HTPC Tower Case?

[BassBomb]

Hello All,

I have HTPC (in rig) and it came as a Sony VIAO semi-prebuilt. It looks quite good except the fact that the disc drive panels are broken/missing on two of the drives off the front.

Any idea where these might be able to be found?

Otherwise I am thinking of putting a different case there.

It has to be a tower type

It has to support mATX and ATX

Mid/Mini tower perferrable

Decent cooling (120mm x2)

Power button OUTSIDE the door preferred


Only two I have thought of so far have been Antec Sonata III and Lian Li B25B (kinda expensive)

 

[RallyMaster]

Wasup BB...noticed you haven't been on NFSCars in a while

I'd say you take a look at the Cooler Master Cavalier. Not sure you'll be able to find it but they're really good cases.

 

[Zepper]

Other than by luck finding some at a local computer store in their "left over" parts box, Sony will be it for finding the bay covers. Other than that, look at the NZXT Duet or if bigger is possible, the Rosewill R5600 series (of the 3 variants, I like the 5605 best) or the R6A series (also sold under the HEC/Compucase brand). I reviewed the 5600 series here:
http://www.techimo.com/reviews/ under Cases > Yeong Yang/Rosewill (YY is the OEM). I also discuss the R6A series in the review. The latter is based on the same chassis as the legendary Antec SLK3000-B but you couldn't tell it from how they look. The Tt Tsunami is on an aluminum version of the 6A and their SViking is on the 5600 chassis.

.bh.

 

[Mwing]

I tried CM Cavalier, I returned it after a day becoz its power supply isnt a standard one, and it is really hard to find.

 

[RallyMaster]

Well in terms of PSU, I run an Antec Earthwatts 380 in mine with an Opteron 146, 6600GT and 1GB of RAM...not sure why you would use their [Cooler Master's] low-end PSUs...

 

[Zepper]

One of you may be talking about the HTPC-style Cavalier which did have a proprietary size PSU of questionable reliability, while the other is talking about the midtower Cavalier which came without a PSU as do most other C-M cases.

.bh.

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: Zepper
One of you may be talking about the HTPC-style Cavalier which did have a proprietary size PSU of questionable reliability, while the other is talking about the midtower Cavalier which came without a PSU as do most other C-M cases.

.bh.

Yeah, I'm using the Cavalier 3, which is a midtower. But since the OP was looking at midtowers as well, I thought it was kinda inferred. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[BassBomb]

I could also buy myself a new case....

If that was the case I'd likely go for a P182 or some Lian Li (not B25B) and throw the Tsunami downstairs

Cavalier reminds me alot of the Tsunami

 

[Zepper]

Take a look at the Sigma Phantom:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811226033 - it's a lot like the Raidmax Smilodon, but has a more conservative look. About all I can see I'd have to do right away is cut away the restrictive rear grill. The Spire Pininfarina is another take on the same chassis which is even more conservative. You may have to go to the mfr's web sites to see their most interesting feature - the whole right sides fold down taking the mobo, add-on cards and all with it. The review I've seen of it says they are stingy on the mobo standoffs, so you'll have to have a few in your spare parts stash also the one customer review on the Egg mentions the shortage as well.

.bh.