Best HTPC case around

Durzel

Durzel

Durzel

Soldato
Joined
10 Oct 2003
Posts
5,518
Location
Wiltshire
I've currently got a Shuttle SG33G5M that has served me well for some time, but since I've discovered madVR I've discovered that it just doesn't really cope with ultra high quality 1080p decoding anymore.

A lot of this is due to the fact I can only fit a single slot graphics card in the case (or one where the heatsink is above the PCB instead of below it). The 8800GT I've got in there does admirably well, but it struggles with the highest quality settings. It's also pretty loud when decoding like this.

So, I'm thinking it's probably time to go down the route of a mATX setup with something where I can fit a dual-slot graphics card - as that gives me many more options.

Would appreciate some thoughts on this. Touchscreen would be redundant in my current setup but an VFD/OLED display would be nice. Last I checked OrigenAE were a good make, but I remember supply issues back around the time I settled on the Shuttle?
 
I'm using a Moneual 320B. Stunningly beautiful HTPC case imo. Fits perfectly with the rest of my AV stuff and looks the part when sat under the TV.
 
That certainly does look the part.

Friend of mine has a MonCaso 932, but I had assumed Moneual cases were discontinued? can't seem to find them for love nor money in the UK.
 
i have a silverstone gd06

it fits in with only a nice blue activity light that is subtle
i can even fit in a 7850 gpu and 3 full size Hard drives + ssd
mine only has one
everything is hidden behind a panel.

Pic
IMG_20130908_173300_519_zps8041450a.jpg
 
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Silverstone and Antec make some pretty decent cases for not a lot of money, VFD's are a bit gimmicky imo.

Origen and Moneaul are pretty high end, so it really depends on the budget. If you are planning on gaming HTPC then its better to get a fairly large case so you can have some decent airflow, as they do get pretty hot with low speed fans and passive GFX cards.

Its odd that it should struggle with 1080P files, my raspberry pi copes pretty well with 1080p files, as does my boggo revo jobbie. My dedicated HTPC has a AMD 6450 in its and that's passive and that plays it all too!
 
Tinders said:
Silverstone and Antec make some pretty decent cases for not a lot of money, VFD's are a bit gimmicky imo.

Origen and Moneaul are pretty high end, so it really depends on the budget. If you are planning on gaming HTPC then its better to get a fairly large case so you can have some decent airflow, as they do get pretty hot with low speed fans and passive GFX cards.

Its odd that it should struggle with 1080P files, my raspberry pi copes pretty well with 1080p files, as does my boggo revo jobbie. My dedicated HTPC has a AMD 6450 in its and that's passive and that plays it all too!
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It's not so much that it struggles - it's more that with the settings I've been using since finding out about madVR + LAV filters have meant that my graphics card is running at 85%+ utilisation (even with CUDA) playing a high bitstream 1080p video, and as a consequence the fan speeds up quite a lot and makes the HTPC clearly audible. The temperature of the card when its playing this content is 80°C+

I've only got room for a single slot PCI-E card in my Shuttle (or one with a heatsink on the back of the card - do they exist?) so when it gets hot it gets pretty noisy.

FWIW I followed this guide moving from MPC-HC with the standard renderer to madVR + LAV + Reclock.

With the standard MPC-HC install the graphics card and CPU were barely taxed. I can't say with absolute certainty how much of a difference madVR has made, but it does seem like there is a lot more vibrance and contrast. Could be an element of confirmation bias I guess.
 
I have this case for my build - I like being able to turn it on and off using my Harmony Remote - http://store.antec.com/Product/enclosure-veris_media/fusion-remote-max/0-761345-15727-8.aspx

I built my mum one in this - http://store.antec.com/Product/enclosure-veris_media/fusion-remote/0-761345-15733-9.aspx - managed to get it for £55 before it increased dramatically in price. Again she can do it all from her Harmony remote.

Neither use a dedicated GPU and both play 1080p just fine using the onboard graphics.
 
Looks good. Would be far too deep for my cabinet - I already had to cut a hole out of the back of it to be able to fit a UPS.
 
I have the Streacom FC8 for mine. As long as you use a lowish TDP cpu then you can use the case as a heatsink for a completely silent system :)
 
Stupid question but how do you guys turn your HTPCs on ?

I have a MS media centre remote and receiver but unless I only use standby I would have to physically press the button on the front of the HTPC to turn it on would I not ?
 
I'm using a Logitech Harmony One which will boot on from cold. Most IR remotes are only capable of sleep/hibernation. To switch on/off the IR receiver needs to be hard wired into the 24-pin motherboard power connecter, which is usually done via a supplied adapter.
 
shadow_boxer said:
I'm using a Logitech Harmony One which will boot on from cold. Most IR remotes are only capable of sleep/hibernation. To switch on/off the IR receiver needs to be hard wired into the 24-pin motherboard power connecter, which is usually done via a supplied adapter.
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Mines a Harmony One as well. The power is done as said using a little adapter that connects to the 24pin connector.
 
shadow_boxer said:
I'm using a Logitech Harmony One which will boot on from cold. Most IR remotes are only capable of sleep/hibernation. To switch on/off the IR receiver needs to be hard wired into the 24-pin motherboard power connecter, which is usually done via a supplied adapter.
Click to expand...

So the adapter converts usb to 24 pin ?
Would said adapter be found on the famous auction site ?

I love my harmony one as well, and i fully intend to use it to control XBMC on my HTPC, when I eventually get round to building it.
Have all the parts apart from the case now :)
 
DogsBody said:
So the adapter converts usb to 24 pin ?
Would said adapter be found on the famous auction site ?

I love my harmony one as well, and i fully intend to use it to control XBMC on my HTPC, when I eventually get round to building it.
Have all the parts apart from the case now :)
Click to expand...

No, the adapter is part of the screen and remote sensor package. It connects the screen and remote sensor to the 24 pin power cable, so that when the remote sensor receives a power on/off request it can send this to the 24pin connector.

Here's a link to it - http://store.antec.com/Product/acce...power-adapter-extension/0-761345-71017-6.aspx
 
any other ir receivers that can do this apart from antec's ?

The reason I planned to use the MS remote was that the receiver is USB and external and I plan to run my HTPC inside a cupboard where it won't be able to pickup IR signals. :)
 
I've never managed to get the IR to work on my Antec Fusion Remote, have also had issues with the blu-ray drive not lining up with the open button on the case. Will be changing it for something a bit more friendly at some point I think.
 
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