Warm- Mini ATX low pro case $15 w/PS (possible HTPC)

[imported_Deez]

I was looking for a case for a small backend file server and I found this:

Black low profile case w/ 180W PS

There are a couple of downsides to this, one is it requires a slim cd/dvd drive from a laptop which can get pricy( I don't plan on having one). The other downside is the special PSU, if it fails you are going to be looking around and probably doing some modding to replace it. It was 17$ shipping from TX to NY which kind of hurts the deal as well.


CPU cooler link removed because the cooler was a piece of junk.

 

[hans007]

the case is pretty nice, slim laptop dvd drives are not that expensive anymore (dvd writers are about $55). the power supply isn't particularly power ful though... rather tempting as i have a spare laptop cdrom with an ide adapter sitting around.

 

[jlin101]

the spec on the cooler is not that great--Thermal resistance: 0.45 degree C/W. Noise: 32 dBA

 

[galbicake]

180W PSU seems to be trouble.

 

[Mitch101]

180 Watts is fine. In fact 150 watts is good.

I have the following running 24x7 on 150 watts.
Athlon 64 3200 Socket 939 with 10% overclock.
Nforce 3 mobo with onboard video, network.
Pioneer DVD burner 8x
320 gig Seagate Hard drive
2 gig of ram.
CPU cooler and 1 case fan.
No floppy who uses that?

The problem is usually heat. Hard drives sometimes get sandwiched in enough that you cant get the heat off it.

 

[imported_Deez]

I just got the case in the mail. This is really nice! The best way to describe its quality is I guess is that it is similar to nice Dell case. Really well built, very sturdy. The Hdd tray comes with rubber mounts for the Hdd. I only wish I had more uses for a case like this I would by many more. The only downside is that it is really cramped inside. I literally had to put the i/o plate on to the mobo and then install because I could not get the mobo in with the i/o plate in.

 

[frankqfrank]

nice

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Deez
I just got the case in the mail. This is really nice! The best way to describe its quality is I guess is that it is similar to nice Dell case. Really well built, very sturdy.

That quality is normal for the Enlight brand. Good stuff, really. Pair this with an AMD 690G chipset board and a Brisbane CPU for a decent little computer.

 

[imported_Deez]

I actually have it paired with This motherboard and a A64 300+ I had lying around. This thing is so nice and quiet I am contemplating no longer using my xbox as a front end and using this instead.

Note: with that motherboard the case LED and Pwr switch wires are right under the PSU and difficult to get in. Also a tab from the HDD tray sits right where the floppy cable should go. Fortunately I am not using one, but if you wanted to the tab is just plastic and is easily broken off.

 

[dwcal]

I see it has the side mounted 80mm fan which is good for airflow. I have another low-pro case (Antec Minuet 1st gen), and airflow was useless until I cut a blowhole for the 80mm fan.

 

[imported_Deez]

I just wanted to tell everyone not to by that CPU cooler. It is so bad I am going to edit the original post to take it out. It took me over 2 hours to install. The hold down clamp was too loose, I could lift the cooler of the processor. I had to take that one out and then switch it with the one from my stock fan, which required heating and bending. Absolutely horrible. To make matters worse the fan is twice as noisy as any other fan in my case and the damn things doesn't even cool any better.