Antec NSK2400 htpc case

Yep good cases, great cable layout, most MATX cases being so small means squishing the cables into a area, but on the Antec you just route cables you need through the sidewall then into mobo or drive areas. Be careful of the optical drive bay though it just slides in (I held it upside down and it fell out, scratching the top panel) :(

Can't complain for £50 with a PSU.
 
Mine has been excellent, far better cooling than most desktop cases due to the two 120mm exhaust fans.
Only problem is dust, because its negative pressure and exhausts via the psu and 120mm fans but the intake consists of lots of grills strategically placed near hot spots you can't use dust filters. However its a small price to pay for such good cooling in such a small case.

Noise levels are excellent, with the fans on the lowest settings they aren't far off nexus noise levels, same with the psu fan.

You should take a look at the spcr review of it here.
 
Joe42 said:
Mine has been excellent, far better cooling than most desktop cases due to the two 120mm exhaust fans.
Only problem is dust, because its negative pressure and exhausts via the psu and 120mm fans but the intake consists of lots of grills strategically placed near hot spots you can't use dust filters. However its a small price to pay for such good cooling in such a small case.

Noise levels are excellent, with the fans on the lowest settings they aren't far off nexus noise levels, same with the psu fan.

You should take a look at the spcr review of it here.
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Thanx for your views :) I have decided to go for the Antec Fusion, its the same case but with only one 5 1/4 bay, an lcd display and volume knob on the front
 
one 5 1/4 bay, an lcd display and volume knob on the front
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May I ask why you need the last two?
If it's remote controlled you don't need front volume knob. I never use the volume knob on my HT av-pre amp or stereo pre-amp (both are remote controlled)

VFD really doesn't show anything useful, does it matter it shows on the VFD you're 30 minutes into a film? The built in IR is useful though. I've always shut off the display on my DVD players as it serves no purpose.

Personally I would just go for the NSK2400 and buy the Microsoft IR receiver/remote kit.
 
squiffy said:
May I ask why you need the last two?
If it's remote controlled you don't need front volume knob. I never use the volume knob on my HT av-pre amp or stereo pre-amp (both are remote controlled)

VFD really doesn't show anything useful, does it matter it shows on the VFD you're 30 minutes into a film? The built in IR is useful though. I've always shut off the display on my DVD players as it serves no purpose.

Personally I would just go for the NSK2400 and buy the Microsoft IR receiver/remote kit.
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Its just a case of (no pun intended) cosmetics, it looks better imho and I wouldnt have to fart around finding an lcd, matching it up to the hally front and all that

Im not sure about those microsoft keyboards, I would get one if its true wireless but it isnt... its infrared and im not keen on ir keyboards
 
ElectroBlaster said:
Its just a case of (no pun intended) cosmetics, it looks better imho and I wouldnt have to fart around finding an lcd, matching it up to the hally front and all that

Im not sure about those microsoft keyboards, I would get one if its true wireless but it isnt... its infrared and im not keen on ir keyboards
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Have to agree, if i'd had the money i would have gone with the fusion for better looks.
The volume knob is pointless but makes it look a lot better.

The ms mce keyboard isn't very good because its ir (i think) and the mouse control simply doesn't work.

Take a look at the btc keyboards available on the bay, their mouse joystick is much better. Or you can also get hold of laptop style keyboards with a touchpad.
 
Joe42 said:
Have to agree, if i'd had the money i would have gone with the fusion for better looks.
The volume knob is pointless but makes it look a lot better.

The ms mce keyboard isn't very good because its ir (i think) and the mouse control simply doesn't work.

Take a look at the btc keyboards available on the bay, their mouse joystick is much better. Or you can also get hold of laptop style keyboards with a touchpad.
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Nice stuff :)

I would defo be up for one of them keyboards
 
I have to say i haven't actually tried living with one yet, i just know that theyr are ten times better than the ms mce keyboard.
I'm still trying to decide if i should get one of those of just a wireless keyboard anf optical mouse, and i'm leaning towards the btc.
Great for gaming aswell apparently.
 
Joe42 said:
I have to say i haven't actually tried living with one yet, i just know that theyr are ten times better than the ms mce keyboard.
I'm still trying to decide if i should get one of those of just a wireless keyboard anf optical mouse, and i'm leaning towards the btc.
Great for gaming aswell apparently.
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Well if their other hardware is anything to go by then the keyboards should be good. A friend of mine bought a couple of btw dvdrw's and they are infact liteon/sony's

:)
 
I wouldnt have to fart around finding an lcd
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I don't get what you're saying? You do have a display device if it's a video HTPC, so you don't need a VFD. You can't read the VFD from 10' away anyway. If it's a audio PC and you can navigate music collection from the VFD then it would come in handy (don't need the TV on)

