HTPC case: suggest one that meets my criteria or comes "very" close

[jalyst]

Okay in the past week I've been coming to my final conclusions.
I realised that my finalist list was based on my original blanket list, which is now almost 9-months old!
So I decided to formulate a new blanket & finalist list in one hit.

But rather than go through every case OEM site like last time in order to formulate my blanket list.
I've decided to look only at case OEM's that made it to my previous finalist list.
Plus a few extra: Antec, Luxa2, Chieftec, nMedia, GMC, yuhanhitec, HFX, Karmadigital

I also realised that many cases in my old finalist list could've been whittled, if I'd applied all my criteria.
Plus I suspect one new/extra criteria has made a "critical difference" in whittling things down further:
*The case must take at least 1x 120mm or at least 2x 92mm fans.

Without further adieu, based on a smaller subset of OEM's I perused this time, here's my final blanket list:

Alutek 7520
Alutek 7620
Alutek 7510
Alutek 7610
Antec Fusion Remote Max
Chieftec HM-01
HFX Classic
Karma TF11
Lian-Li PC-C32
Lian-Li PC-C33
Lian-Li PC-C34F
Moneual 832
Moneual 932L
nMedia HTPC 2000
nMedia HTPC 6000
OrigenAE S16V There's a S16T which is same but with 7" LCD, prefer small screen
OrigenAE S21T
OrigenAE X11
Origen AE X15e
Silverstone CW02
Silverstone CW03-MT
Silverstone LC16M
SilverStone LC18
Thermaltake DH103
Thermaltake DH104
Zalman HD135
Zalman HD160
Zalman HD160 Plus
Zalman HD160XT
Zalman HD160XT Plus
Zalman HD503

By using my criteria (inc. the new one), this list can be "chopped down to size" dramatically!
For many of the cases below, I've omitted at least one other criteria it doesn't satisfy...
But the idea is to demonstrate at least one reason why a case must be struck from the list.
Can you see which case from the list above, isn't singled-out for not meeting my criteria below?

Alutek 7520: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated
Alutek 7620: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated
Alutek 7510: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated
Alutek 7610: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated

Antec Fusion Remote Max: no built-in reader & nowhere to put one, aesthetics/bq quite ordinary

Chieftec HM-01: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans

HFX Classic: 4x 3.5" bays needed to fit my SSD's/HDD's therefore nowhere for my reader, only 6 expansion slots

Karma TF11: reader not in 3.5" bay so not easily replaced, nowhere else to put mine

Lian-Li PC-C32: no display, otherwise pretty much meets requirements, excellent BQ
Lian-Li PC-C33: no display, otherwise pretty much meets requirements, excellent BQ
Lian-Li PC-C34F: simple IR receiver+remote but no display, otherwise meets requirements, excellent BQ

Moneual 832: not as stylish as 932L, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Moneual 932L: 1 slot used by LCD, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
[972L scratched because no ext. 3.5" & reader not easily movable, + same flaws as 932L]

nMedia HTPC 2000: pretty much meets all criteria, but design/BQ/aesthetics looks hideous
nMedia HTPC 6000: reader not in 3.5" bay so not easily replaced, nowhere else to put mine

OrigenAE S16V: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
OrigenAE S21T: reader not in modular 3.5" bay + USB/FW integrated, too pricey, screen's a joke
OrigenAE X11: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Origen AE X15e: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans

Silverstone CW03-MT: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Silverstone LC16M: no reader or I/O built-in, reader+I/O AIO needed in 3.5" ext, don't want AIO
SilverStone LC18: needs FP32 for I/O & 2nd 5.25" for reader, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans

Thermaltake DH103: specs on product page wrong, 5x int 3.5", but no reader & nowhere to put one
Thermaltake DH104: no reader & nowhere to put one, & $620USD+ inc post

Zalman HD135: same features as 160, 160 looks better, doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Zalman HD160: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Zalman HD160 Plus: doesn't take at least 1x 120mm or 2x 92mm fans
Zalman HD160XT: reader not in standard 3.5" bay (hence not easy to remove), nowhere else to put mine
Zalman HD160XT Plus: reader not in standard 3.5" bay (hence not easy to remove), nowhere else to put mine
Zalman HD503: not enough 3.5/5.25" bays for HDD's, SSD's, & reader

So I'm essentially down to one, yay, have a guess what it is!*

Do you feel there's another case that should be with the one pulled from this list? If so, why?
Perhaps you don't agree with or understand some of my reasons for scratching cases?
Do you want me to re-list my criteria more clearly, instead of linking to another post/thread?

Please let me know, and thank-you very much!

