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can you guys recommend me a good htpc case.

No way to guess not knowing what you intend to put in it, the space you have available for it, whether vertical or horizontal orientation is what you want, etc. Just go to their websites and check them out. Then come back with your short list and let us nitpick them.
coolermaster.com
lian-li.com
silverstonetek.com
thermaltake.com

If you got a phat wallet, check out the Tt Mozart TX... 😉

.bh.
 
Lian-Li just released the PC-C30, and I am in love with it. It is however rather large for an HTPC, and is about as big as my stereo receiver, so I am planning on getting the silver one when I build my HTPC. It is about 150 dollars. The V800 and V880 are decent HTPC's from Lian-Li, however they both have a few drawbacks which I dont like, namely their power supply location. The C30 is big, full ATX, and has 2 drive slots (1 for DVD, and maybe a future HD-DVD drive is my choice), Also with 2 Exhaust fans and side intake for the PS, it has a very well laid out cooling scheme.

A truly classy case that I love is the Zalman HD-160, although at 280 bucks it aint cheap.

Also look into the brands OrionAE and Ahanix. Check www.pcalchemy.com for some HTPC cases, as that website is basically devoted to selling HTPC parts.

Silverstone has some great cases, although they arent exactly cheap either.

Thermaltake and Antec both have some cases for a lower budget than the Silverstone/Zalman/Lian-Li's, although I cant recommend any because I dont like their look, and I have heard some bad things about some of them as far as airflow.

The biggest thing to remember, is ventilation in HTPC's is difficult to achieve in alot of these cases when you put a power hungry processor in them. Plus putting high speed fans to fix things is inexcusible, as you want a quiet HTPC, no one wants to hear a turbine while watching movies.
 
Originally posted by: VinDSL
Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
any particular models?
Click to expand...
Thermaltake Mozart TX VE1000SWA
Click to expand...


Hmm he said he wanted a case that fit in with his audio equipment, not one that would eat his subwoofer in one bite :laugh:.

Honestly, I dont consider the Motzart TX an HTPC case, its just massive. HTPC's try to fit in with Audio/Video equipment in some way (same height/width), not sit next to the case with all your AV equipment and still be bigger.
 
Originally posted by: krotchy
Honestly, I don't consider the Mozart TX an HTPC case, its just massive...
Click to expand...
It'll go along nicely with a 62" TV though, yes?

OP, are we talking about miniaturization here -- like a 19" flat screen, or whatever?
 
Originally posted by: VinDSL
Originally posted by: krotchy
Honestly, I don't consider the Mozart TX an HTPC case, its just massive...
Click to expand...
It'll go along nicely with a 62" TV though, yes?

OP, are we talking about miniaturization here -- like a 19" flat screen, or whatever?
Click to expand...
Just because bigger is better for one thing doesn't mean that adage applies to all things.
 
Originally posted by: Howard
Just because bigger is better for one thing doesn't mean that adage applies to all things.
Click to expand...
True! Hemorrhoids would a good example of this... 😉

Speaking of which, small computer cases are a PITA!

Small cases generally have problems with cooling, e.g. air flow, et cetera.

Still, with HTPC, I think bigger is better. After all, that's why they made the Mozart...
 
Things to consider when looking at HTPC case specs:

- Height of the case -how tall will the vid card or cpu heatsinkbe??? Will usually determine this

- Length - How deep is the entertainment shelf/rack? No back - no problem

- Width - hmm no wider than typical stereo equipment if you want it to blend in

- Power supply - ATX is good - install what you want oppossed to proprietary can be bad (loud / noisy / low power?) remember flexibility. How much storage space do you want or will have in the future.

- Motherboard - ATX instead of Mini-ATX b/c you may get into it and want multiple TV tuner goodness 🙂 upgrade your audio etc.

- Fans - HTPC stuff typically runs HOT (turning down fan speed / passive vid coolers / hot TV tuners / HDs) in a small enclosure. Need a good intake/exhaust strategy. PLUS noise...how will you control?

- LCD - Want to see what's going on inside...or just to look cool
 
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