• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Help finding a mini itx case

S

sippm

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
235
Hey all,

I'm looking for a decent mini ITX case along the lines of the LUXA2 LM100 (http://www.amazon.com/LVA12062N1U-A...8GRA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1306943078&sr=8-4). This seems decent and I wouldn't use the optical drive or VFD, but I'm trying to find other options. I'm looking mostly for a case that is of that flatter shape and can do a low profile video card. I'd use a 2.5 SSD. Then whatever low power/cool running cpu/mobo is I can get when I'm ready. No wireless needed. Its just for HTPC use.

I saw this article http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mini-itx-small-form-factor-pc-case,2814.html and I didn't see anything else that fit the bill (don't want a tower-ish looking box). And searched around here.

So I'm just doing my diligence. Anything else I should consider or any red flags on the thermaltake/luxa case?

Thanks!
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
The luxa case looks great and will cook your hardware prettu good while doing it.

What CPU, GPU do you intend to use? If you're going Zacate you might use the Habey EMC-600s or the Antec ISK310-150. No need for a low profile GPU if you use Zacate
 
I intend to use an AMD low profile GPU (I like their drivers, they work for me, and I have another HTPC with same, and I know I get good bitstreaming support). CPU I would take whatever runs coolest - I was hoping that maybe heat would be less an issue than it was in 2009 when reviews were made, but man circulation in that case looks like it sucks.
 
the Zacate motherboards are using the HD 6310 graphics, so you would be using AMD drivers. pretty much the same graphics as an HD 5450
 
sippm said:
I intend to use an AMD low profile GPU (I like their drivers, they work for me, and I have another HTPC with same, and I know I get good bitstreaming support). CPU I would take whatever runs coolest - I was hoping that maybe heat would be less an issue than it was in 2009 when reviews were made, but man circulation in that case looks like it sucks.
Click to expand...

Zacate boards have an AMD APU it's equivalent to a 5450, I personally have a gigabyte e350N-USB3 for HTPC duty and it rocks
 
Thanks. So, I'm going to verify myself later, but an AMD zacate will take stock catalyst drivers and I don't have to worry about confusion from software recognizing the HDMI (e.g., TMT -- recall bitsreaming is important to me so I need stock drivers to ensure 3d party support)? I was worried it was a proprietary driver that inevitably gets orphaned or loses support.
 
One thing of note, current builds of silverlight (even beta builds of 5) have issues with offloadling processing to GPUs, so netflix performance w/ zacate will be substandard at HD resolutions.

the main reason I'm replacing my zacate build w/ a 2390t build :)
 
UrbanSmooth said:
Lunchbox.com

Are you serious?
Click to expand...

Yes.

img0817q.jpg

img0797al.jpg

img0796hoj.jpg


Edited to add the "colonoscopy" shot
92109785.jpg
 
Last edited:
That is too cool. Unorthodox. But cool.Mostly because it is really out of the box thinking. I wish I had thought of it before a friend of mine built his using the same mobo.
 
Heh, nice little build there. Looks like passive cooling, too! Can you list off all of the components?
 
UrbanSmooth said:
Heh, nice little build there. Looks like passive cooling, too! Can you list off all of the components?
Click to expand...

PicoPSU and 105watt Power Brick from mini-ITX.com
Asus AT5IONT-I motherboard (D525 1.8 dual-core Atom & ION2 Graphics)
4GB Kingston DDR3
Corsair Nova SSD
Western Digital Scorpio Black 750GB HDD
USB3 Docking Station with 2TB WD Caviar Green
eSATA Docking Station with 2TB Seagate Barracuda
HP USB TV Tuner with Antenna (Re-branded Hauppaugh 950, I believe)
Wireless MS KB/Mouse
24" Dell (DVI-D)
42" Sony Bravia via HDMI
Hello Kitty Lunchbox


Heat rises out the top vent I created through convection, which pulls air into the case through the other vent I cut under the handle. That cooling air flows across the Pico-PSU, RAM, and Internal 750GB Hard Drive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top