*update: it's the Silverstone CW02

 

[Jmtyra]

That's one heck of a list! I've only tinkered with a few HTPC cases, and none of them are in your list. Good luck with it, though...sounds like you're doing a ton of research.

 

[thobel]

Now you need to buy it before 2012 so you avoid this whole list for a 3rd time.

 

[thobel]

Thanks for the input, I'll re-list my criteria in a brief & clear manner in this thread in a minute.
Hopefully that'll make it easier for users to concur with my conclusion, or make an alternate suggestion.

To be clear i think your selection is a great one.

 

[nd4spdbh2]

that seems to be more like a friggin server than a nice slim htpc. Have you considered doing some type of file server and using a gigabit ethernet to a smaller case like a silverstone GD05B?

 

[jalyst]

ATM AIO is the concept I'm going for: MythTV FE+BE (multi DVB format PVR)/Media player/temporary NAS/casual gaming*
Few months time I have plans to build at least 1x much smaller front-end.

And LT still, I'll build a VMM (bare-metal hypervisor) server w/NAS & MythTV BE VM's etc.
At which point I'm not sure what I'll do with this build, perhaps gaming rig

*if i decide to add a GT 430 or maybe a GTX 560 Ti w/single-slot water block

 

[jalyst]

updated criteria as follows:
*accommodates ATX PSU & MB (ideally 8 slots, being ATX I won't get more than 7, right?)
*1x 5.25" bay for my BD combo drive
*1x 5.25" or ext. 3.5" bay for my smart-card reader OR a built-in reader that's easily removable (mustn't take the I/O ports with it!)
*5x (no less, not much more) int./ext. 3.5" bays for my SSD's & HDD's
*1x display or option to add (nothing flash, just a small VFD or LCD)
*I/O: at least 2x USB2/3, 1x FW4/800 or eSATA, & typical audio/mic ports
*At least 1x 120mm fan holder or 2x 92mm holders
*Decent build quality... (generally the more aluminium & in less pieces, the better, nice finish to it etc)
*Nice aesthetics/design (something that looks at home with other AV components)
*Budget limit = approx. $700USD

Not imperative, but would be nice:
*accommodates WC kits smartly, so I can easily mount my 240mm rad externally.
*possible to add rack-mount ears, so that it mounts perfectly in a 482.60mm wide (19") rack.
*IR integrated into the LCD/VFD module (I have a USB transceiver that works well in Linux, but built into the case would be cool)


**UPDATE**
I'm placing an order for the CW02 soon...
Just a capture or sound card to choose for the purposes of capturing HD (or near) audio.
Then what promises to be an epic build commences

Interesting part will be working out how/where to mount my 240mm rad + fans.
And how to convert the 2x 92mm intakes & cut a totally new 120mm vent elsewhere.

 

[Jmtyra]

Hey

Here are the two HTPC-like cases I've used:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112227

Neither meet your criteria I'm afraid. You've done some very in-depth research that is hard to beat!

Good luck bud!

 

[jalyst]

Thanks, 1st link gets fairly close...
But it has very crumby build quality & aesthetics/design.
But I wouldn't expect much better for only $75!

Thanks again.

 

[Jmtyra]

Wish I had more for you bud!

 

[Jmtyra]

HAHA! Meaning, I don't know, but I really wish I did!!!

 

[jalyst]

Attention CW02 owners or other knowledgeable users, I'm about to "pull the trigger" on one.
Just curious, what would determine which colour you went with?
Problem for me is that I don't yet have any AV gear, and I don't intend to for quite some time.
So should I choose colour based on my plasma or other surrounding furniture/gear?

I'm not sure I buy the whole "it must match the colour of your AV gear" notion.
I think the only way to know which colour is best, is when everything is in place in the TV room.
And by then it's too late, you've already chosen right or wrong!

Perhaps the more pragmatic direction to take is...
To pick a colour that can most seamlessly transition to the opposite colour if needs be.
Which do you reckon would be easier to pull-off in a slick/pro way:
Changing a silver case to a black (anodized) one, or a black case to silver (aluminium) one?

Sign writers or panel beaters care to weigh in?!?
_________________________________________________________
Upon reviewing my blanket list again...
I think the Zalman HD160 Plus actually comes 2nd in satisfying all my criteria.
It falls short in ventilation compared the CW02 due to fan placement/size.
And appearance-wise I think it looks a bit imbalanced, hard to explain, just an aesthetic thing.

It has one thing the CW02 doesn't & that's the media/function buttons that surround the LCD.
I don't see how they're a big feature though...
I'll be controlling everything via my mimo touchscreen/handheld/dinovo edge/harmony one*
*Later I'll upgrade to a URC MX5000