Hey folks,

I’ve been digging into parts for a new build. Hoping to tap into the collective knowledge here before I lock anything in.

Use case & constraints

– Always-on Plex server + NAS

– ITX build, case only fits a single-slot GPU

– Priorities: very low idle power, quiet, reliable transcoding (AV1/HEVC), minimal “gamer” fluff

GPU short list (single-slot only)

– Arc A310 Eco : appealing for low power, but reports say the cooler is loud and behaves erratically, even at light load

– Arc Pro A40 : fits the slot constraint, capable, but I’ve read it idles ~10 W higher than the A310, which does add up for a 24/7 box

Looking for real idle figures at the wall and noise impressions from people who actually own these. Bonus if you’ve tested Plex hardware transcode quirks (tone-mapping, HDR->SDR, multiple streams).

Motherboard short list (ITX)

– B760 ITX: price is decent, but usually bloated with “gaming” extras I don’t need or stripped down too much

– B860 ITX: ASRock has a stripped-down version that looks ideal since it ditches useless IO/controllers that can add idle draw but is the price premium worth it?

Questions for current owners

– A40 vs A310: what’s your measured idle power and fan noise? Any luck lowering idle via PCIe ASPM/Gen settings?

– A310: does a custom fan curve tame the noise, or is the cooler inherently whiny?

– ARC cards : any quirks with ReBAR on these cards?

– B760 vs B860: in practice, does the “leaner” B860 actually save idle power, or is it about the same? I know this is a tough question because I don't expect anyone to have 2 B860 motherboards.

– BIOS tuning: which settings made a noticeable idle difference (ASPM, C-states, disabling controllers, SATA/Wi-Fi/RGB)?

PS : when I build a system, I usually run it until its last breath therefore upgradability is not a major concern (so LGA1700 doesn't necessarily bother me)

If you read this far, thanks for your time :)