decent cases for a HTPC

[bucknljake]

I wasn't sure where to stick this since it isn't a direct gbpvr question. but I'm looking for a replacement of my big and ugly mid tower case sitting in my entertainment center. Has anyone had any good experiences or found any good deals on desktop cases???
(specifically sub $100 (after S&H)).

[Ericwiz]

This is as close as I can find to what you asked about. I checked it out at compusa recently and thought it was a bit big but it looked good.
Overture at NewEgg

[bucknljake]

a nice looking case, but a bit pricey, and based on the reviews - seems to have some air-flow problems.

a few i've found: enlight ATX desktop case:
http://www.c-source.com/ttechnote.asp?part_no=1287758&src=F

superpower low-profile
http://www.attictrunk.com/computers3.html#null

[mikerm19]

I have that overture case, and I love it, sure it's a little big, but it fits in my tv stand well. There are so many great features and it was a breeze to set up. I don't seem to be having any airflow problems at all, MBM reads fine. If you have a standard ATX motherboard for your PVR, this is the case I would recommend, sure it's $100, but if you really research HTPC cases, they can go way higher than that. The finish is a beautiful black, you can see your reflection in it! Its has a sturdy build to it, even has room for 3 harddrives in one case, and maybe another on the 5 1/4" cage (I have mine sitting in a heatpipe cooler on the bottom slot). Also, it is ultra quiet. It has 1 fan on the back, 1 fan in the power supply, and one fan on the side, and with this running, its very quiet, it's not completely silent, but you cant hear it over your TV.

The one downside that I can see to it is that the power supply is propietary. You can't put your own in there, but the one that is include has plenty of power (and since its made by Antec, you know it's good quality)!

The cases that you listed would be good for a desktop computer, but if your trying to intergrate that in any kind of furnature or a Home Theater system, I probably wouldn't go for a $1 beige tower.

Edit: Oh, I was just looking at the pictures, that one shows the old case, the new one has an exhaust fan on the side just before the harddrive cage. Also, http://store.yahoo.com/directron/antecoverture.html has them on sale for $91. This is where I got mine from, they double box thier cases (If you give them the $5, believe me, it's worth it). For the first time in my history, I got a case that wasn't damaged.

[smeghead]

Take a look at the ASUS Pundit-R (make sure you get the -R version). It's approx £100 but you do get a motherboard, processor fan and the onboard graphics and sound are OK. I don't have one but I have seen 2 of them and they are really quiet - make sure you get a quiet HDD. Working on the Wife Acceptance Factor at the moment....

[Rich]

This is the case I came up with...

http://www.newegg.com/app....&DEPA=1

I wanted a case that was a desktop style case, black, and had a cover on it so that all the drives would be covered up and not readily visible. It fits great in my entertainment center, it's about the same size as a Sony Receiver, and it keeps things cool. 41 degrees C all time... even when gettin' hit hard.

I picked it up for like just over $100, but now I see it for $90.. those *beeeps*...

I really like the front USB2.0 ports... I can hook up my USB HD box, and use the XRecord plugin to "archive" anything off my PVR and onto my drive to get rid of it. it's basically plug in, archive, unplug!

[oakleeman]

The biggest concern for me is the noise. I initially tried using a small desktop case with 1 intake fan, 2 exhaust fans, and a power supply fan. The thing sounded like a jet engine. I started unplugging fans until all I had left was the CPU fan and the power supply fan. It was still too friggen loud.

Presently I got my hands on a Dell Poweredge 400SC server that is so quiet I have to look at the LEDs to see if it is even running. Unfortunately it's a tower that sits next to my entertainment center but until I find something else just as quiet it willl remain my HTPC system of choice. I like the looks of some of the cases that you guys have provided links to; but am guessing that they can get relatively loud.

[hasso]

Yes, noise is always the most challenging issue to solve with PCs unless you have the funds to get one of those nice Hush boxes from places like Krome (still saving for that, putting a bit aside each week from the allowance my wife gives me).

I always wanted to get a nice small "nice, cheap and very quiet" case for under the TV. "Nice", "Cheap" and "Quiet" are three words that don't seem to belong in the same sentence when it comes to PCs (not even any two of the three words, it seems).

I went the mini-ITX route and got the M10000 Nehemiah.. low power CPU meant less heat, less fan. Then bought the VIA Sereniti 2000 Mini ITX case. A mistake. Although the case looks good, the power supply was way too noisy after a few minutes of warming up. Drilled some extra holse in the case to aid cooling. Replaced the power supply/case fan with a SilenX, replaced the heatsink and fan on the cpu with a zahlman heatsink and silenX fan, replaced the power supply with a silent 80 watt external power supply. Now no more noisy than when the VCR used to be playing a tape.

Looking back, although it was challenging exercise, I should have probably been more patient and saved all that money for a fanless solution, such as the Hush or similar, from the start.

[Huw]

I just treated myself to an Accent HT-400S, it is pricey, but I thought what the ####, the tax man can pay (I run a computer business) It is a very nice case, and will basically take what you want to put in it, so fitted with low noise power supply, it barely makes a whisper, I need to do something about the CPU fan, it is not very efficient, so will maybe water cool or heat pipe it when I get some time.

Noise is definately one of biggest "wife" factors to consider when buying, oh and of course looks!

I have seen a couple of the ASUS pundits in use, they are pretty quiet too, just didn't have enough room inside for me

[Guest]

Recently, I bought the A210 , made by http://www.yeongyang.com.tw/products/index.htm
It's very small (but 4 full size cards fit in!, designed for micro atx boards, low budget and excellently equipped, looking good (wife proof). I really like it. All cases on the site mentioned above have the same inner frame - the outfit is different.
At ebay (Germany) I payed 39,- EUR for a new one from stock without power supply (could have one built in for additional 29,-)