Please spec me a case for use with a HTPC

[Alexrose1uk]

Hi guys, as above, I'm looking to build a HTPC (microatx mobo). Ideally I'd like to spend as little as possible, SFF would be nice but it's not a requirement, and in fact may be made impossible by the other requirements.

I did look at the Antec Microfusion...it can be had for around £60 so doesn't break the bank, and comes with a remote and PSU, and is reputedly very quiet with the fans set to low/medium, but it requiring a low profile cooler and GPU were a killer for me. I also considered the OcUK Pheonix but the PSU apparently obstructs airflow and it's a tight fit so anything above a low profile CPU cooler is out.
Unfortunately, low profile leaves me quite restricted in terms of which cards I can put in and cooling, which is why I'm bypassing that.

I was planning it around the following spec:
AMD X2 5200+ AM2
Artic Cooling 64 Freezer Pro [I could replace this, but as I have it, it would be a shame not to use it, especially as I know when the fan is on low its very quiet. I'm considering buying a Zalman budget allowing but thats not a guaranteed point]
2GB DDR2
2.5" Laptop 5400RPM SATA
Probably a GT220 [the air-cooled low profile models by all accounts are too loud, and I've had no luck finding a passive model in the UK that isn't full height].


Requirements:
Quiet (sturdy to reduce vibration would help)
Preferably comes with a [quiet] PSU.
Under £100
Will accept full height GPUs
Provides at least 6" clearance from the mobo for the cooler (the artic freezer pro isn't that small)


Any opinions and ideas welcome.
PS. I'm considering the OcUK Aphrodite as it looks like it *should* offer the clearance I'm after, and as it's labelled as a HTPC case you'd think the PSU packaged with it will be relatively quiet! It's not like the spec I'm going for should push even a poor PSU (although I could replace this as need be, it would cut into budget again which Im trying to keep to a minimal level)

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Thanks for that. How is the case in terms of airflow and noise insulation?
The case is relatively cheap so would offset the buying a new cooler. If I thats the case though it does make me wonder about going with the antec again though. I've got a zalman cooler on a card here so it makes me wonder about DIYing that onto a low profile gt220 as its meant to be a very cool card.

Any other suggestions appreciated.

 

[Alexrose1uk]

noise insulation isn't the best i would say as it has a 120mm fan hole in either side, but you could stick 2 quiet 120mm fans in them and 2 quiet 80mm exhausts and the airflow would be good.
i only have 2 80mm akasa blue low noise fans with 7v cables as exhausts in the case and a passive cpu cooler and extremely quiet zalman psu in it and it is virtually silent.

i could upload some pics to let you see it a bit better if you want.

If you've got any pictures that'd be appreciated. I'm looking to go as silent on the cooling as possible, but obviously the fewer moving parts the better (which is one of the reasons I intend to use a 5400rpm laptop drive as they're so quiet).
If I go for that case, providing the PSU supplied isn't a noisy git, theoretically if I left the vents open and used Zalmans on both the GPU and CPU, I might just get away with it without breaking the bank

That Sugo case does look rather nice, I'm just aware it's more expensive than the previous two cases I was looking at, without including a remote or PSU like the Antec Microfusion, as I mentioned budget is tight so I'm a little loath to hit £100 for the case+psu if I can avoid it
The space inside does sound interesting, but where is the PSU mounted? if it's directly above the CPU, again that'd mean my Artic Cooling CPU fan wouldn't fit, and would again increase the costs further, knocking it instantly out of the running. The GPU space is nice, but as Im only going for a low power card for decoding/output purposes, it's a little unneccesary (It's probably going to be a GT220).

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Thanks a lot. Despite being a cheapy that actually looks like a pretty useful case unlike some cheapies I've seen.

I contacted OcUK customer service and was told the supplied the PSU is amongst the quieter ones unless you install a high draw system/GPU so I may well go for that one.

Im still of two minds over the Antec vs the Aphrodite as it sounds like I'll need a new CPU cooler either way. Just to check though, does the system rattle at all, or is it solid enough in that regards (I can install insulating foam if need be also).

I like that cooler too, I think it'd get too hot with the AM2 though as I remember it running reasonably warm (although that COULD have been the old mobo refusing to run it at anything less than 100% clock speed all the time!)

From the simple fact you're using it atm, I presume you dont find it a bad case for the cash!