is DESIGNING THE PERFECT HTPC CASE, really that hard?

[Brett]

Alright I have been looking at cases for days now, and could not be more upset. It seems you can never have everything. Even the ridiculous priced ATECH at $400+ doesn't have all the features I want. It seems if you could somehow combine the good of all, and trash the evil the others (STX PSU!) you will get the perfect case, so why has no one done this yet?

I finally sat down and kinda of designed what I think is the perfect htpc case. Only proving the point that indeed you can fit the perfect PC in a smaller frame.

Here are the features my case need:

Dimensions: 17"x15"x5.5"
Must support ATX Motherboard & Powersupply
3x 80mm fans
4x 3.5" drive bays (internal)
2x 5.25" drive bays (external)
Entire front covered with doors / extremely flushed
Hidden panel with power & usb/firewire
Nice X-large window tinted black to display LCD through

How bout that? No floppy disk pre-built in that I have to use, no stupid STX PSU. USB up front and LCD. And heres the real kicker...the option to install some descent size fans near the stuff that counts. Ofcourse being able to hold 4x 3.5" diskdrives doesn't hurt.

Ok...so here is the case I have designed, I never claimed to be a CAD designer or anything, but oh well. So someone on this list needs to go out and make millions selling my design to some company for me, all I ask in return is for the damn case

-Brett

[Eric3a]

???
Overkill?!!
And I thought a case was a case was a case. $10 at Goodwills and $1 spray can.
Eric

[Asmordean]

I know your frustration. I have given up and started working on drawings for making my own case from scratch.

I don't have anything worth showing yet but I am working.

I am aiming for 1 x 5.25" and 2 x 3.5" (or 3 x 3.5" if they are the slim kind)

[noodleNT]

I still like the idea of using an old DVD player :P

[Brett]

Originally posted by Asmordean
I have given up and started working on drawings for making my own case from scratch.

Danger! Danger! Bad idea, bad bad bad idea! All I can say is thinking that way cost me a cut on my finger, $200+ in sheet metal and tools, several wasted hours, a trip to the metal shop, and resulted in absolute crap. I tried doing this for my gaming box, its cheaper and easier to buy the most expensive case out there then go that route.

I have just now read about something called BTX, kinda of pissed off. I just purchased a new $350+ case last year for my gaming box, now what I am going to do? I am so confused on what / how to go about purchasing stuff its not even remotely funny.

See I want to wait because it sounds like some really kickass cases are on the horizon. But at the same time, I really want a second computer. I really *need* a second computer (my laptops do not count). I think I am going to buy an el cheapo case for $49.00 throw in a "affordable" processor/motherboard combo ($175) and then throw in parts from this current case (which has two or more of everything except for CPU). That will give me an entirely dedicated 2.4ghz P4 w/480gb which should be suitable until (a) it dies on me or (b) BTX is mainstream enough to buy a new and cooler case.

Now I just got to figure out what to do with my current gaming modded case, hmm...

-Brett

ATTACHED IS EL CHEAPO CASE:

[Maladin]

Originally posted by RadioActive
Alright I have been looking at cases for days now, and could not be more upset.

Testify, brother! I'm right there with you.

I wasted two weeks of my life trying to find the perfect HTPC case, and spent about $100 on round trip shipping and RMA charges before deciding the best case for me was the midtower I started with. Except it has noise issues - fan vibration and inadequate airflow, even after I took a Dremel to it. But there's nothing good out there yet, not that I've found, and I'm fool enough to spend good money on the right case if I could just find one I like. Its just not there yet.

[SHS]

RadioActive You have the Power supply on the wrong side it should be on rigth side

[Brett]

Originally posted by SHS
RadioActive You have the Power supply on the wrong side it should be on rigth side

My plan could be mirrored, but would it make a difference? So has anyone contacted companies about designing my case yet? I forgot to mention earlier that I think it would be fair to set the cost at less than $200 as well. Seeing as I can buy a perfectly working DVD player with a cool case for that price, I should be able to buy the empty shell as well.

Speaking of which NoodleNT, you got me thinking. My brother could not be the only one to come up with that idea. He is just not that creative. Some researched revealed...

MAKE A VCR INTO A COMPUTER CASE
http://www.giantdisc.com/showcase/via-epia/

-Brett

[Treetop]

This is the case I want. Has everything I need, including a display under the DVD drive.

Gateway FMC-901X

Here is another thread where some ideas were thrown around
design suggestions for a commercial case?

Treetop

[JornGH]

I just purchased a great case from CoolerMaster. Link:

CoolerMaster ATC-620

[zealot]

Originally posted by Treetop
This is the case I want. Has everything I need, including a display under the DVD drive.

Gateway FMC-901X

Does gateway sell the case by itself? It looks great.. especially with the display.

[MonsterHTPC]

i have always been a fan of the D.vine 4's and other D.vine series and the Kanam HT-200's

Especially if you aren't afraid to use a dremmel. You can easily add intake fans and VFD's etc...

I would love to see a custom case designed though. The Atech is nice, but dang expensive. Another option. A spot where VFD's and LCD's can go, but with a inner removable faceplate so that you can fit whatever type of VFD or LCD that you want. The smoke colored windows are just too dark for LCD's and cutting up the particle board in there to custom fit a VFD can be annoying and alot of work. There are just too many sizes out there available for VFD's sheesh make a man go crazy.

hmm maybe i will start talking to some metal shops around here.

[Brett]

I like the Gateway case aside from that evil logo on the front and the fact that the cheapest "case" you can purchase is $999.99. I am almost positive the "case" itself is not for sale.

Ok more about my perfect case...You could implement this riser style so that you can have 2PCIs and 1AGP. This would also put the PCIs on seperate buses, and avoid the evil PCI slot 1 problems.

Doing this and making it hold only 1 3.5" on each side. YOu could lower the dimensions of the case to I believe 4" making the case:

17" x 15" x 4" (Size of a VCR) and it would be able to hold a fully functional kickbutt machine. No wimpy STX PSU, or "BabyATX" board.

The more I think about this fictious case the more I want it.

-Brett

[MonsterHTPC]

I would make one addition, if not already done. With the PCI riser action you got going on on the left side of that picture which would be the side of the case, would be a very good spot for an intake fan to blow nice fresh cool air across all those PCI and AGP cards. With that AGP card being on top, and most likely your PVR 250 underneath it, its going to get hot right there, heat will rise and trap nicely in that corner of the case.

[MonsterHTPC]

He can use high performance electrons they train them all year round to move faster than standard electrons.


*There is no such thing as high performance electrons, please do not call me requesting systems that use high performance electrons. I will however forward your name and number to some other people I know in florida selling swamp land that is the new proposed building spot for one of disney's new creations and will supposedly be worth a million dollars in a few years.

This has been a test, this is only a test . . . beep Yes I have lost it!