HTPC Case

jackrussell007

So I had my heart pretty much set on a black antec fusion case but they seem to be sold out anywhere I check at the moment.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340088

I looked around at other cases before I made my mind up on the antec one but thought that it looked the nicest. the fusion seems to be the most popular case no? They are due back in stock soon so I'm told but my eye has been wandering in the meantime

I realise it's a matter of opinion but are there any others that look as good as it that I have missed?

dingdong1234567

That is a good case alright but i have herd grubblings about the VFD display. I believe that is gives a bit of trouble, but you will need to look on avfourms as there are loads of references to that issue.

I have the http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=342784 case. Its grand for what i need it for.

i have 1.5TB of storage fitted, with VMC as my frontend. Along with the di novo mini for control it works treat on my Sammy 37'' connected via HDMI.

Try Hardwareversand.de for prices, if your buying loads of stuff for your build it will cheaper. Their delivery service is great. The only drawback is the money transfer process can be a pain (depends on your bank!)

Hope that helps.

sink

I have the Fusion 430. The trick with the VFD is to install the latest drivers and software from SoundGraph who supply the VFD to Antec. Their iMon software works perfectly with the fusion 430 and allows you to customise the VFD and IR receiver to a far greater degree.

http://www.soundgraph.com/Eng_/Supports/BoardView.aspx?topMenu=4&leftMenu=1&subMenu=1&dataID=123&currentPage=1&searchFiled=BoardID&searchString=

ffocused

i was looking at both of those cases, and plumped for the fusion in the end as it has an i/r receiver and bigger psu.
the i/r in the fusion is not great as it only accepts signals at small angles and the vfd (which i think houses the i/r receiver) is useless. I assumed it would display stuff like media tiltles/times etc. but it does not do this. I now have it displaying date/time permanently.

I would go for the cheaper nsk2480 if you do not need the extra power from the psu and get a usb i/r receiver, and it leaves a spare drive bay for a card reader.

There is also a new low profile antec htpc case worth considering http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08745
available in elara
http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1589243

sink

ffocused wrote: »

i was looking at both of those cases, and plumped for the fusion in the end as it has an i/r receiver and bigger psu.
the i/r in the fusion is not great as it only accepts signals at small angles and the vfd (which i think houses the i/r receiver) is useless. I assumed it would display stuff like media tiltles/times etc. but it does not do this. I now have it displaying date/time permanently.

The iMon software displays media information such as titles. However it only works with windows media player/media centre, itunes, winamp and the supplied iMedian software.

ffocused

it does not work for me in media center, i have it set to 'media mode' and it shows date/time only. I updated the software from the antec website.

dingdong1234567

ffocused wrote: »

There is also a new low profile antec htpc case worth considering http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08745
available in elara
http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1589243

Nice case

sink

ffocused wrote: »

it does not work for me in media center, i have it set to 'media mode' and it shows date/time only. I updated the software from the antec website.

That is because the Antec software is only a cut down version of the iMon software. Download the latest iMon software from soundgraph and you will get a whole suite of features not part of the Antec software.

http://www.soundgraph.com/Eng_/Supports/BoardView.aspx?topMenu=4&leftMenu=1&subMenu=1&dataID=123&currentPage=1&searchFiled=BoardID&searchString=

ffocused

just finished installing the imon update, (took nearly 2 hours on my 7.6mb connection:eek:) and it now displays media info. Thanks sink.

joeali101

sink wrote: »

I have the Fusion 430. The trick with the VFD is to install the latest drivers and software from SoundGraph who supply the VFD to Antec. Their iMon software works perfectly with the fusion 430 and allows you to customise the VFD and IR receiver to a far greater degree.

http://www.soundgraph.com/Eng_/Supports/BoardView.aspx?topMenu=4&leftMenu=1&subMenu=1&dataID=123&currentPage=1&searchFiled=BoardID&searchString=

thanks for he tip sink,i found the standard display very annoying

mediacentre.ie

The VFD on the silver was always freezing and scrambled. It is also too small to read and pointless unless you are sitting 2 feet from it.

The black is worse. it is the LCD and is dark blue text on a light blue background??? If you sit over two feet then it just looks like a blue light.

There are both end of life at the moment so that is why everywhere has sold out.

the newer models hopefully will fix this. the don't come with a PSU but come with a remote instead.

www.origenae.com are really nice cases. I have the 14s. it is very expensive but very nice. The VFD is large enough to read as well and very reliable.

jackrussell007

dingdong1234567 wrote: »

That is a good case alright but i have herd grubblings about the VFD display. I believe that is gives a bit of trouble, but you will need to look on avfourms as there are loads of references to that issue.

I have the http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=342784 case. Its grand for what i need it for.

i have 1.5TB of storage fitted, with VMC as my frontend. Along with the di novo mini for control it works treat on my Sammy 37'' connected via HDMI.

Try Hardwareversand.de for prices, if your buying loads of stuff for your build it will cheaper. Their delivery service is great. The only drawback is the money transfer process can be a pain (depends on your bank!)

Hope that helps.

thats a nice case for a nice price. not much difference between that and the fusion is there?

theres an excellent review on it over here http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html . It says its a bit noisy. how;d you find it?

have to say I'd probably take that over the fusion now because of the price difference.

dingdong1234567

jackrussell007 wrote: »

thats a nice case for a nice price. not much difference between that and the fusion is there?

theres an excellent review on it over here http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page1.html . It says its a bit noisy. how;d you find it?

have to say I'd probably take that over the fusion now because of the price difference.

Jack

The case, i find that it is only really noisy if you are watching something thats has very little sound in it...(if that makes sense!). In saying that there is not much diff between it and my sky+ box in terms of noise.

I have read threads over on avforums where builders are fitting these: http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductID=373993 to ensure a really quiet system. Overall i find that the noise is not noticable after a while and for my it is not an issue.

Psygnosis

Hi

I just put in the following order with elara. This is the new antec as I had to buy a power supply as well. Is it better than the old vfd display extra

MMEL740634
FUSION REMOTE BLACK EU HTPC ENCLOSURE WO/ PSU

1

€110.00

€110.00

EQP52153
XP480-12R Power 480W Quiet PSU

1

€50.00

€50.00

MMEB993675
M3N78-EMH HDMI AM2+ GF8200 MATX SND+GLN+U2 HT5200 SATA2R

1

€57.00

€57.00

MMEB960430
ATHLON 64 X2 4850E 2.5GHZ PIB SKT AM2 2X512KB FSB1000 45W

1

€51.00

€51.00

ECE1112029
Memory/HyperX 2GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 2 x 1Gig kit)

1

€34.00

€34.00

EQP52261
Mini Ninja Heatpipe CPU Cooler

1

€44.00

€44.00

MMEW520073
DVD+-R/RW/DL/R/LS AD-7201S-0B +20X8X12X -20X6X12XR12XBLACKSATA

1

€22.00

€22.00

dingdong1234567

Psygnosis wrote: »

1

€34.00

€34.00

EQP52261
Mini Ninja Heatpipe CPU Cooler

I have the mini ninja as well in my build and it works a treat, don't forget to apply the thermal paste to the cpu before attaching the ninja.

Psygnosis

does it come with thermal paste

dingdong1234567

Psygnosis wrote: »

does it come with thermal paste

Ya it does.

Psygnosis

Ahh thanks for that think I have tube in the attic but it is ancient stuff