HTPC case: suggest one that meets my criteria or comes "very" close

jalyst

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Okay in the past week I've been coming to my final conclusions.
I realised that my finalist list was based on my original blanket list, which is now almost 9-months old!
So I decided to formulate a new blanket & finalist list in one hit.

But rather than go through every case OEM site like last time in order to formulate my blanket list.
I've decided to look only at case OEM's that made it to my previous finalist list.
Plus a few extra: Antec, Luxa2, Chieftec, nMedia, GMC, yuhanhitec, HFX, Karmadigital

I also realised that many cases in my old finalist list could've been whittled, if I'd applied all my criteria.
Plus I suspect one new/extra criteria has made a "critical difference" in whittling things down further:
*The case must take at least 1x 120mm or at least 2x 92mm fans.

Without further adieu, based on a smaller subset of OEM's I perused this time, here's my final blanket list:

Alutek 7520
Alutek 7620
Alutek 7510
Alutek 7610
Antec Fusion Remote Max
Chieftec HM-01
HFX Classic
Karma TF11
Lian-Li PC-C32
Lian-Li PC-C33
Lian-Li PC-C34F
Moneual 832
Moneual 932L
nMedia HTPC 2000
nMedia HTPC 6000
OrigenAE S16V There's a S16T which is same but with 7" LCD, prefer small screen
OrigenAE S21T
OrigenAE X11
Origen AE X15e
Silverstone CW02
Silverstone CW03-MT
Silverstone LC16M
SilverStone LC18
Thermaltake DH103
Thermaltake DH104
Zalman HD135
Zalman HD160
Zalman HD160 Plus
Zalman HD160XT
Zalman HD160XT Plus
Zalman HD503

By using my criteria (inc. the new one), this list can be "chopped down to size" dramatically!
For many of the cases below, I've omitted at least one other criteria it doesn't satisfy...
But the idea is to demonstrate at least one reason why a case must be struck from the list.
Can you see which case from the list above, isn't singled-out for not meeting my criteria below?

Alutek 7520: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated
Alutek 7620: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated
Alutek 7510: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated
Alutek 7610: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated

Antec Fusion Remote Max: no built-in reader & nowhere to put one, aesthetics/bq quite ordinary

Chieftec HM-01: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans

HFX Classic: 4x 3.5" bays needed to fit my SSD's/HDD's therefore nowhere for my reader, only 6 expansion slots

Karma TF11: reader not in 3.5" bay so not easily replaced, nowhere else to put mine

Lian-Li PC-C32: no display, otherwise pretty much meets requirements, excellent BQ
Lian-Li PC-C33: no display, otherwise pretty much meets requirements, excellent BQ
Lian-Li PC-C34F: simple IR receiver+remote but no display, otherwise meets requirements, excellent BQ

Moneual 832: not as stylish as 932L, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Moneual 932L: 1 slot used by LCD, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
[972L scratched because no ext. 3.5" & reader not easily movable, + same flaws as 932L]

nMedia HTPC 2000: pretty much meets all criteria, but design/BQ/aesthetics looks hideous
nMedia HTPC 6000: reader not in 3.5" bay so not easily replaced, nowhere else to put mine

OrigenAE S16V: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
OrigenAE S21T: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated, too pricey, screen's a joke
OrigenAE X11: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Origen AE X15e: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans

Silverstone CW03-MT: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Silverstone LC16M: no reader or I/O built-in, reader+I/O AIO needed in 3.5" ext, don't want AIO
SilverStone LC18: needs FP32 for I/O & 2nd 5.25" for reader, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans

Thermaltake DH103: specs on product page wrong, 5x int 3.5", but no reader & nowhere to put one
Thermaltake DH104: no reader & nowhere to put one, & $620USD+ inc post

Zalman HD135: same features as 160, 160 looks better, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Zalman HD160: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Zalman HD160 Plus: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Zalman HD160XT: reader not in standard 3.5" bay (hence not easy to remove), nowhere else to put mine
Zalman HD160XT Plus: reader not in standard 3.5" bay (hence not easy to remove), nowhere else to put mine
Zalman HD503: not enough 3.5/5.25" bays for HDD's, SSD's, & reader

So I'm essentially down to one, yay, have a guess what it is!*

Do you feel there's another case that should be with the one pulled from this list? If so, why?
Perhaps you don't agree with or understand some of my reasons for scratching cases?
Do you want me to re-list my criteria more clearly, instead of linking to another post/thread?

