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-categories.asp?category_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/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=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.