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HTPC case and mobo options!
Judge Joe Brown
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Thanks in advance for the stupendous advice I always seem to get in here!
Ill keep it short. I've been in the market for a new htpc and have been searching for weeks for a good case and motherboard. I've got everything else. I have a full size nine inch graphics card but I'm using a laptop size hdd. Video performance is of utmost importance so full size graphics was non negotiable.
The motherboard must use ddr3 desktop memory with pci e. The case should be as small as possible. Socket 775 preferred but I can get core i7s cheap too.
Any ideas from recent builders?
Ill keep it short. I've been in the market for a new htpc and have been searching for weeks for a good case and motherboard. I've got everything else. I have a full size nine inch graphics card but I'm using a laptop size hdd. Video performance is of utmost importance so full size graphics was non negotiable.
The motherboard must use ddr3 desktop memory with pci e. The case should be as small as possible. Socket 775 preferred but I can get core i7s cheap too.
Any ideas from recent builders?
Judge Joe Brown on
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You can try fitting a Core 2 Duo or Core i7 into a micro case, but you're probably going to run into the same issues that I had. My first HTPC build was in a Shuttle micro-ATX case. Horrible to work in, extremely cramped, high heat buildup, and the custom PSU could barely cope with the power demands of the components I had. After that I had an Ahanix D-Vine case. Nice case, lots of room and good quiet fans for cooling, but the PSU was another custom job. I added some components that pushed the power envelope close to the ceiling and then I was stuck. Couldn't swap in a new PSU because the case only fits a custom-sized unit. Some costly mistakes, overall, hence why I recommend going with a full-size desktop case like the MCE-601.
I suppose I won't have to worry much about the motherboard choices if I'm going full atx. Any other suggestions on cases? Silverstone seems to make a good selection of the type I'm looking for, but they're pretty pricy. This thing isn't going to be seen very much.
also, i'd suggest going with an SSD as the OS drive (if you have space for the media elsewhere on a server) ... the speed increase in loading apps and bootup is great
Don't say full size. A full tower is nearly 3' tall.
What you're thinking of is called a mid-tower, the chassis being around 16-20" tall. A mid-tower may still be too big for what you are looking to use it for but its the most likely to be compatible with all your needs.
A mini-tower would work assuming it will accommodate a full sized PSU, and the GPU you want to use, and you can fit it with 120mm fans for maximum noise reduction. The last thing you want is something small and neat looking that sounds like a jet engine.
No idea why you'd use a laptop hdd, just get a WD Green or Samsung Spinpoint, either are pretty darn quiet and will have better overall transfer rates.
Have you seen these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129053
edit: And you can just use Newegg's product finder to help narrow down your mb choices once you know what proc/mem/slots/ports it should have.
The main drawback is that they don't fit into a cabinet that expects things like VCRs or stereo's, they tend to be a bit taller.
There are other cases with varying quality levels as well. I find newegg doesn't have a terribly good range of them, however, so don't just search there.