Aftermarket HS/Fans for Desktop HTPC cases?

[BoboKatt]

Might anyone suggest a decent hs/fan that will fit in some of the more recent desktop HTPC cases? Something that actually cools real well but is close to silent?

Cases I am thinking about are the Thermaltake VC4000SNS(Mozart), or the Antec Fusion Media Centre Case, Antec-Overture II and these are the local ones I can get.

I don't mind using the smaller PS that come with them and I dont even mind using the micro boards (although some cases do hold full size mobos) but what I do mind is using the stock cooling that comes with most CPU's. They are load and don't usually do much. I would love to use a Big Typhoon but I am almost sure that wont fit in any of these cases.

Any suggestions? The CPU I will be using is a very great running AMD x2 4800+. I don't plan on oc'ing it... just using it for my new HTPC that I would like to build. The video card is an ATI X1950XTX. About the only requirements.

Thanks

 

[alaricljs]

Do you already have the case? I've been into HTPCs for ~5 years and I've never used an HTPC case. Right now I have a P150 with a fanless Ninja HS. In the dead of night with nothing in the house running (including the fridge) I can just barely hear the woosh of the case fans (set to low).

I don't know if your setup supports it but my wife is in love with armoires (sp?) and I have the case stuck behind there with a IR remote receiver on the top of the armoire and the wireless trackball receiver sitting on top of the left speaker behind some wooden ducks. DVD is an external unit (fanless) sitting on the top shelf inside the armoire. This has worked out so well for me that I intend on keeping it this way as long as possible.

HTPC cases are too limiting. If there were an inexpensive way (and I had any clue where to stick it) my receiver/amp would be tucked away too.

 

[BoboKatt]

Hum great point. You are right on in those suggestions -- I know I am limiting myself by insisting on going on an actual HTPC case which essentially will have subpar ventilation, have issues with housing larger cards and large HS/FANS all for the sake of looking like an audio component.

I don't have a case as of yet... I do have every other part for the system and actually it's all sitting in an Antec Sonata case which wth my Big Typhoon is virtually silent. I might just take your advice and use that case -- heck I wouldn't even have to rebuild or reinstall anything. I don't really care for a DVD burner inside the case as my goal is simply to connect the DVI out of my video card with a DVI-HDMI cable to my 42 LCD TV. I want to be able to play all my recorded shows, movies audio and pictures from my PC rather than always having to burn stuff to a DVD.

ALso my gf has this grand idea of being able to surf the net, do email etc from the confort of a couch all while watching it on a 42" LCD. I tend to agree and maybe for these reasons I don't actually need to get a full pledged HTPC. I mean I doubht I will ever get going with a TV Tuner/capture card/PVR thingy just yet.

Thanks
B