HTPC case recommendation please

[turbohardtop]

I am building a HTPC rig and is a little lsot in the number of cases available. Please recommend a case that is around $200 or less. Also, do I need to add fans or some passive cooling devices? Thanks.

Video: Nvidia 8800GT
MotherBoard: Abit IP35 pro
CPU: Q6600 Quad core
HDD: 2x Seagate barracuda 750GB hard drives
memory:4gig (2x2GB) I think.
DVD drives: 2x Samsung dvd burner drives
Case?

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: turbohardtop
I am building a HTPC rig and is a little lsot in the number of cases available. Please recommend a case that is around $200 or less. Also, do I need to add fans or some passive cooling devices? Thanks.

Video: Nvidia 8800GT
MotherBoard: Abit IP35 pro
CPU: Q6600 Quad core
HDD: 2x Seagate barracuda 750GB hard drives
memory:4gig (2x2GB) I think.
DVD drives: 2x Samsung dvd burner drives
Case?

im sorry, do you understand the definition of a HTPC? HTPC = Home Theater PC. AKA media Center. Something that usually fits in a small tight cabnet, or on top of a TV set....

1. Your cpu is way too overpowering. Do you intend to overclock at all? You are aware a dual core overclocked would be much better then a quad not overclocked. The heat and space requirements of a HTPC case will kill any shot at overclocking.

2. Media Centers by definition are silent, and allow you to do some light gaming and play movies. What your building is a full blown gaming computer. Sorry OP, your looking at the wrong thing completely.

3. Raid wont help on media centers. Infact they will just produce more heat and add to more noise. Something thats not recomended in a HTPC. Unless you want raw storage, then i would recomend you split it up and build a NAS. Network Attached Storage, and stream to your HTPC. like i do

4. 2 DVD writters on a Media Center??? im so lost on this. A single HD-DVD with a writer would be a TON better idea.


Want to build an awesome media center. Follow my build. Goto LogicSupply.com and look up there intel socket P boards.

Pair that up with a Intel C2D Mobile T7300 or higher. Then you can probably get away with a 8800GT in tight spaces.

That should be where your drawing the line for a high end media center. Otherwise go with a gaming platform on a medium tower, or full tower.

 

[Sheninat0r]

^^ what he said. Your computer is NOT an HTPC, it's a gaming computer disguised as an HTPC. Low noise and heat should have been your priorities, NOT high performance - hardware from multiple generations ago is plenty for building a 1080p HTPC.

You would be fine with a mobo with integrated graphics and a cheap AMD dual core and 1GB RAM with a single HDD... and also, why don't you have a BR-D or HD-DVD player? DVDs dont come in HD...



BACK ON TOPIC: the Antec Fusion is a good HTPC case. Look at Silverstone cases too, or some of the smaller Lian-Li desktop cases. The main problem you'll run into in an HTPC case is insufficient airflow, as things get pretty cramped in there. Getting a PSU with an 80mm fan that exhausts out the back [instead of 120mm fans] with modular cables will help airflow, and getting some nice heatsinks which pick up ambient airflow well, like a Ninja Mini. Good luck stuffing your gaming rig into an HTPC case.

 

[turbohardtop]

I was not planning to overclock as it would generate a lot of heat. I was hoping to use the pc for video/music playback and some gaming. I have not build a PC for a while and was hoping to build one that is not going to be outdated for a couple of years. Do you think that this combination will generate too much heat without overclocking? I can settle with one HD instead of two. Also, I do not have a HD (or BR) dvd player because I want the high definition dvd battle to settle a little first then i can add a drive later.

 

[Zepper]

Maybe something like the Coolermaster 280 series or the NZXT Duet? Thermaltake also has a few HTPC horizontal cases plus their Mozart tower...

.bh.

 

[Binky]

CPU: 21xx series intel overclocked to whatever makes you happy (I run a 2160 between the stock 1.8ghz and 2.7ghz depending on my mood...even 1.8ghz is fine for almost all HTPC uses). The stock heatsink is acceptable but not outstanding. A quad makes a LOT of heat and is simply overkill.

Video: I like the 8600 or 2600pro/xt for an HTPC. Again, your choice of an 8800GT will cost more money, make more heat, and provide no real benefits in an HTPC machine. Get something with an included HDMI adaptor.

HDD: The new 1GB "green" Western Digital looks fantastic for an HPTC. Cooler than anything in its class, quieter, but a little bit slower (which isnt realy an issue).

Memory: 2GB is fine for Vista or XP. 4GB wont cost much more, so go either way.

DVD: An HTPC needs HD! Just say no to a normal DVD drive. Grab an Xbox DVD player (~$160) or a Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo drive (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=927751).

Case: The Antec NSK2480 is an amazing case for ~$50AR (check the hot deals forum). The Antec Fusion also looks nice. So many choices here. Check out the selection at Pcalchemy.com. I'm NOT a fan of aluminum - it resonates too much and doesn't block noise as well as plain old steel.


With the money you save from the above choices, go buy yourself a copy of AnyDVD and PowerDVD so you can play HD stuff without hassles (well, most of the hassles are gone).

