Go Back   Hardware Canucks > HARDWARE > HTPC Systems & Software

       
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old August 25, 2008, 04:17 PM
Rookie
Level up: 89% Level up: 89% Level up: 89%
Level: 8 - 21 points to level up
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 42
Default Recommend a CHEAP and GOOD HTPC case for me please!

So I'm looking to buy an HTPC case but am on a tight budget.

I don't necessarily need one with a PSU because I have an Antec Earthwatts 380w PSU that I could stick in an HTPC case.

Can anyone recommend something for under $100?
__________________
AMD X2 4450, AC Freezer 64, ASUS 780G HDMI mATX, 4 GB G-Skill PC2-8000, Diamond HD4850, WD 640 GB HD, WD 500 GB HD (aaks), Seagate Barracuda 500 GB 7200.11 32MB cache HD, Antec NSK4480B w/ 380w PSU
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old August 25, 2008, 04:26 PM
CMetaphor's Avatar
Allstar
Level up: 63% Level up: 63% Level up: 63%
Level: 15 - 241 points to level up
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 904
Default

Aerocool M-40. - Stylish, LCD temperature monitor, mini-cube split-level design AND can fit a full size ATX PSU: Link:

NCIX.com - Buy AeroCool M-40 Black mATX Cube Case 2X5.25 1X3.5 2X3.5INT No PS LCD Display Front USB & Sound - M40-BK In Canada.

Don't mistake if for a cheap Apevia QPack or simliar clone, the build quality of those cases is garbage (the whole case flexs if you pick it up the wrong way).

Hope it helps!
__________________
Current System: "Gale Force" (09-28-2008)
AMD X2 6000+ w/ TRUE (2x Scythe 120mm) | Asus Crosshair MB | 4Gb OCZ Plat.Rev.2 PC-6400 RAM w/ Corsair Memory Cooler | VisionTek 4870X2 2gig| Coolermaster CM Stacker 832 w/ 7x 120mm Fans (2x Tricool, 5x CM), 1x 80mm CM, and 1x Antec "Big Boy" 200mm Tricool Fan | Silverstone Strider 1Kw PSU | Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500gig x 4 (Raid 1 & Raid 0)| 3x BenQ FP222w 22' Wide 5ms LCD Monitor & Matrox Triplhead2Go DE

Next system? Who knows...
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old August 25, 2008, 04:38 PM
Rookie
Level up: 89% Level up: 89% Level up: 89%
Level: 8 - 21 points to level up
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 42
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CMetaphor View Post
Aerocool M-40. - Stylish, LCD temperature monitor, mini-cube split-level design AND can fit a full size ATX PSU: Link:

NCIX.com - Buy AeroCool M-40 Black mATX Cube Case 2X5.25 1X3.5 2X3.5INT No PS LCD Display Front USB & Sound - M40-BK In Canada.

Don't mistake if for a cheap Apevia QPack or simliar clone, the build quality of those cases is garbage (the whole case flexs if you pick it up the wrong way).

Hope it helps!

actually that's the case I originally was going to get but I can't find it in stock anywhere.
__________________
AMD X2 4450, AC Freezer 64, ASUS 780G HDMI mATX, 4 GB G-Skill PC2-8000, Diamond HD4850, WD 640 GB HD, WD 500 GB HD (aaks), Seagate Barracuda 500 GB 7200.11 32MB cache HD, Antec NSK4480B w/ 380w PSU
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old August 25, 2008, 06:23 PM
BALISTX's Avatar
Hall Of Fame
Level up: 56% Level up: 56% Level up: 56%
Level: 21 - 538 points to level up
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 1,897
Default

This is a good case.

Nmedia HTPC-1000B Desktop Media Centre Case mATX Black 1X5.25 4X3.5INT Card Reader No PS - DirectCanada
__________________
"Though I walk through the shadow of the Valley of Death I shall fear no evil as my C8 Carbine is locked and loaded."

