ADVICE PLEASE; Looking to build a HTPC/MCPC (TV PC)

[gibboap]

right heres the lowdown, i get bored, i havene t got a HTPC and am bored, but im fussy!

The current spec of my system is as follows;

Case - Antec P182
CPU - Core 2 Duo e6600 w Zalman CNPS9700-NT
RAM - Corsair Dominator PC8500 2x1GB
Mobo - abit a9wd
HDD - x 160 GB 1x500 GB
GFX - xfx fatal1ty 8600 GT
Optical - Samsung DVD RW and Samsung DVD ROM
Displays - 2x 19" Widescreens
Inputs - Microsoft Natural Ergo 4000 Laser Mouse 6000

etc am swapping out the e6600 for a e6600 and the 160gb boot drive for a raptor (dont know which one yet). - for notation sake am also swapping the case fans for noctua 800rpm fans too.

This will leave me with some parts so HTPC i thought. since having my P182 i want a really high quallity case which is TIDY and quiet, i want a good case with what i want.

I do like;
solid designs with good air flow etc
tidy looking
want front expantion, not necessarily for drives but for displays etc

dont like
drive sourounds (cd drives, u know where the case has a button for the drive etc and a lil flappy bit for the drive tray - cheap)
firewire on the front (if through cost i get a mobo with out fire wire it will be pointless and stupid)

ino rant but any recomendations on cases or mobos, i have a sky lead coming in is it possible to attach this? win hauppauge do this dont they (never needed to know so i dont ....know)

cheers ppl

[john]

Antec make some HTPC Cases, as you love your P182, why not get one of them

[gibboap]

looked at the antec fusion, beautiful case but has silly cd drive button thingy and firewire port partly considering it tho partly just cus its antec and i have ocd

[john]

Take your pick from any on this page - http://www.cclonline.com/product-cat...ategory_id=449 there must be something on there to suit your taste for cases I can recomend the Zalman case its a nice thing (a mate has one)

[Dos_Box]

I did this earlier this year using this case:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123032

It is an almost complete system and just requires RAM, CPU, DVD and HD. For £200 you get a complete system. I have since swapped out the motherboard for this one as it has onboard HDMI and HD sound.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=700923

It fit in that case like a glove and the passive cooler supplied with the Elonex case fitted like a glove on it.

[zag]

I have an SSD drive in my htpc and the speed increase is incredible! Its also dead quiet now, you wouldnt even know its switched on.