wow, I'm posting in CC!! Micro / HTPC case recommendations

Indy500 · 23 May 2006 at 00:58

Yewen said:
If you are watching HD films on a PC though, if it is a HTPC you will not be multitasking, and usually you have a bare install of windows with only the essentials.

60% CPU is nothing, as that is all it has to do, if it was 95% then it may be a issue.

I have ran it fine on a 6200TC so you do not need much grunt.

The 6100\6200 series chips have purevideo, which helps.

Yewen · 23 May 2006 at 01:00

Ahh yeh, dont really pay much attention to graphics card features.

How much slower is the 6100/6150 to the 6200?

Will have to have a look to see if they are available on the mini-ITX form factor as that would be very sweet.

lozza · 23 May 2006 at 01:26

How about a nice little Lian Li PC402a if you can find one!

Mini-ITX but lovely little case, will try and get a picture of my slightly modded version up tomorrow

WJA96 · 23 May 2006 at 06:15

The Antec Aria makes a great HTPC - especially with the ASRock 775 TWINS HDTV and a P4 805 Dual core. I have such a beast and it's silent even when recording 2 streams of video.

Baddass · 23 May 2006 at 07:53

wow, loads more suggestions. I like the pics posted there Alu_ATC, they look nice. Any idea on estimated price tags?

the motherboard i was looking at is:

MSI K8NGM2-FID, nForce430+GeForce 6150, Socket-939, m-ATX,GbLAN, Firew, PCI-Ex16

so what do you think about the onboard graphics card capabilities to display HD and HD Divx?

Yewen · 23 May 2006 at 08:27

The LC12 from a good retailler is in the tune of £90. It is Mini-ITX though so your motherboard would not fit.

The 6150 going by what has been said in this thread should cope well due to its hardware acceleration, Nvidia have a article on there site about it, I will dig it up.

Mikey1280 · 23 May 2006 at 08:48

The 6100/6150 resource/help thread may help you decide on a motherboard if you still havent chosen for definite, clicky

Caged · 23 May 2006 at 10:28

Baddass, it might be worth waiting for:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html

ichabod crane · 23 May 2006 at 10:38

what about one of these there cute

dont know how small they are tho

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squiffy · 23 May 2006 at 12:22

pretty sure that case isnt matx....more like atx midi tower size

JimmyEatWorms · 23 May 2006 at 13:35

Caged said:
Baddass, it might be worth waiting for:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html

That case is SEX!!! Just what I have been looking for.

squiffy · 23 May 2006 at 14:14

nice pity not black

JimmyEatWorms · 23 May 2006 at 14:25

Tue. But it is still the best looking AV style case (at a reasonable price) out there IMO.

Baddass · 23 May 2006 at 17:53

wow, that is nice!!

also, thanks for the link about the NVidia 6150, i'll take a read through there now. Think i'm likely to stick with micro ATX, esp if i can get that motherboard listed earlier

Noni · 23 May 2006 at 18:29

Antec NSK2400 Media PC Case is my favourite.

Or the Lian Li V880.

JimmyEatWorms · 24 May 2006 at 12:58

I wonder when this will be available in the UK. I haven't been able to find it stocked anywhere.

Yewen · 24 May 2006 at 13:48

Only thing I do not like the look of on the Antec is the feet, they should all be the same ATCs hifi styled type, not just the front.

If that is the only cost cutting on it then I will be awaiting seeing one with some excitement.

/tootles of to Xbox360 again.

JimmyEatWorms · 24 May 2006 at 15:42

True, but then how often are you going to see the rear feet?

squiffy · 24 May 2006 at 16:15

JimmyEatWorms said:
True, but then how often are you going to see the rear feet?

Often, according to Tag Mclaren Audio. One of the "selling points" of their range was orange sorbothane feet, they had something along the lines of "be the envy of your friends" with the feet. I have some Tag audio gear....not because of the feet though.

Alu_ATC · 24 May 2006 at 19:44

JimmyEatWorms said:
True, but then how often are you going to see the rear feet?

It's all about attension to detail. Nice case that Antec, but if I were going for something that size, I'd still opt for a Silverstone Lascala series.