my custom Home Theatre PC: feedback requested

[crapito]

pictures and additional info

about 2 months ago, i finished building my own custom Home Theatre PC. i'd like to get some opinions as to quality, value, how much you like it, the "wow!" factor, etc... if my HTPC is considered a success, i may build more and sell 'em (i already build and sell PCs to friends). btw: this is my first attempt at a clear Lexan case, so it isn't perfect, but noone who has seen it in person has ever called me on it.

here is the part list:
[*]motherboard: MSI K7N2-ISLR
[*]CPU: AthlonXP 1700+ (overclocked to 160x10.5=1680 ~2100 level)
[*]cooler: Volcano 9 w/cool mod
[*]RAM: 256mb PC2100 (overclocked to Mhz)
[*]HDD: Maxtor 80gb 7200rpm 2mb cache
[*]video: onboard (~GF4mx420 level)
[*]LAN: onboard nVidia 10/100
[*]DVD/CDRW: Lite-On 48x24x48x16
[*]power supply: Enlight 300w
[*]case: custom made clear Lexan

total cost to build: ~$525 according to prices @ Newegg as of 9/27 (the last time i checked)

it's plenty fast for a HTPC as it runs Q3A, GTA:VC and other games fine @ 800x600, which is what my 27" Sony XBR TV likes best. it has SVHS, composite, and analog computer video outputs; digital and analog sound outputs; firewire, USB2, RAID, SATA, etc... i can handle a better, faster video card as it has an AGP slot, but the case would have to be modified as i didn't see the need for any better video than onboard due to its role as a HTPC. also, the 2 120mm fans keep it nice and cool w/o a lot of noise. i use a Logitech cordless keyboard and mouse for the input.

i am thinking about selling this, either here or on Ebay, but i'd have to get at least $100 over my cost to build in order to make it worth while to make such a computer. i put about 20 hours into design and physically making the case, so i'd want to get something for my efforts.

anyway, let me know what you think, and thanks for looking...

 

[Tab]

Who's maxed out their bandwidth?

 

[crapito]

yeah, the pics have been more popular than i expected... but that's good!

thanks.

 

[huesmann]

Port holes aren't very neat.

 

[beatle]

Neato!

Personally I would have gone with a quieter fan for the CPU. HTPCs should be seen and not heard.

 

[crapito]

the Volcano fan has a speed control, just like the 120mm fans, so i can make it cool and quiet. i have the fan speeds set to a sound level slightly less than my tv/stereo/dvd player/etc so i can't hear the HTPC when it's running.

 

[paperfist]

That looks great, nice work

Few questions for ya, does the Lexan scratch like regular Plexiglas and how did you screw the sides together? It looks like the sides are screwed together anyway, but I would think either the plastic is fairly thick or you are extremely talented cause that stuff usually cracks pretty easily.

 

[boardsportsrule]

yeah ditch that volcanand get a zalman... my dad did this.... zalman heatsink, passive video card, zalman psu and one pabst case fan.... oh yeah amaxtor 160GB harddrive with fdb( silent) bearing..... i cannot hear it AT ALL EVER!!!!! it's tight.... make it silent...

 

[crapito]

Originally posted by: paperfist
That looks great, nice work

Few questions for ya, does the Lexan scratch like regular Plexiglas and how did you screw the sides together? It looks like the sides are screwed together anyway, but I would think either the plastic is fairly thick or you are extremely talented cause that stuff usually cracks pretty easily.

Lexan does scratch, but if you leave the protective plastic film on it while working with it, you can greatly minimize the chances of scratching it. as for putting the sides together, the sides are 1/4" thick, so i was able to drill carefully into them and screw the pieces together. the top and bottom are much thinner, 1/8" thick i think, so they are anchored into the thicker sides. the "full frontal" pic shows best how i drilled the sides, as you can see the screws just below the surface.

 

[paperfist]

Thanks for the info. I was actually curious about how scratch resistant Lexan is after you take off the protective film. I know that Plexiglas tends to scratch pretty easily with general use.

 

[50]

Not bad...personally I don't like the blue on red with the cd-rom...Oh and one other thing, why no TV card? I mean you can get a winTV go card for 20 bucks or less...

I also would've done rounded cables(looks pretty crowded in there) and clear 120mm fans

my .02

 

[crapito]

Originally posted by: 50why no TV card?

the MSI motherboard comes with TV-out, which i use for my video. i don't need a TV-tuner function, cause i have a Sony XBR TV with 2 tuners, as well as a VCR with a tuner.

personally I don't like the blue on red with the cd-rom

i didn't know what to do with the drive, and i still don't... i had to paint it some color, as beige wouldn't match anything, so i picked the motherboard's primary colors: red and blue. the contrasting colors is mildly annoying, but at least consistent.

I also would've done rounded cables(looks pretty crowded in there) and clear 120mm fans

this has been the most common complaint about my design. personally, i like the chaotic mess that is a computer. i wasn't really going for a clean look with the clear case, so much as a "this is what a computer really looks like" look which is a great conversation starter with non-computer geeks (ie most people i know).

thanks for the feedback, folks. keep it coming...