As you may or may not be aware, I am in the process of building an HTPC type setup into a Teac 500 CD player, I'm using the matching amp, which is the main motivation to do so. Also to get rid of the large PC I currently own. The PC needs to be relatively potent, competently play games, Run CAD programs, photoshop etc. I have an idea the spec I'm after, but nothing is confirmed yet as I still need to shift the other one to fund it. Probably a 2500k or possibly the other i5 k.
I looked at some dimensions before buying and worked out that the mini itx board will fit in the 300 systems, and the micro atx will fit in the 500 setup. The latter I've just found out is very tight, and leaves minimal space around the edges to mount other hardware.
So straight away I've had to sacrifice the tv card due to the smaller board. Bonus of that is a sfx psu fits in its case with only needing to modify the plug, might even try and use the OE teac plug.
I will still have a decent sound card (looking at Asus D2 or the STX) now intending to get a board with a wifi card fitted to a pcie to remove and fit the sound t with an extension cable. Hopefully i'll be able to find a decent usb DVBT. Anyone got any recomendations on that? Needs to be able to record in HD. Probably stand more of a chance finding a decent usb sound card, but the issue i have is I do not want to run a receiver anymore due to the poor stereo reproduction.
Idea is to use the sound card with analogue outputs to the 500i for stereo and a 3 channel power up for the surrounds. Might even chuck it in the 500 tuner rather than the legacy case, maybe a 300 amp case and modify the volume nobs to work on the front of the unit rather than the rear.
The other issue I have is a full size graphics card doesn't fit by about 20mm in height, shame. Decent low profile cards are a premium last time I checked. Which leaves the only option of mounting it sideways on brackets of some description. Could be a pain, but I will need the card.
Already had a Noctua D14, which again is 10mm too tall, so that needs a rethink. Will do some investigation. If the extra toys wern't needed it would be an easy build I'd say.
Hopefully end up looking something like this...
Will stick some pictures up as and when I sort bits, won't be a quick build. Any thoughts and advice is always appreciated.
This was my original plan for a mini itx teac 300 cassette deck, still got the dismantled case so may still knock something up out of it.
Anyone want any Teac guts?