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Coolest HTPC / Rackmount case ??

I built a dedicated HTPC last January. I used a Lian-Li PC-C60 case in black. Love it. Notice how it looks right next to my Denon.

20160124_184144_zpsc0tvrcbi.jpg
 
Do you really mean HTPC or do you mean gaming PC that can also play media? What you linked is crazy huge unless it needs to support a high powered video card. HTPC, especially if it doesn't need to do 4K, can be under 150W which is an easy amount of heat to remove.

Wait. Does coolest mean low temperature or stylish? What is the budget? Does it need to be full ATX or mATX or mini or? Maybe we need a picture of your entertainment set to find something with the same styling and color. Is there no room left in that stack? Without more info, if you don't need a full height video card then I'd consider something like this Silverstone ML03B, or just look through the options at Newegg on 2nd link to see if anything catches your eye:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163174

I don't necessarily mean buy it there, this one is cheaper at ncixus.com or Amazon.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519 50002031 40000690&IsNodeId=1&SubCategory=690&Manufactory=2031&SpeTabStoreType=1
 
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mindless1 said:
Do you really mean HTPC or do you mean gaming PC that can also play media?
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HTPC = Home Theater Personal Computer. A pc that you hook up to your tv. It can mean many things to many people. It's on how you use it. I get that you want something slim and sexy. Others, including myself, want a case that can house a full size ATX mobo so that we can customize our build with add-in cards as our needs/wants change. Makes for easy upgrades. We also want the option of using a full size video card in case we want to game and/or play 4K videos. We may want easy maintenance or have improved cooling. We may want our case to house an array of HDDs to serve up media. I may use my case to do all or none of these things. If I have the space in my entertainment center why would I want a skinny little proprietary case that is a pain to maintenance and limits my options?
 
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^ I've never been to a theater where they were gaming. If this is a gaming build that's all the info that needs stated.

Most people don't need all those "options" you imagined, which is why HTPC cases aren't the same dimensions as desktop cases. Upgrading or repair to them is about standard mobo and PSU form factor which the silverstone has. Array of HDD is totally unnecessary unless explicitly stated, that's what a NAS is for, and the more mechanical things you have in it, the more noise from them and the fan forced airflow rate needed to remove heat.

If you have the space why would you want it skinny? Because it looks better, and because you'll still have more space remaining which is better for airflow without increasing noise, and I don't just mean airflow for the HTPC but spacing of other HT components too.

Maintenance? No difference. Maybe you're thinking about tiny tower cases instead of horizontal ones. The only difference on the Silverstone is you have to unscrew the frame that's (optionally) holding the optical drive in, to remove the HDD IF you put one there instead of only one behind the PSU or an SSD alone.

There's nothing especially proprietary about a half height mATX case that takes a standard (full sized) ATX PSU. It just comes down to what I asked which was whether it's HTPC or gaming so you'd need more height for a gaming video card. Other than video, there are lots of options for half height cards for other functions. HTPC isn't a new genre any longer, and people don't tend to upgrade them nearly as often unless moving from 1080p capable to 4K which I also mentioned previously.
 
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mindless1 said:
^ I've never been to a theater where they were gaming. If this is a gaming build that's all the info that needs stated.

Most people don't need all those "options" you imagined, which is why HTPC cases aren't the same dimensions as desktop cases. Upgrading or repair to them is about standard mobo and PSU form factor which the silverstone has. Array of HDD is totally unnecessary unless explicitly stated, that's what a NAS is for, and the more mechanical things you have in it, the more noise from them and the fan forced airflow rate needed to remove heat.

If you have the space why would you want it skinny? Because it looks better, and because you'll still have more space remaining which is better for airflow without increasing noise, and I don't just mean airflow for the HTPC but spacing of other HT components too.

There's nothing especially proprietary about a half height mATX case that takes a standard (full sized) ATX PSU. It just comes down to what I asked which was whether it's HTPC or gaming so you'd need more height for a gaming video card. Other than video, there are lots of options for half height cards for other functions. HTPC isn't a new genre any longer.
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Your argument makes zero sense. It's all about personal needs. Why are you projecting your needs on others?
 
Why are you projecting your needs on others?
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Why are you? He wrote HTPC and I linked a HTPC case. Do you not even realize how irrational you are?

Why are you failing to comprehend that a gaming PC build and a HTPC build may not be the same so in order to make a good recommendation, we should know which it is?

If you don't understand what I wrote, it's not my problem. Carry on with something you do understand, but so far you have contributed nothing to this topic.

Since I'm not holding a gun to Jay's head, he has the option to not buy the one I linked if he doesn't like it, lol.
 
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mindless1 said:
Why are you? He wrote HTPC and I linked a HTPC case. Do you not even realize how irrational you are?

Why are you failing to comprehend that a gaming PC build and a HTPC build may not be the same so in order to make a good recommendation, we should know which it is?

If you don't understand what I wrote, it's not my problem. Carry on with something you do understand, but so far you have contributed nothing to this topic.

Since I'm not holding a gun to Jay's head, he has the option to not buy the one I linked if he doesn't like it, lol.
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A HTPC is just a computer that is hooked up to a TV in the living area. That is all. I understand you completely. You asked why someone would want such a case, instead of the sexy skinny one that you prefer. I gave you a handful of examples. With my large case I can go small such as your build. But you cannot go large if you wanted to. It's just not designed for that purpose. It has nothing to do with gaming vs HTPC. HTPC is just the format, not the use. If he wants to game on it in the living room then it's still an HTPC. If he just wants to play media then it's still a HTPC. You can buy a slim HTPC case and all you're ever going to use it for is a media player. You may as well just purchase an appliance.

I've got a Fire TV. But with my HTPC I can adapt it as I wish. I can use a standard ATX power supply and not worry whether it will fit in my case. I can use 120mm fans for cooling and have a quiet experience. I can add tuner cards to capture HDTV for playback later. I can add an array of HDDs and serve up media for my home. I can easily access the parts in my HTPC for maintenance and repair. I can use a full size video card and not be limited in my selection. Virtual Larry had this dilemna. He was looking for a half height single slot GTX 1050. There is no such thing. I use a full size GTX 950. Why did I pick that? Because it's got a huge heatpipe cooler with two large fans. The fans don't spin unless it's under load. So, it's dead quiet. I don't game so that's not an issue. However, the GTX 950 is one of the few models of that generation that had built in HEVC (H265) decoding. It also has HDMI 2.0 output. All ready for 4K. My setup boots straight into Kodi and is controlled via an app on my smartphone via WiFi. It doesn't look out of place in my entertainment center. In fact, it looks quite sexy. I had some of my classmates and instructor from my cyber security class over this summer and they were all ooohing and ahhhing over the HTPC. Not one suggested that I get a slimmer case. Of course, I couldn't say what's right for you. You do your research and make your own decisions. I'm just giving you the reasons I chose my HTPC case.
 
We're wasting our time unless Jay gets more specific. Not everyone wants a case bigger than it needs to be, though for my desktop case, I totally agree that more spacious is better, up to a point, but then my case isn't on the desk while some people prefer it smaller and there.
 
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