Cheap MicroATX case for HTPC

Im just having trouble getting my uncle to wrap my fingers around the $150 Antec fusion, so I have been looking at other options. I found an Antec B stock NSK 2400
http://www.antec.com/Detail.bok?no=583 from Antec B stock, which appears to be the mother of the fusion , which is a decent deal, but after there inflated shipping. Its about $70

It is identical to the NSK 2480 which has a PSU in it, and retail on it is $120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034

If anyone has any other budget type suggestions, I would be interested in hearing about them, looking for a Micro-ATX case but hey if you got a opinion...let me hear it.

if your after that style go for it, but that is not what i think of when someone says cheap.

what is wrong with one of these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811295002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156200

The first of those cases, Evil, has 67% of reviewers saying it is a rating 3 or worse.

My own experience with those style cases made me think they were decent, but poorly arranged cases, plus they don't fit in well on an AV equipment rack.

I'm personally going with the SilverStone Lascala LC17 SST-LC17B ATX, $119, but that's a full ATX so it might not be what the OP wants.

jstutman said:

Im just having trouble getting my uncle to wrap my fingers around the $150 Antec fusion, so I have been looking at other options. I found an Antec B stock NSK 2400
http://www.antec.com/Detail.bok?no=583 from Antec B stock, which appears to be the mother of the fusion , which is a decent deal, but after there inflated shipping. Its about $70

It is identical to the NSK 2480 which has a PSU in it, and retail on it is $120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034

If anyone has any other budget type suggestions, I would be interested in hearing about them, looking for a Micro-ATX case but hey if you got a opinion...let me hear it.

Click to expand...

You will be better of getting in new rather than paying more for ordering a refurb and then having to pick up an overpriced PSU that fits in it.

Best bet is look on ebay for low profile cases, they are all micro or mini ATX for factor, I picked up 5 for a good price, and with 5 minutes of dremel work (4 minutes to figure out what I wanted to do 1 minute to do it) added a flexATX form factor PSU in it. 300W for ~$30

Duh, NM I was thinking of the minuet series.

You can also just pick up a motherboard tray and construct your own case out of wood or acrylic. Although you will probably spend more on the case than on an ebay case, you will get EXACTLY what you want

Or buy a dead stereo from somewhere and mod that into a PC case :d

I've got that Antec case and it's nice with solid build quality as usual for Antec. I chose it because it is one of the few HTPC-style cases with 120mm fans so you can either get great cooling or make it pretty quiet. The only major downside to me was that none of the intakes are filtered so I did some modding to add filters. Also unless you hack up the insides you can't fit a graphics card longer than 9.5" (basically the size of a motherboard) but that may not be an issue for a real HTPC where you can use an IGP or a moderate add-in card, even then HD4000 series cards will fit.

IMHO, the Antec Fusion case (or the earlier model) really is one of the best HTPC case! good airflow while keeping quiet!

I have the Antec NSK2480 with the 380w PSU & it works well. Microcenter currently has it on sale $89. I bought it on sale a while back for $79.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0265324

JLK03F150 said:

I have the Antec NSK2480 with the 380w PSU & it works well. Microcenter currently has it on sale $89. I bought it on sale a while back for $79.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0265324

Click to expand...

Oh wow, if only that was posted a few days ago...Oh they want like $20 for shipping :/

I got the 2400 which according to reviews is the same as the 2480 without a powersupply. I got it as B stock from Antec for $67 Shipped.