Next Build: E5200 @ 3.6GHz (333x11) | Xigmatek HDT-RS1283 HSF | Biostar TP43D2-A7 | Mushkin Redlines DDR2-1000 @ DDR2-999 5-5-5-12
EVGA 9600 GT 512MB - 650MHz - 1800MHz - 1626MHz | Seagate 'Cuda 250GB 7200rpm SATA2 | Corsair VX550 | CM690 - Custom Atomic Orange Pearl


[Heatware]
BALISTX.com
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old September 1, 2008, 05:23 PM
Rookie
Level up: 32% Level up: 32% Level up: 32%
Level: 4 - 35 points to level up
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 19
Default

I recently got an Antec NSK2480, and it seems like a great buy as long as you don't mind silver trim (or have friends/family members that are into airbrushing ;) ). The size is the same as A/V Receivers, and it uses 120mm fans for cooling so it's easy to get it nice and quiet. I got mine for $85 but it seems to have gone up to $99 now...
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old September 7, 2008, 01:29 PM
Rookie
Level up: 65% Level up: 65% Level up: 65%
Level: 4 - 18 points to level up
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 17
Default

Another vote for the NSK2480. It's as cheap as it can get without looking outright ugly. Doesn't have many bells and wistles but the case is well designed, airflow is excellent and the two 120mm fans will be very silent. It's a bit big though, but the 120mm fans are worth it.
If you want smaller, the NSK1480 uses 80mm fans, but has low profile expantions in the back.
There's the Lian Li PC-C36 was recently released, slimmer than the NSK1480, and it can take full length cards with riser, that should be interesting, but it costs twice as much (~220$).
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old September 21, 2008, 10:30 PM
Rookie
F@H
Level up: 93% Level up: 93% Level up: 93%
Level: 4 - 4 points to level up
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Edmonton AB
Posts: 31
Default

I use and Antec overture 2, can't complain at all about it really and it was just over $100
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old September 22, 2008, 06:56 PM
Top Prospect
F@H
Level up: 71% Level up: 71% Level up: 71%
Level: 9 - 69 points to level up
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Posts: 243
Default

Antec Fusion Black 430 which is the same as far as I know as a NSK 2480 with a different PSU to swap out ;) I bought it for the reasoning that it has 120mm fans and good design for airflow. They've already renamed it the Fusion Remote Black cause it comes with it's own remote now.
__________________
| Q6600 @ 3.4GHz (425x8) | Passive Scythe Ninja Rev. B | Asus P5K Platinum Black Pearl | BFG 8800GTS 512MB (725/1100) |
| Mushkin Ascent PC8500 2x2GB 5-5-5-12 | Antec P182 | Seasonic S12 600W | Seagate 7200.11 750GB | Samsung SH-S203B
|

| X2 5000+ Black Edition | Passive Scythe Ninja Mini | Gigabyte MA78GM-S2H
|
|Cruicial Ballistix PC8500 2x1GB | Antec Fusion Black | Antec Earthwatts 430W | WD Green Power 500GB | Benq DQ60 |

Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old September 23, 2008, 09:08 AM
Lithotech's Avatar
MVP
Level up: 34% Level up: 34% Level up: 34%
Level: 11 - 222 points to level up
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Vancouver Rain Belt
Posts: 328
Default

Since a lot of these are already over $100, this Silverstone usually goes on weekly special for $114:

NCIX.com - Buy Silverstone Lascala LC17B Black HTPC Case 2X5.25 1X3.5 6X3.5INT W/ 2X80MM Case Fan - LC17B In Canada.

It may not have 120mm fans, but the 2x 80mm are quiet and can hold 90mm.

The big benefit is that it fits a full size ATX mobo. So if you are using a mATX mobo, there is gobs of room in it. It is a little bit tight fit with a full size ATX, and if you try to fill all the HD slots things also get cramped.

It's about the size of an A/V receiver. They have one of the demo units running out of this case at the Broadway location. I've always been partial to it.

.
__________________
eVGA 680i SLI (A1) P31
Intel E6750 Conroe 1333 G0 SLA9V L723B134 | Scythe Ninja-B | Antec Tri-Cool 80cfm
2x1024MB Crucial Ballistix Tracer 8500 | 5-5-5-15 1066mhz @1.9v
boot: 4x WD Caviar SE16 250gb SATA2 Raid-0
backup: Seagate 500gb 32mb SATA2
eye: eVGA 9800GTX+ SC 512mb 770/2.25ghz
candy: Samsung 940B-HAS | X-Fi XMusic | Pioneer DVR-212D SATA
juice: PC Power & Cooling 750Quad | Cooler Master HAF932
steering: Logitech G15 & G5 | E3D Pro/Momo Wheel | X-530's
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!Bookmark to Slashdot!Stumble this Post!Reddit! Bookmark to Newsvine!
Reply With Quote
Reply
Forum Jump
Thread Tools
Display Modes