1TB SSDBest component upgrade An SSD is the best thing that you can get to boost the performance of your HTPC while keeping it silent. You should choose enough storage based on your needs and how many games you will store. I selected M.2 SATA to cut down on cabling.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Power Supply	Recommendation Corsair SF450Efficient PSU I’m using this PSU on my 2016-2017 build. If I find a successor for the GeForce GTX 1060, then I may need to upgrade this PSU. I will also need to see whether it fits well to the newer Silverstone FTZ01-E case. I may keep this recommendation as this modular power supply is efficient (80 plus gold) and silent making it ideal for a gaming HTPC.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Case Fan	Recommendation 3 x Noctua NF-S12A ULNThe quietest 120mm fan Noctua NF-S12A ULN is the quietest 120mm case fan I’ve found, and it moves air very well. I would recommend using three Noctua case fans with the Silverstone ML07	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Case Fan Filter	Recommendation 3 x Case Fan FilterCase fan filters This is a magnetized filter for a case fan. This ultra fine filter is great for preventing dust build up inside the case.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Operating System	Recommendation Windows 10Recommended OS Windows 10 provides extremely short start up and shut down times. Windows is also needed if you play games or watch Blu-ray movies.	Where Buy from Amazon

Optional parts

Component Media Hard Drive	Recommendation WD Red 3 TB3.5″ Media HDD WD Red hard drives are great choice if you want to record live TV and store media files inside the HTPC. Get as many as you need (and your case can fit).	Where Buy from Amazon

Accessories

Component	Recommendation	Where
Component TV Tuner	Recommendation HDHomeRun OTA or PrimeMy favorite TV HDHomeRun is a great network attached TV tuner that allows you to watch and record live TV. You can choose between three HDHomeRun products: CONNECT, EXTEND, and PRIME. The CONNECT and EXTEND are over-the-air antenna devices, PRIME is a premium cable TV device with full CableCARD conditional access support.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Remote Control	Recommendation Flirc USB IR ReceiverBest remote adapter The Flirc is a USB IR receiver that outputs presses on a remote control button as keyboard input to any application such as Kodi.	Where Buy from Flirc
Component Game Controller	Recommendation Xbox One ControllerMust for gamers If you want a wireless controller to use for your PC games, then Xbox One controller for Windows is a must have.	Where Buy from Amazon
Component Keyboard & mouse	Recommendation Logitech K830Mouse & keyboard combo Logitech K830 is a great keyboard and mouse for Windows-based HTPC to be used on the living room couch.	Where Buy from Amazon

Please note that product links on this page are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through those links.

Thank you for supporting my hard work!

Recent changes

Track the most recent changes to my performance HTPC build.

• September 23th, 2018 – A major upgrade in progress. I will be replacing most of the components due to newer models available.
• October 29th, 2016 – A major upgrade. Replaced most of the components.
• October 30th, 2015 – Replaced the GeForce GTX 750-Ti graphics card with more powerful yet quiet GTX 960.
• October 30th, 2015 – Replaced the Silverstone SFX 600W power supply with a 500W SFX-L version as the SX500 proved to be quieter.
• May 10th, 2015 – Added HDHomeRun TV tuner recommendation after successfully tested it in my home theater.
• December 7th, 2014 – Added three Noctua NF-S12A ULN case fans, three case fan filters and one case fan Y-splitter cable as recommendations to make the system even quieter.
• November 20th, 2014 – Replaced the Silverstone SFX 450W power supply with a 600W version as the SX600-G proved to be quiet with low CPU load.
• November 16th, 2014 – Published the initial parts list for my 2015 edition of the performance HTPC build.