Who Has A Gaming/HTPC?

[BurnItDwn]

HTPC/Gaming PC ??? Does not compute :|

As much as I'd like to play some CoH:OF on my 42" panel, I just cant see it working from the comfort of my sofa, with a mouse somehow in the mix. Congrats if you can pull it off, but the mouse thing just kills it for me. Guess I should spring for a Logitech Air Mouse.

My dual recliner has huge armrests huge armrests .... like ... easily bigger than a mousepad

Still not quite as "natural" feeling vs keyboard and mouse on a desk ... but it works of for most games....

 

[kinder]

Well you could try a program like SpeedFan and get better control on the fans in your rig. That way when HTPC'ing it (lower draws thus lower temps) the fans will run slower then quieter. Then when running games will kick up as he system is working hard.

As for the mouse issue people... TV tray tables? A good one is pretty solid a base.

 

[olds]

HTPC/Gaming PC ??? Does not compute :|

As much as I'd like to play some CoH:OF on my 42" panel, I just cant see it working from the comfort of my sofa, with a mouse somehow in the mix. Congrats if you can pull it off, but the mouse thing just kills it for me. Guess I should spring for a Logitech Air Mouse.

My dual recliner has huge armrests huge armrests .... like ... easily bigger than a mousepad

Still not quite as "natural" feeling vs keyboard and mouse on a desk ... but it works of for most games....

I use a cordless mouse and keyboard.
Keyboard in my lap and mouse (trackball) on the couch.

 

[HeXen]

Here is what i did once before.

i took one of those prefab wooden TV stands you get at Walmart. I removed the center shelf which also fitted perfectly over the entire back of the unit which i later cut as needed.
I cut out a piece of plexiglass and fitted it over the entire front. I also cut out power button and OPtical drive holes.
I put all the PC guts inside, using a mobo tray from another case.
I cut out fan holes in the back. Far left side for intake, far right for exhaust.
I painted the back side of the plexiglass black. So it has a dark mirror finish from front.
Set my TV on top.

wish i still had pics, but after i was done, it looked really nice and modern. I had all the size i wanted without making anything obvious. I could have also put inside it, my Reciever..etc and just use the remote to control everything, or make the front plexi open like a door.
only downside is it was really heavy, but you can make it so that everything fits inside, yet is hidden while still leaving the available space for air flow.

but use your imagination, don't limit yourself to a 3rd party case.

 

[wirednuts]

i rock an i3 with a 4870 for my 'gaming htpc'. i love it- definitely a lot of fun to play games in the living room... very annoying for people to CONSTANTLY ask "OH MY GOD! HOW ARE YOU PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES WITH XBOX CONTROLLERS!?!?!??! WOOOWWW" but for the most part, i love my little tv computer. cant wait to upgrade it though!

i did have to cut a hole in my case panel on the top... i have a smaller sized htpc case as i have limited room, but that sucker would heat up hot to the touch. so i simply hacked out a hole right above the video card's fan, and added a fan to that new port. case stays cold to the touch now!