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: turbohardtop
I was not planning to overclock as it would generate a lot of heat. I was hoping to use the pc for video/music playback and some gaming. I have not build a PC for a while and was hoping to build one that is not going to be outdated for a couple of years. Do you think that this combination will generate too much heat without overclocking? I can settle with one HD instead of two. Also, I do not have a HD (or BR) dvd player because I want the high definition dvd battle to settle a little first then i can add a drive later.

None of the functions you've outlined would require a quad-core. A solid Core2Duo will be fine for several years. Heck, when my parts for my new PC arrive, I'm going to turn my old P4 2.6GHz into an HTPC, and even it should do everything I ask.

For what it's worth, the P4 will be going into the NSK2480 Binky is recommending. It's already here, and from the looks of it it's a nice case with some good features.

 

[manimal]

I run an 4300 at 3.2 with the NT06 passive heatsink on a matx motherboard in my living room, I planned to get a case that would look like a receiver and stack em in my entertainment center but Isaw a silverstone SG01 and fell in love with the look, The nt06 lite mates up perfectly to the powersupply above it and expels all the hot air through the PSU so silence is totally golden. It idles a tad high but load never breaks 52 so I am happy. I have a 8800gts in there right now waiting for a heatsink or possibly a sale and a 8800gt since it has h262. At idle or playing movies its relatively silent, but via rivatuner it spools up. A quad core for a setup like this as the others have said would introduce alot more heat into the case and make airflow a problem, you would need alot of fans making alot of noise.

I was going to go the super quiet route and go all passive but I decided that it would be nice to play some games in the living room when friends were over. Media Center with FFDsideshow-spelling-matroska and various tweaks play HD content beautifully. I wish the 8800gts had h262 but w/e it does what I need it to.

Suffice it to say, you can get performance and relative silence. The only things I hear on mine are the graphics card when it heats up and the dvd spinning when a movie is in there. BTW the xbox360 hddvd player works great in vista....


Sorry case recomendations:

Check the Ahanix HTPC lines, Amazing cases, Silverstone Lascala, relatively inexpensive and fits alot of stuff, any of the silverstones really, Thermaltake Mozart-if you like silver,the Bach if you like black,Vtech 500c for the cheapest route-50 bucks- Zalman HD160 if price is of no concern,Lian Li PC-V800, and some cheap kingwins that you can get on newegg.

Dont forget a good media center remote and a capture card!

 

[dedwards]

Do everything just like aigomorla and you will be happy. Anything else and you will burn in hell.

Seriously dude, have you ever answered someone's question without talking down to them? Maybe he wants to game on his big screen, ya know - WTF???

To the OP, I have the Antec NSK2400 and love it. It is mATX only though. Antec is supposed to release an ATX version of the Fusion, which is similar to the 2400 but adds a VFD display.

DE

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: dedwards
Do everything just like aigomorla and you will be happy. Anything else and you will burn in hell.

Seriously dude, have you ever answered someone's question without talking down to them? Maybe he wants to game on his big screen, ya know - WTF???

To the OP, I have the Antec NSK2400 and love it. It is mATX only though. Antec is supposed to release an ATX version of the Fusion, which is similar to the 2400 but adds a VFD display.

DE

then he should get a gaming case, put a tower cooler on it, and some front and rear intake fans. Cuz the heat load on the 8800GT + QuadCore will kill any HTPC case minus the large ones from silverstone and zalman. But even those would be pushing it on the cooler side for the CPU.


Unless you can think of a way minus h2o cooling to cool aprox 250-300W of heat inside a small shelf or cabnet... Its not possible for all that to fit in a HTPC case.



And people use the term HTPC very loosly. Its either a HTPC or a Gaming rig in a HTPC Case. In the OP's case he's running heavy hardware so its more towrds gaming rig then a HTPC.


And yeah i got scolded my first time i drafted my HTPC on the same manner. I wanted to go full gaming rig in a HTPC case and call it a HTPC. Now i have a real HTPC.

 

[JackBurton]

Alright man, despite what some of these guys say, I'd say you're on the right track but we need to make some modifications.

1. For the video I'd go for this. You'll get good performance with zero noise (from the video card at least).

2. Motherboard, I'd go for an Asus board but the Abit should do fine.

3. CPU, the Q6600 is fine, just get a G0 stepping and you'll need to find the right heatsink/fan that will fit in your case. I'd also recommend having ONE intake fan pulling directly from the outside (ie. A hole in the case right over the CPU). This will ensure you have the coolest air going to your CPU first.

4. Just get one hard drive. No need for two. If you want, get a nice 7200rpm laptop SATA drive. It will reduce heat and open up your case for more air flow. If you need more hard drive space, do it on the back end (use a NAS). WAY easier to increase space too.

5. Memory, you're fine there.

6. DVD drive, you just need one. However, I'd try to pick up a LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD combo drive. They're not that badly priced and you'll have an HTPC that will be able to play all formats.

7. And finally the case. I'd highly recommend this one. Great looking case and allows for some great cooling (hole over the CPU).

Obviously you'll also need some nice low noise case fans to go with it. And if you set them up correctly, you should have a nice HTPC on your hands that you can also play games on.

The ONLY reservation I have with this setup is if the heatpipes on that video card will fit inside the case. But if they do, you're good to go.