We look at some of the finest HTPC hardware
available
CASES
The foundation for any good HTPC is the
case. The first question you need to answer is if you need to use a set-top-box
form factor, or if you can live with a compact tower case. The latter will, of
course, allow you considerably better flexibility when it comes to the hardware
you can install. It's also easy to keep cool quietly and it will provide you
with additional ability to store hard disks. A settop box, on the other hand,
will slot in seamlessly with your other AV peripherals, and can sit
unobtrusively under your television and generally look less like a computer and
more like a high end hi-fi separate.
A Fantastic HTPC Tower Case
One of our favourite towers for HTPC usage
is the Fractal Design Define Mini. This is the smaller brother to the
well-established (and extremely well received) Fractal Design R3, an ultra-low
noise chassis with lots of storage ability, noise insulation throughout, a
pre-installed fan controller and smart, understated styling. Despite its
diminutive size, the Mini holds no fewer than six 3.5" hard drives in
vibration-isolated caddies as well as up to two optical drives. It takes a
full-size ATX power supply and accommodates any micro-ATX motherboard.
Providing you choose a quiet PSU and CPU cooler, it's possible to create a
system in the Mini that is pretty much inaudible, even in an otherwise quiet
room. The only downside to this case is the size. Even though it's small
compared to most normal PC cases, dimensions of 210 x 395 x 490mm mean it won't
exactly blend into the background of your lounge.
Passive mini-ITX Case
For some people, any amount of noise simply
isn't acceptable. For them, German manufacturer Impactics has the perfect
solution. This very compact case measures just 262 x 88 x 237mm and is entirely
passively cooled. Overclockers UK now stocks the complete range of accessories
for this case, allowing you to install a number of different mini-ITX setups.
The Intel Atom-based systems are, of course, easily accommodated, but if you
have a need for more performance, there are upgraded passive coolers available
for Socket 1155 Core i3 processors as well. The case itself will cost you
around $136, and then the cooler will cost almost the same again. You'll also
need a proprietary 130W power supply unit, which costs an additional $96. At
over $352 for just the case then, this certainly isn't a cheap option, but if a
small, passively cooled, powerful HTPC is your requirements, this is a
fantastic choice.
Silverstone
Silverstone has a massive range of
different HTPC case options, from affordable mini-ATX-supporting slimline
models to impressive AV-receiver-form-factor cases that can take full-size
components. One of our favourite products is the Milo ML03, an affordable
slim-line HTPC case costing around $88. Constructed of steel and plastic, this
case certainly looks the part and will fit in seamlessly next to your Sky HD
box or DVD player. It also supports full-size ATX power supplies, regular
desktop optical drives and motherboards of up to the mini-ATX form factor. We
used this very case in our eight-page HTPC building guide.
If you need something far more capacious,
then the LaScala LC17 could be for you. This monster of HTPC cases supports
full ATX motherboards, full-size power supplies, two full-size desktop optical
drives (ideal if you want one for one region and one for another), as well as
six internal desktop hard drives. The case measures 425 x 170 x 425mm, making
it a near perfect match in width for popular AV receivers from big brands like
Denon, Onkyo and Yamaha. If you want your HTPC to double as a capable gaming
system, a larger form factor of case like this will be essential. If the
aesthetics of this particular model don't do it for you, Silverstone offers
several other cases with identical internals but different styling. The Grandia
GD01, for example, is silver rather than black and has a sleek minimalistic
flip-down door, as well as a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) for that lovely
AV receiver look.
OrigenAE
Arguably the Rolls Royce of HTPC enclosure
manufacturers is OrigenAE. Many of this company's range of cases use impressive
5mm-thick extruded aluminium as the material of choice, giving them an
unrivalled feel of quality and robustness, not to mention sound insulation. The
S10V, for example, is a beauty of case, with the aforementioned thick side
panels, support for micro-ATX motherboards and an included VFD module. The case
accommodates a standard full-size ATX power supply, as well as two 3.5"
hard disks. A single notebook optical drive is accommodated, and it comes with an
HTPC remote. Such quality doesn't come cheap however: at $480 a piece these are
among the most luxurious of HTPC cases on the market.
Antec
Perhaps best known for its excellent gaming
cases, Antec also has a wide HTPC case range, encompassing a variety of sizes
and form factors. The ISK 300-65 Mini, for example, is a mini-ITX case
supporting notebook storage devices. It measures just 222 x 328 x 96mm, and is
a great container for a low-power, Atom-based HTPC. Its 65W external power
supply will prevent you from fitting anything much more powerful, however.
Setting your sights on something a little
larger? If so, the Antec Micro Fusion 350 is a great choice. One of the main
draws of this case is the quiet 350W power supply bundled, which uses a special
proprietary size to provide quiet yet capable power output. This would be ideal
for a grunty Core i5- or i7-based HTPC that doubles up as a machine for work as
well as media playback. It accommodates mini-ATX motherboards, a single hard
drive and one optical disc drive. Despite this it measures just 120mm high,
making it relatively slim for a case capable of accommodating such a powerful
computer.