Please let me know, and thank-you very much!

*update: it's the Silverstone CW02 :D
 
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Don't be offended by my reply but you've been patient and not had much reaction.

I started reading your Op and soon got lost in a long list of products which appeared to be repeated twice. You then did an excellent job of analysing the weaknesses, getting down to one candidate. wasn't this the end point of your thread? There was too much info and I lost sight of the purpose of your thread and soon after that, I nearly lost the will to live!

Can I suggest you restate your requirements in 50 words, put in one shortlist and see who takes it up.

To be honest, the forum is quite slow at the moment: maybe people are on holiday.

Has it dried up there yet? ;)
 
Mate you have put all that effort in done your research know all the pros and cons of each case and had lots of replys on your other thread and still don't know what case to get.......:rolleyes:
 
Updated criteria as follows:
*accommodates ATX PSU & MB (ideally 8 slots, being ATX I won't get more than 7, right?)
*1x 5.25" bay for my BD combo drive
*1x 5.25" or ext. 3.5" bay for my smart-card reader OR a built-in reader that's easily removable (mustn't take the I/O ports with it!)
*5x (no less, not much more) int./ext. 3.5" bays for my SSD's & HDD's
*1x display or option to add (nothing flash, just a small VFD or LCD)
*I/O: at least 2x USB2/3, 1x FW4/800 or eSATA, & typical audio/mic ports
*At least 1x 120mm fan holder or 2x 92mm holders
*Decent build quality... (generally the more aluminium & in less pieces, the better, nice finish to it etc)
*Nice aesthetics/design (something that looks at home with other AV components)
*Budget limit = approx. $700USD

Not imperative, but would be nice:
*accommodates WC kits smartly, so I can easily mount my 240mm rad externally.
*possible to add rack-mount ears, so that it mounts perfectly in a 482.60mm wide (19") rack.
*IR integrated into the LCD/VFD module (I have a USB transceiver that works well in Linux, but built into the case would be cool)
 
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what about silverstone lc17 case

Updated criteria as follows:
*accommodates ATX PSU & MB (ideally 8 slots, being ATX I won't get more than 7, right?) yes
*1x 5.25" bay for my BD combo drive yes
*1x 5.25" or ext. 3.5" bay for my smart-card reader OR a built-in reader that's easily removable (mustn't take the I/O ports with it!) yes
*4-5 (preferably 5) int./ext. 3.5" bays to accommodate my SSD's & HDD's yes
*1x display or option to add (nothing flash, just a small VFD or LCD) unknown
*I/O: at least 2x USB2/3, 1x FW4/800 or eSATA, & typical audio/mic ports
*At least 1x 120mm fan holder or 2x 92mm holders yes
*Decent build quality... (generally the more aluminium & in less pieces, the better, nice finish to it etc)
*Nice aesthetics/design (something that looks at home with other AV components) yes
yes
 
Thanks for the input!
Weird, wonder why that one's not on my blanket list, flaws that I see:

*If want to add a expansion card over 9.5", I have to remove one drive cage.
*No display or option to add
*No place to put my card reader
I'd have to remove the i/o panel that occupies ext. 3.5" if I wanted somewhere to put it, but then I'd have no i/o!

BQ is okay, but unlike the CW02 only the front panel is aluminium...
Aesthetics/design is good, but I'm not a fan of the extra 5.25" external bay.

Following my criteria, too many things are not quite right about it.
I suspect that's why it didn't even make it to my blanket list.

I'm placing an order for the CW02 soon...
Just a capture or sound card to choose for the purposes of capturing HD (or near) audio.
Then what promises to be an epic build commences :)

Interesting part will be working out how/where to mount my 240mm rad + fans.
And how to convert the 2x 92mm intakes & cut a totally new 120mm vent elsewhere.

Thanks again!
 
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So where do you even purchase some of these cases, I've currently the HD503 I'll be getting rid of LOL.

Which of the above cases is shorter than 375mm in depth?

Thanks.
 
