Recommend a SFF case

Eek_A_Bear · 26 Aug 2013 at 14:40

Hi guys. I've been looking into a SFF/HTPC for some time now and pretty much have what I want specced up. I just can't find a suitable case for it all! It's going to be on show, so I want a case that's nice looking. Looking for relatively small dimensions as it's going to be a HTPC and needs to have 2 x 3.5" bays as well as 1 x 2.5" bay. Any suggestions guys?

oceaness · 27 Aug 2013 at 07:56

We'll need to know what spec you've gone with to know which cases will fit.

Eek_A_Bear · 28 Aug 2013 at 18:42

I was going for ITX. I'd pick the cooler and PSU once I have the case sorted out. I'm going to wait for the release of Haswell i3s as well, which are rumoured to be released shortly.

I'm thinking:

2 x 3.5" 2TB hard drives
ASRock H87M-ITX motherboard
i3 1150 socket processor
8GB DDR3 memory
120GB Samsung 840 Evo

Any recommendations on a case would be appreciated

mjones1 · 28 Aug 2013 at 21:24

Lian Li PC-Q07B if you have enough space, with mini itx cases there isn't a lot of flat ones that will hold x2 3.5" drives so might have to go up to a mATX build.

Eek_A_Bear · 28 Aug 2013 at 22:42

I thought that was pretty much the case (no pun intended) mjones, I was just wondering if you tech gurus could think of a nice HTPC style case that would be suitable. I'm relatively new to SFF builds you see. Thanks for your input, anyone have other suggestions / advice?

mjones1 · 29 Aug 2013 at 01:07

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-022-OA :eek:

Doomedspeed · 29 Aug 2013 at 07:09

If you want a HTPC style case the GD04 would be my choice: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-112-SV

It can take MATX motherboards too, so it's a bit bigger than the ITX case but flat (if you see what im getting at)...

Also, If you running a HTPC wouldn't you be better of going to the trinity/richland route getting a CPU with good in built graphics as it doesn't seem like you'll be using a GPU..

Though if you are using a GPU, the i3 would be decent.

PS: as for the cooler: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-105-TR

Eek_A_Bear · 29 Aug 2013 at 11:26

Thanks Doom! That looks pretty much perfect

And cheaper than a lot of the Lian Li cases I've been looking at. And the cooler looks top quality, again better than the Noctua low profile cooler I had seen. I was thinking of a Haswell i3 as it's lower TDP than most Richland CPUs and will be more than capable of handling HD content.

Doomedspeed · 29 Aug 2013 at 12:30

Eek_A_Bear said:
Thanks Doom! That looks pretty much perfect And cheaper than a lot of the Lian Li cases I've been looking at. And the cooler looks top quality, again better than the Noctua low profile cooler I had seen. I was thinking of a Haswell i3 as it's lower TDP than most Richland CPUs and will be more than capable of handling HD content.

Im glad i can help.

The GD05 is another choice.

Will the haswell i3's be better with HD content? I assumed the trinity/richland would due to better IGP.

Eek_A_Bear · 29 Aug 2013 at 12:56

Richland will certainly be better for HD content because of their IGP, but I'm sure an i3 will have lower TDP, more efficient, and I'm sure they have graphics better than the 3rd gen i* processors. I'll have to wait for until release for the actual numbers I guess

Doomedspeed · 29 Aug 2013 at 13:32

Eek_A_Bear said:
Richland will certainly be better for HD content because of their IGP, but I'm sure an i3 will have lower TDP, more efficient, and I'm sure they have graphics better than the 3rd gen i* processors. I'll have to wait for until release for the actual numbers I guess

Yeah, if you're wating until realse im pretty sure they'll be reviews very quickly after/before release, so you can make your mind up then.