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

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

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

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

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)

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.

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.