What mini-itx case for Kabini based HTPC

Associate
Joined
17 Jan 2007
Posts
1,139
Location
Kent, UK
Hi, I'm looking to get a small and fairly cheap HTPC so I can put my microserver back to purely server duties rather than having to have it connected to my main living room TV.

I'm going to go for a Kabini based system so I wont need a discrete graphics card in there. Drive wise there will only be a small SSD for the OS (Win 7 or 8, haven't decided yet) as the aforementioned microserver holds all my media and I don't really need an optical drive either. Cost is a key factor as I only really have a budget of £200 for the whole system including the OS so ideally a case that comes with a psu would be great. Looking through the listings here I found this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-114-SV&groupid=2362&catid=2282 that looks pretty nice but it seems to be an end of line item and I can't really find much info about it online. Has anyone here got one and would recommend it?
Any other cases that would fit my requirements?

Many Thanks,

Ross
 
I have an Athlon 5350 system running in a Silverstone Milo ML06B
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-363-SV&groupid=2362&catid=1092

I use an Asrock AM1H-ITX motherboard as you can power the system with a 19v laptop charger.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/AM1H-ITX/
No need for a silly wattage ATX or SFX PSU.

It's also the only Kabini ITX board with 4 sata ports, I'll make a NAS out of it when the time comes to upgrade the box.
You can make or buy a blanking plate for where the SFX PSU would sit in the case.

The ML05B is a few quid cheaper if the budget is particularly tight.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-275-SV&groupid=2362&catid=1092
 
Ah interesting, I'd heard that some of the AM1 boards could be powered from a laptop style power supply. How does that work with getting power to any SATA drives in the system? As mentioned I'll only need a single SSD to be powered.
 
Ah interesting, I'd heard that some of the AM1 boards could be powered from a laptop style power supply. How does that work with getting power to any SATA drives in the system? As mentioned I'll only need a single SSD to be powered.

It powers the SSD/HDDs from the motherboard itself. There is a SATA power connector and cable included with the board. I have a thread here which is discussing similar things to yours.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=26775720#post26775720

Might be worth a read through for you. I like the look of the DC powered motherboard but I'm having difficulty sourcing it. I have posted in the product suggestions to OcUK about that board to see if they can sell it. So perhaps it might be worth you doing the same? :P
 

Cheers RJC. I have thought about going OpenElec as XBMC is indeed what I'll be running but my wife will a major user of the system and she only knows windows so anything else will be met with resistance ;)
To be honest I'm also most familiar with windows and it's handy to have a 'full' pc in the living room for web browsing, light documents work etc as well. Come to think of it, would a 5350 be suitable for Steam In-Home streaming, that would be a nice bonus :)

Case wise the various Silverstone ones do look nice but a lot of them do seem rather large, mainly the width, presumably as they fit full psu's. If I went for the AM1 board that can be externally powered are there any smaller cases designed for external psus or that are at least a bit smaller?

Many thanks all who have replied,

Ross
 
I think the ML03 is going to be too wide to fit on my TV stand next to my amp but the ML05/6 should just about fit. Getting an sfx psu doesn't seem to expensive so they might be the way to go.
Does anyone know if the stock cooler that comes with the Kabini chips is small enough to fit in those cases?
 
Back
Top Bottom