I decided to build a new HTPC/NAS in order to watch Netflix (using pipelight) on Linux, and combine two older machines into one.

My old HTPC was based on a 1.6GHz AMD Sempron from 2007 and a Nvidia GeForce N210. While it played Full HD content fine using vdpau, it was not able to handle Netflix using pipelight. A second machine with a Intel Atom CPU was used to store all the multimedia and host MythTV.

Specifications of the new machine are:

Motherboard

Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP

Nice motherboard, ok PWM fan controls, only thing I dislike is the UEFI bios. Some options change when I navigate using the keyboard arrows… come on, do I really need a mouse for changing bios options?

Everything I have tested works in Linux, also these things:

  • lm-sensors: supports the it8728 chip
  • Wake-on-lan
  • Audio over HDMI

I did not test:

  • USB 3.0
  • Changing the “Resume by Alarm” time from Linux.

  • Fancontrol in Linux

  • lspci reports:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Device 041e (rev 06)
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller (rev 06)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI (rev 04)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection I217-V (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #2 (rev 04)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev d4)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev d4)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI #1 (rev 04)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Z87 Express LPC Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family 6-port SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] (rev 04)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04)
02:00.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 41)

RAM

I went for some cheap Kingston HyperX blu 2 x 2 GB memory. The motherboard supports faster memory which should boost graphics performance, but I’m content with how it performs now.

CPU

I really like the Intel i3-4130T (Haswell) CPU. It runs @ 2.9GHz with a TDP of just 35W, and it comes with integrated Intel HD graphics 4400.

It is possible to view Full HD content using va-api without using more than <20% CPU.

CPU cooler

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is a direct heatpipe touch CPU cooler, and its fan can run at the lowest speed all the time thanks to the CPU’s low TDP. I use Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound.

Control

I picked the Chill KB-1BT Wireless Bluetooth Micro Keyboard because I was tired of my old infrared connected keyboard’s poor range and it also had to be pointing directly at its receiver. And not only does the Chill KB-1BT have better range, it’s also much easier to type on because it’s much smaller so I can reach most keys with my thumbs.

While the keyboard is excellent for typing and controlling Netflix/Rdio, I also bought a Pulse Eight USB – CEC Adapter which allows me to control XBMC 100% using my TV’s (Sony KDL-40WE5) remote.

Storage

I reused the 3 x 500Gb Seagate ST3500630AS discs from the Atom server running in a Raid 5 configuration.

Case

First revision Antec Sonata (does not even exist on Antec’s page any more)