Case help with mITX HTPC

[Deefke]

Hi All,

Im planning on building a HTPC based on the Asus AT3N7A-I, with the following set up:

- Asus AT3N7A-I
- 2GB DDR2 800 memory
- 2x 3.5" 1GB harddrive in RAID1 (I will be using it as a home server too)
- Blue Ray optical drive

Can anyone recommend a case which will fit all this and have room to spare for future expansion with a dual slot Graphics Card?

The maximum depth allowed would be 16 inches. Height and width are not important and also the exterior is not a priority as the HTPC will not get into view.

Can anyone recommend a case??

Thanks

 

[MadAdmiral]

I would not build a DDR2 machine right now. If you follow the layout in the thread in my signature, we might be able give a lot better build for what you're planning on spending. Since you said you're planning on building, I assume you haven't actually bought parts yet, right?

 

[Dougie Fresh]

If the OP wants an ION-based HTPC right now, DDR2 is the only choice. Otherwise, it's wait for the next rev of the Atom for DDR3. Even then, no idea how long it will be before the new Atom platform makes its way into ION mobos.

So, yeah, more info needed, like does it have to be ION?

 

[Dougie Fresh]

BTW, it doesn't appear to me your mobo choice will support dual-slot graphics cards.

 

[Deefke]

Thanks for the info guys,

My thoughts on the ION mobo, was that this is one of the few Atom mobo's having HDMI output and a very low power usage. If you guys can recommend another, I'd welcome the advice.

@Mad Admiral: Yes, I was aware that only DDR2 memory could be used, but I wasn't planning on creating a high end system anyway. So I think DDR2 will be sufficient for it's purpose.

@Dougie: your right, this mobo doesn't support dual slot cards...my bad...The dual slot card was optional, I was just looking for a case which could fit one.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

I looked and looked when I put together my HTPC build but was unable to find a micro-ATX ION mobo. You're not going to find a mini-ITX case with room for more than one slot. If you want to go with ION you're going to be stuck w/o much room for upgrading later on -- maybe a single slot. You could fit a mini-ITX mobo in a micro-ATX case which would give you room later to ditch the mobo and get a mobo that would support a 2-slot card but do you really want to do that? What's great about mini-ITX is the whole small form factor thing. You might as well at that point go with a micro-ATX mobo. But, like I said, no micro-ATX ION. The next best thing is to find a micro-ATX mobo with GeForce 9400 IGP. I found one available: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136064. You could pair this with this CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116264 and now you've got something close to ION (same IGP and about the same $$$) but in micro-ATX form however more upgradeable down the road when you want to ditch the IGP and more powerful than Atom.

So, you've got to figure out what you really want -- a small HTPC that's not going to be upgradeable (mini-ITX) or a larger HTPC that will be upgradeable. Today, you won't get both -- at least I couldn't find it.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

btw, this was the mini-ITX HTPC case I had my heart set on before I decided to go the micro-ATX route:

http://www.logicsupply.com/products/pc78131

If I had the big bucks I would have fallen for this one:

http://usa.luxa2.com/products/enclosure/lm100-mini/showroom.html

I thought this one had the most room (takes standard ODD and HDD):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811190110

 

[Wolfshadw]

Just one thing I don't understand. If you're going to use the HDMI graphic output from the motherboard, why do you need a case that can handle a dual slot graphics card?

At any rate, this Antec HTPC case will suit your needs, if you don't mind using low profile graphic cards. This case accepts both m-ATX and ITX motherboards. A couple of other notes:

1) That the expansion slot on that motherboard is PCI (not PCI-E).
2) I saw no where in the description that the SATA slots are RAID capable. With only one expansion port, you're going to need to choose between a graphics card and a RAID controller card.

Probably your best bet (as Dougie suggests) is going m-ATX.

-Wolf sends