Conclusion

Does the nMedia HTPC 600 belong alongside TVs and mass of electronics? Almost, but not quite is what comes to mind after reviewing this case since it looks great and has a stunningly low price. Some home electronics look ridiculously good (and shiny) these days such as the Playstation 3 and the numberous Blu-Ray and HD DVD players and nMedia comes close to these standards with this case. With a few touch-ups on the front panel, I would consider this a perfect case for any home theatre system that has the room for it. nMedia has really set the bar high with this case since it comes with a bucketload of features, an attractive design and loads of interior space. Another nice touch is that it is completely compatible with ATX-sized motherboards; this means if you buy a new motherboard for your main rig, you can recycle your old one for HTPC use. The inclusion of a remote is also a great idea since you won't be stuck forking out $30 for the Microsoft one.

However, even though nMedia HTPC 600 BAR may not be the perfect fit for all home theatre setups (especially high-end ones), the low price makes it an attractive candidate for the more budget-minded consumer. While its size may be great for people looking to use ATX-sized motherboards, it acts as a double-edged sword as well since finding place for it in a closed cabinet can become a real chore. There is also the small issue with the side USB ports being a design faux-pas since they are next to impossible to get to with a thumb drive or any other peripheral. Other than that, nMedia did a bang-up job with this case.

Not too many HTPC cases of this quality are in the $100-150 price range and even without a VFD screen, the nMedia HTPC 600 is worth considering due to the outstanding price, good looks and ease of insallation. Just make sure you have the room for it...



Pros:

-Superb quality on finish of the front panel metal
-Easy user friendly installation (ie. Probably won’t cut you during installation)
-Comes with a remote, great for couch potatoes!

Cons:

-Design is not entirely perfect but you might not be able to tell from the other side of the room
-Two 60mm fans in the back are noisier and harder to replace
-Does not come with a bar to serve you drinks as the name implies
-Removable racks and mounts in the case sometimes bend and warp