I have been researching building my first HTPC for several months now and believe I have enough knowledge to start the build. The first thing I want to purchase just happens to be the most daunting to me. This is the case. I think I have found all the HTPC case manufactures, but I can never seem to put everything together at once. I either find a case that I like (i.e. Silverstone LC17B-R) only to find it is no longer made, or I find a case that I like (i.e. Antec Fusion V2), but it is missing 1 must have feature. In most cases, the missing feature is a card reader which is important to me.
I have compiled a list of features that I am looking for in a case and am hoping that someone here will be able to help me out. It may be possible to purchase the card reader separately for some cases, but just not obvious to me.
Without futher delay, here is my must have features:
- must be black
- only 1 external drive bay. I don't like to look of cases with 2 external bays.
- a card reader that is hidden behind an access door
- a front I/O that is hidden behind an access door
- obviously, I need sufficient space for proper cooling, but I prefer smaller cases like the Origen S10V which is just too expensive.
- should not cost more than $250
I also want to point out features that I don't care about, which are:
- a VFD. Although a case with a VFD would be acceptable, I definitely do not want a large touch screen LCD as I think it would be distracting,
- I only require room for a single boot drive as I will be using an external NAS for all file access
- the case does not have to allow for full size video cards. I will be using one of the new 780g mother boards without a slave video card so I don't need a large case
- I prefer a clean look and therefore would rather not have a large volume knob or any other buttons other than the DVD eject button
- I don't really like the mini cases. I prefer the case to be approx. the same width as my Denon 3808 A/V receiver for esthetics.
Any insight that you can provide to help me and others out would be greatly appreciated. Who ever though a case would be so hard to choose.
Thanks,
Kevin
I have compiled a list of features that I am looking for in a case and am hoping that someone here will be able to help me out. It may be possible to purchase the card reader separately for some cases, but just not obvious to me.
Without futher delay, here is my must have features:
- must be black
- only 1 external drive bay. I don't like to look of cases with 2 external bays.
- a card reader that is hidden behind an access door
- a front I/O that is hidden behind an access door
- obviously, I need sufficient space for proper cooling, but I prefer smaller cases like the Origen S10V which is just too expensive.
- should not cost more than $250
I also want to point out features that I don't care about, which are:
- a VFD. Although a case with a VFD would be acceptable, I definitely do not want a large touch screen LCD as I think it would be distracting,
- I only require room for a single boot drive as I will be using an external NAS for all file access
- the case does not have to allow for full size video cards. I will be using one of the new 780g mother boards without a slave video card so I don't need a large case
- I prefer a clean look and therefore would rather not have a large volume knob or any other buttons other than the DVD eject button
- I don't really like the mini cases. I prefer the case to be approx. the same width as my Denon 3808 A/V receiver for esthetics.
Any insight that you can provide to help me and others out would be greatly appreciated. Who ever though a case would be so hard to choose.
Thanks,
Kevin