Considering the price difference between the two it isn't worth the extra, granted you'll need the MS IR bundle with the 2400 but that means you can use it later on with another HTPC case if you change over. Also can place HTPC out of line of sight and IR will still work (I used a Fujitsu HTPC with builtin VFD/IR and because it's in the cupboard the doors have to be open) With the MS IR receiver just place it on top of the cupboard and the HTPC will work. Cable is about 6-7' long. To pay £100? just for cosmetic reasons is a bit daft when (I) wouldn't use volume, VFD.
 
squiffy said:
I don't get what you're saying? You do have a display device if it's a video HTPC, so you don't need a VFD. You can't read the VFD from 10' away anyway. If it's a audio PC and you can navigate music collection from the VFD then it would come in handy (don't need the TV on)

Considering the price difference between the two it isn't worth the extra, granted you'll need the MS IR bundle with the 2400 but that means you can use it later on with another HTPC case if you change over. Also can place HTPC out of line of sight and IR will still work (I used a Fujitsu HTPC with builtin VFD/IR and because it's in the cupboard the doors have to be open) With the MS IR receiver just place it on top of the cupboard and the HTPC will work. Cable is about 6-7' long. To pay £100? just for cosmetic reasons is a bit daft when (I) wouldn't use volume, VFD.
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Fusion also has a better psu and a metal rather than plastic front.
Why wouldn't you need a remote with it... does it come with one?
 
Heres some pics of mine, it ran 24/7 for about 2 months before i took these pics. Seems like the room must be particularly dusty.

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I managed to find a silver bezel for my lg burner so it looks quite nice. There a blue sticker over the hdd led because it annoyed people sleeping on the sofa in case you were wondering.

Components wise, its a nova-t 500 on a foxconn board which is the only 939 matx board i could find with dvi, hd audio, and overclocking options with voltage adjustment. Cpu is a 3200+ and the disk is a T7K250, my fourth in total as i quite like them. Lg burner is just whatever their latest all format burner was at the time, again tis my fourth lg burner and sixth lg drive as i rather like them. The board has decent fan controller options too which allowed me to use the normally noisy stock cooler fan without a problem.
 
Fusion also has a better psu and a metal rather than plastic front. Why wouldn't you need a remote with it... does it come with one?
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Fair enough for the first two points, but as for the remote you can use the Microsoft IR reciever/remote kit (on the Software page on overclockers) Then place the IR dongle ontop of the racking. It makes it worthwhile if the HTPC is hidden, ie on one install all kit (including PC) and speakers are in a false wall in the demo room, so the built-in VFD/IR receiver in the Fusion won't work. Kinda makes volume and VFD a useless expense. With the MS dongle just pass the cable through a hole and bobs your uncle. It's the same principle with IR receivers & blasters (hidden components which wouldn't work)

M17-7900T-main.jpg


Is the volume control on a HTPC really important? Also if you send digital audio to a AV amp you NEVER adjust the output on the HTPC, again so it makes volume on the Fusion useless feature. You use the volume on the amp instead. I can't recall the last time I physically used the volume control on my amp either, I use the remote instead (single remote which controls TV, HTPC, amp and lighting)
 
Yes i know, if you look at that pic above you'll see a mark in the dust where my ir reciever sits. ;)

Volume control on the case is useless, but it looks a lot better imo. Its not either or, you can get a fuzion and an ir remote surely?
 
Thanx for the pics :)

I didnt go with the fusion in the end, I bought the NSK2400 so I had money left over to buy a cpu.

Im a little dissapointed with the case finish, the top panel wont push all the way on so there is a large gap where it doesnt sit right and the front bezel paint looks patchy aswell. Is it ment to look patchy? With a direct light source it really shows up
 
My top panel fits fine and the front panel paint doesn't look patchy. Perhaps you got a dodgy one?
Be warned, the front panel scratches quite easily.

Does the top panel fit with the thumb screw screwed in?
 
Joe42 said:
My top panel fits fine and the front panel paint doesn't look patchy. Perhaps you got a dodgy one?
Be warned, the front panel scratches quite easily.

Does the top panel fit with the thumb screw screwed in?
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The top panel doesnt fit in fully with the thumbscrew in tight :(
The front bezel paint looks patchy in direct light, I faced it towards the main living room window today and you can really see how bad the coverage is
Im going to send it back tbh, im not happy with its condition
 
Yeah send it back. Mine was fine in both respects so it must be a dodgy one.

One problem i did have with mine, it won't boot or post with the reset button plugged in, i sent the board back thinking it was the board but the retailer tested it and said it was ok (although i doubt that they tested the reset button) and i ended up with the same board back again. Still didn't post or boot with the reset plugged in, so i still don't know if that's a problem with the case or the board. I couldn't be bothered to mess around with it so i just left it unplugged.
 
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