*No place to put my card reader
theres a flip down panrl at the front that takes a 3.5" internal 'card/usb/sata input'
like this 3.5" eSATA SATA Internal Card Reader SD XD CF MS USB TF on eBay (end time 07-Mar-11 09:04:08 GMT) (this is just for picture purpose nothing else)
mine came with 7 usb solts in this position

*If want to add a expansion card over 9.5", I have to remove one drive cage"
have you seen how many drives it can hold?

i've not decided on wether to have a display or not yet but theres a way to
 
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So where do you even purchase some of these cases, I've currently the HD503 I'll be getting rid of LOL.

Initial focus was to whittle the list based on my criteria only.
Then if there was still heaps left, I was going to whittle further based on availability/price.
But it turned-out there was only one case that met all my criteria.

Otherwise I would've gone through the list & highlighted which ones have been discontinued & can't be easily found in the chain or can etc.
Having said that, from past research, i think you'll find many (even discontinued models) are still floating in the retail chain or auction sites.
You just have to "look hard"... :)

There's a few on my blanket list (many zalman's if i recall) that met all my criteria, cept for just one 'fairly trivial' one.
So there's always them to fall back on, if -for some reason- I have to ditch the CW02.

Which of the above cases is shorter than 375mm in depth?
Thanks.

No idea, they're all directly linked to their product page, so refer to their product page.

*No place to put my card reader
theres a flip down panrl at the front that takes a 3.5" internal 'card/usb/sata input'
like this 3.5" eSATA SATA Internal Card Reader SD XD CF MS USB TF on eBay (end time 07-Mar-11 09:04:08 GMT) (this is just for picture purpose nothing else)
mine came with 7 usb solts in this position

Yes but you misunderstood what I said.
I have reader I want to use that doesn't have any i/o ports
I want my reader to only be a flash & smart-card reader.
Once I swap-in my reader, I'll no longer have I/O ports.

*If want to add a expansion card over 9.5", I have to remove one drive cage"

have you seen how many drives it can hold?
i've not decided on wether to have a display or not yet but theres a way to

Yes 6, and even less if a cage needs to be removed...
It's unlikely that I'll ever install a card bigger than 9.5".
But it's nice to know that if I do, I won't lose an entire drive cage on the CW02.

It may be possible to use the external 5.25" bay on the LC17 to install a LCD/VFD.
But it doesn't come as an option from Silverstone....
 
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-- As an eBay Associate, AVForums earns from qualifying purchases --
It's unlikely that I'll ever install a card bigger than 9.5".
But it's nice to know that if I do, I won't lose an entire drive cage on the CW02
true so you would still have room for 6tb (3x2tb drives):D

Yes but you misunderstood what I said

ok, no worries.:oops:

i was very suprised at the ammount of room the lc17 case had, the cw02 case looks huge to me
 
true so you would still have room for 6tb (3x2tb drives):D

If you see my original criteria, it explains why I need at least 4x 3.5" bays.
I can maintain that with the CW02, even if I add a big card.

But thanks for your input, it is appreciated!
 
Upon reviewing my blanket list again...
I think the Zalman HD160 Plus actually comes 2nd in satisfying all my criteria.
It falls short in ventilation compared the CW02 due to fan placement/size.
And appearance-wise I think it looks a bit imbalanced, hard to explain, just an aesthetic thing.

It has one thing the CW02 doesn't & that's the media/function buttons that surround the LCD.
I don't see how they're a big feature though...
I'll be controlling everything via my mimo touchscreen/handheld/dinovo edge/harmony one*
*Later I'll upgrade to a URC MX5000
 
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Attention CW02 owners or other knowledgeable users, I'm about to "pull the trigger" on one.
Just curious, what would determine which colour you went with?
Problem for me is that I don't yet have any AV gear, and I don't intend to for quite some time.
So should I choose colour based on my plasma or other surrounding furniture/gear?

I'm not sure I buy the whole "it must match the colour of your AV gear" notion.
I think the only way to know which colour is best, is when everything is in place in the TV room.
And by then it's too late, you've already chosen right or wrong!

Perhaps the more pragmatic direction to take is...
To pick a colour that can most seamlessly transition to the opposite colour if needs be.
Which do you reckon would be easier to pull-off in a slick/pro way:
Changing a silver case to a black (anodized) one, or a black case to silver (aluminium) one?

Sign writers or panel beaters care to weigh in?!? :D
 

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