Simple case and HTPC Card recommendations...

[mvbighead]

Already have most of the hardware for an HTPC, and figured I'd give the project a try.

I likely will use a standard computer tower case instead of an HTPC case due to the board, PSU, etc. that I already have.

Current parts:
Core2Duo 2.66GHz CPU
Hyper101 Cooler
Antec 520watt PSU
4GB DDR2 XMS2 RAM
500GB random HDD
No ROM, but I won't invest there yet, as I have a BluRay player etc.

I am thinking about buying a case to replace my current case, and using my current case as the HTPC build for now.

Anyhoo, here are the parts I am looking at picking up:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042 - Antec 300 $60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121377 - Asus ATI 5450 Silent $40

Question being, do you think there is a better case for the price range (or cheaper). Also, is there a better HTPC card for the price range? Or is there a cheaper card that'll do 1080P without a problem and also be silent (IE Passive cooling).

I am not much for gaming style cases, and like the professional look of the Antec. Though my current Antec case has a rather scratchy sounding power switch I don't like much.

 

[mvbighead]

Should mention that I have a USB3.0 board so if I could find a nice, elegant case with USB3.0, that would be optimal. Quiet would also be a huge plus.

Have peered at the HAF case at the same price range, and I may be leaning towards it instead of the 300... but would like feedback before I make any selection.

 

[mfenn]

Is this going to be going in the living room next to the TV? If so, you may want to consider an "HTPC-style" case instead of your standard tower. I dunno if the Hyper 212 will fit in any these though, so you might need a low-profile cooler.

Silverstone GD05B (MicroATX)
Silverstone GD06B (ATX)

As for the GPU, the 5450 is a good HTPC card, though it cannot do all of the fancy post-processing features. The 6450 is powerful enough to enable everything, but is about twice as much AR.

 

[mvbighead]

Is this going to be going in the living room next to the TV? If so, you may want to consider an "HTPC-style" case instead of your standard tower. I dunno if the Hyper 212 will fit in any these though, so you might need a low-profile cooler.

Silverstone GD05B (MicroATX)
Silverstone GD06B (ATX)

As for the GPU, the 5450 is a good HTPC card, though it cannot do all of the fancy post-processing features. The 6450 is powerful enough to enable everything, but is about twice as much AR.

Well, as far as the case goes, I am not sure how long the media center PC is going to last as a media center PC. I figure I'll build what I can with what I have, and go from there. If I like having the media center PC, I might do it right the next time around. Or, I may just stick with the one I build from this setup, although it'll be in a tower case.

After looking at all sorts of cases yesterday, I ended up getting antsy and just pulled the trigger on a LIAN LI Lancool PC-K57. Had the USB 3.0 in the front that I would like to have in my main rig. The USB are up top, which is optimal as my machine sits on the floor. Had two fans, a 120mm for exhaust and a 140mm for intake. And all around looks like a solid, non-blinged out case. The main thing was, I don't much care for my current case, and was looking to use the parts I have at minimal cost to set something up that'll do the job. I can live with the HTPC sitting next to the entertainment center.

Also went ahead with the card as I had seen it recommended a time or two for other HTPC uses, and figured it was cheap enough, so i just as bite. Glad to see you agree... and seeings as I won't being doing much with it aside from TV playback alla Hulu/Netflix/etc. it should do just fine.