htpc

Bradley8988 · 27 Jan 2008 at 15:41

Im looking to build a gaming rig and so far im lookin at a lian-li full tower case but really i would like a htpc case to sit in my av stand, but are there cases around that will fit say 2x gtx's in it on a atx mobo, 1000w psu and a 750Gb HD? the shelf dimensions are h240mm x d320mm x w480mm. Does anyone use this kinda case for a gaming rig? im not that worried about noise but i would like to OC this so cooling is a factor.

Bradley8988 · 27 Jan 2008 at 15:50

edit: looks like the depth is to small for a large one to fit. guess a full tower is the way to go.

badbob · 27 Jan 2008 at 15:53

I use a Antec P182 for the HTPC case, it's just off to one side. It might be a bit big, but that means I can fit lots of hard drives easily and quickly, also case fans are 12cm, and CPU is running passive. So it's quieter than a Shuttle/MATX HTPC case.

Bradley8988 · 27 Jan 2008 at 17:03

well i may just go for the lian-li ad sit it on the one side.

Tosk · 27 Jan 2008 at 23:47

The Lian Li PC-A05 is a nice small mini tower case but its abit bigger than the size
your looking for.

- 5.25”bay x 2, 3.5”x 1, 3.5”internal x 3
- Fans 12cm ball bearing fan x 2
- M/B Type ATX M/B(max size: 12”x9.6”)
- Top I/O USB 2.0 x 2, IEEE1394 x 1, MIC x 1, EAR x 1
- Dimension 210x381x490mm (W,H,D)
- Slot PCI slot x 7

http://www.lian-li.com/product/product05.php?pr_index=19&cl_index=1&sc_index=1&ss_index=4

are you after a desktop based pc or a tower? or a sff style case?

craptakular · 28 Jan 2008 at 08:51

I used a L11, it was abit to big and clunky, plus i snapped the drive door off it accidently.

I recently bought a Micro ATX Sugo SG02B. It doesnt look like a piece of AV kit but it sits snug under my telly and has enough room for my 2 tuners, full size psu & bluray/HD rom.

Personally I think a Gaming rig and HTPC dont work together at all. For an HTPC biuld you should be trying to make it cool, and silent. Which is the complete opposite of a gaming rig where its likely to be running hotter, overclockered, SLi'ed. This two uses DONT go together at all!!

Biuld to seperate systems, its a far better plan. If you shove Sli'd, Q6600 type system your gonna have one hell of a loud & hot micro atx system, please for the love of all this good in the world biuld to systems

Cant you use your old PC parts to biuld a basic HTPC first? I did this and then upgraded it after 12months when I wanted to go HD/Blu-ray.

All you need for a standard definition playing HTPC is a little AMD Barton upwards, 1 GB RAM, 1600 ATi/7300/7600GT upwards. Do you have this parts laying around? You could then shove them in a HTPC case and then biuld your super gaming rig!
The Antec Fusion Silver MediaCentre MicroATX Case with 430W PSU mATX is a good htpc case thats looks like a peice of AV equipment.

craptakular · 28 Jan 2008 at 08:53

Tosk said:
The Lian Li PC-A05 is a nice small mini tower case but its abit bigger than the size
your looking for.

- 5.25”bay x 2, 3.5”x 1, 3.5”internal x 3
- Fans 12cm ball bearing fan x 2
- M/B Type ATX M/B(max size: 12”x9.6”)
- Top I/O USB 2.0 x 2, IEEE1394 x 1, MIC x 1, EAR x 1
- Dimension 210x381x490mm (W,H,D)
- Slot PCI slot x 7

http://www.lian-li.com/product/product05.php?pr_index=19&cl_index=1&sc_index=1&ss_index=4

are you after a desktop based pc or a tower? or a sff style case?

I have this lain-li case in my "gaming" machine and It is way to big for HTPC use, it wont fit under your telly!. Its also pretty rubbish at cooling I find, it only has an 80mm fan on the back and 120mm at front. There are far better, cooler cases around.

Tosk · 28 Jan 2008 at 15:44

silver stone have a good range of htpc desktop pcs

like the

LC10
LC14
LC16m
LC17

there all atx based. never used 1 myself but reading up on some of them
they seem to be a good choice to go for. but there not cheap.

Bradley8988 · 28 Jan 2008 at 18:21

Oxy said:
All you need for a standard definition playing HTPC is a little AMD Barton upwards, 1 GB RAM, 1600 ATi/7300/7600GT upwards. Do you have this parts laying around? You could then shove them in a HTPC case and then biuld your super gaming rig!
The Antec Fusion Silver MediaCentre MicroATX Case with 430W PSU mATX is a good htpc case thats looks like a peice of AV equipment.

At the moment i have a crappy dell with only pci expansion slots so its all pretty much no good seeing as i would like to watch blur ray on it. also i thought the htpc cases were a lot smaller in depth than they are so unless i got a micro atx case it wouldnt fit in my av stand. guess a PS3 would be easier for the tv and just build a rig for gaming.

badbob · 28 Jan 2008 at 18:24

For HD definietly get 2ghz dual core, a 2ghz or less single core isn't capable of smooth 1080p playback.

A 1ghz is fine for server/music/SD video though