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I am in the planning stages of a PC-in-a-NES-case that will function as a hybrid HTPC/emulator box.
Oh that's going to be harder than you think I can promise you that.
I don't think it is going to be easy by any means. But easy projects are no fun.
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Obviously something like a i5-2500K would be ideal
You want to put an i5 2500k inside an NES case? Do you have any idea how insane that is? Please remove the mere thought of this from your brain at once.
I meant from a performance standpoint, it would be ideal. I have zero intentions of using one for this project. After looking around I have pretty much decided on a Core i3 2510, which is a dual-core that runs at 3.3GHz. For Dolphin I am aware that more than two cores does not really get you anywhere, and as you said the extra heat of the 2500k would just be impractical.
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I also will need a graphics card that is small and cool-running enough to function in such a limited design. Again, Dolphin emulating Wii at 1080p will be the most demanding thing this computer will ever have to do. Any CPU/GPU suggestions to work within these limitations?
Well you haven't really given us any specific limitations. All you've said so far is that you'll be using an NES case. We don't know how you plan to design this, what kind of power supply, how well ventilated the case will be (are you going to cut a hole for a rear fan?), or if you plan on passively cooling everything.
My limitations are mostly in terms of something physically small and that will be possible to practically cool. I will probably dremel out a hole in the back for a fan, but playing with it will tell me exactly what I need. In terms of design, I will be using a PCI Express riser to allow me to mount the card horizontally in the case, as the NES case is not large enough to have it vertical. For power I will use several picoPSUs, with relays in place to appropriately power on everything at the same time. Power requirements will not be an issue nearly as much as cooling. Passive cooling for this project does not seem like an option by any stretch of the imagination.
You've mentioned using a miniITX motherboard but do you have the space for a low profile graphics card or will integrated graphics be a requirement? BE SURE, don't assume it. Keep in mind high end integrated graphics processors these days are powerful enough for running dolphin at the native internal resolution (640 x 528), but if you want true HD you'll need a graphics card (although llano might be able to do it with an IGP).
I am fully aware that I need a real graphics card to run Dolphin at high resolutions. What I am less sure of is what exactly I need in terms of power for what I want to do, and what will not cook in my setup.
I would seriously reconsider making dolphin a priority for this thing. Dolphin requires top of the line hardware, as I'm sure you realize. Putting top of the line hardware in a system like that just isn't practical (although it is possible, trading dolphin performance away will allow you to use much cheaper parts that produce far less heat).
I enjoy the challenge.
I am in the planning stages of a PC-in-a-NES-case that will function as a hybrid HTPC/emulator box.
Oh that's going to be harder than you think I can promise you that.
I don't think it is going to be easy by any means. But easy projects are no fun.
Quote:
Obviously something like a i5-2500K would be ideal
You want to put an i5 2500k inside an NES case? Do you have any idea how insane that is? Please remove the mere thought of this from your brain at once.
I meant from a performance standpoint, it would be ideal. I have zero intentions of using one for this project. After looking around I have pretty much decided on a Core i3 2510, which is a dual-core that runs at 3.3GHz. For Dolphin I am aware that more than two cores does not really get you anywhere, and as you said the extra heat of the 2500k would just be impractical.
Quote:
I also will need a graphics card that is small and cool-running enough to function in such a limited design. Again, Dolphin emulating Wii at 1080p will be the most demanding thing this computer will ever have to do. Any CPU/GPU suggestions to work within these limitations?
Well you haven't really given us any specific limitations. All you've said so far is that you'll be using an NES case. We don't know how you plan to design this, what kind of power supply, how well ventilated the case will be (are you going to cut a hole for a rear fan?), or if you plan on passively cooling everything.
My limitations are mostly in terms of something physically small and that will be possible to practically cool. I will probably dremel out a hole in the back for a fan, but playing with it will tell me exactly what I need. In terms of design, I will be using a PCI Express riser to allow me to mount the card horizontally in the case, as the NES case is not large enough to have it vertical. For power I will use several picoPSUs, with relays in place to appropriately power on everything at the same time. Power requirements will not be an issue nearly as much as cooling. Passive cooling for this project does not seem like an option by any stretch of the imagination.
You've mentioned using a miniITX motherboard but do you have the space for a low profile graphics card or will integrated graphics be a requirement? BE SURE, don't assume it. Keep in mind high end integrated graphics processors these days are powerful enough for running dolphin at the native internal resolution (640 x 528), but if you want true HD you'll need a graphics card (although llano might be able to do it with an IGP).
I am fully aware that I need a real graphics card to run Dolphin at high resolutions. What I am less sure of is what exactly I need in terms of power for what I want to do, and what will not cook in my setup.
I would seriously reconsider making dolphin a priority for this thing. Dolphin requires top of the line hardware, as I'm sure you realize. Putting top of the line hardware in a system like that just isn't practical (although it is possible, trading dolphin performance away will allow you to use much cheaper parts that produce far less heat).
I enjoy the challenge.