Need advice on getting a case for my new HTPC... (1 Viewer)

[nzdreamer55]

Hello everyone,

I am rebuilding my HTPC. My current one is in a huge tower with lots of fans, drives, and a hot processor. I am interested in getting a smaller case. I am trying to balance heat dissipation with noise and also want it to look more like a HTPC than a tower computer. The Plex cases are BEAUTIFUL!!!! But I cannot put in my full size Hauppauge colossus card. So I plan to have a SSD for the OS and one for Capture and time shifting. An optical drive and likely that will be it. I am sure that I can keep the heat down by not getting a huge power supply and maybe some sort of piping cooling for the processor. The processor that I will be using has a TDP of 125W (I know that this is high, but it is what I have and I don't want to buy another processor.
I have a harmony one remote now that I will be using. My need for an internal IR port is high as now I use just a USB one plugged into it and wired up that looks kind of bad.

Any recommendations for cases (or cases to avoid) would be appreciated.

Thanks
-Steve

 

[muellinger]

In my opnion the Silverstone HTPC Cases look very pretty.
As an alternative the Antec Fusion cases can also be nice. But there are issues with the iMON Display they have.
When you dont need / want a disply Silverstone should be enough.

 

[xetic]

Silverstone is very good stuff
Alu Case and very nice style

 

[muellinger]

Thats why i ordered the ML03B for me. Looks good, affordable price, small enough to fit in my rack.
For you it would be too small because of your Colossus. but Grandia and LaScala are big enough :-D

 

[xetic]

I have the SilverStone LC13B. It is very big and looks very clean on the front

 

[muellinger]

I'm glad i helped. :-D Its a nice case!

 

[nzdreamer55]

Thanks for the help everyone,

I just ordered this case:

SilverStone Aluminum/Steel Micro ATX HTPC Computer Case GD05B (Black)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036WTDGQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

Please let me know if you have it and how you like it. I think it will fit my card as it says that it will fit an 11" card. Seems big enough.
-S

 

[CrashUK]

Go for a case that can that atx psu. Get a 80plus psu as this will save about 20% on power.. microatx psu jsut dont last.