HTPC form factor debate raging in my head!

Machupo

Machupo

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So, I'm working on the newest incarnation of my main HTPC (current one is in a Wesena ITX7-2), and am trying to decide which case size to go with (both are custom plexi deals). All measurements are internal volumes (or use frictionless planes of zero thickness plexi... lol :p)

Both systems will have the baseline of:
- i3-2100 processor from the older system
- 128GB Runcore T50 mSATA SSD

Option 1 (The Blade):
- Thin mini ITX
- Offset intel cooler w/ scroll fan
- 2x8GB ddr3 sodimms
- 1x 3TB Western Digital Green (or 4TB Hitachi)
- Custom black plexi case w/ the mobo in the middle, the cooler offset to one side, and the 3.5" drive mounted to the bottom of the case on the other side. Overall dimensions (swag) looking like 375mm(W) by 185mm(D) by 30mm(H).

Option 2 (The Mallet)
- mini ITX
- Gelid Slim Silence iPlus cooler
- 2x4GB ddr3 (from old machine)
- 2x 3TB Western Digital Green drives
- Custom black plexi case w/ the mobo mounted a little bit higher than normal (traditional standoffs are 6mm, these would be 18mm), and 2x 3.5" drives mounted on top of each other to the side of the motherboard. Overall dimensions (again, a swag) looking like 285mm(W) by 185mm(D) by 55mm(H).

Option 3 (The Safety)
- Basically the same as Option 2, but with one HDD, traditional standoff sizes, and a guesstimated case height of ~43mm. This would give a bit more space for the HDD to passively cool.


Considerations:
- Currently, my HTPC is approaching max capacity (3TB currently) with about 5% free. I could upgrade to a 4TB drive, but this would cost just about the same as redoing the whole system :eek:
- I would like the smallest form factor possible; Option 1 would be awesome if that intel cooler didn't add 90mm to the width of the case and a potentially loud-ass fan.
- Are there any cases out there that basically look like a M350 with a 3.5" drive next to them? I guess I could just go with a M350 mod with an external 3.5" drive (USB3) but that seems to go against the idea of this system.
- Wireless HD streaming is out of the question (as is running cat6) due to home construction materials / terms of lease.

Enough of my ramblings, hopefully this promotes some good discussion about the next step down from big mitx cases :D
 
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Ok, so just watched the Lian-Li PC-Q05 review on missing remote; I think this might work in place of option #1 with a little bit of modification (to mount a 3.5" drive instead of the dual 2.5's)... I'll need to get some drawings/measurements, but it eyeball-wise appears like it would work.
 
If you are running of of disk space won't you need more than the 1 3GB drive specified by option 1?
 
flopticalcube said:
If you are running of of disk space won't you need more than the 1 3GB drive specified by option 1?
Click to expand...

yeah -- so that's one of the issues... guess it would need either a 4TB or I would need to "cull the flock" a bit (last option).
 
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How about using powerline ethernet adapters so that you can access a NAS tucked somewhere out of the way? If you check various deal sites they seem to be on sale every so often for about $40-$50.
 
Don't think that powerline is an option for the encoding rate of most of my content (article I read said about 14mbps for powerline). I can get 20-21mbps on 802.11n currently and that chokes sometimes (hence the preference for locally stored content). Thanks for the suggestion, though!

edited to clarify, that 20-21mpbs figure is optimal rate; this dips occasionally due to interference, cat sitting on the router, sunspots, ????, etc. Unfortunately, the dips are very noticeable during streaming and this is what drops the WAF through the floor for a NAS.
 
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Machupo said:
Don't think that powerline is an option for the encoding rate of most of my content (article I read said about 14mbps for powerline).
Click to expand...

Yeah, there are a lot of variables that you can't control that will determine if powerline adapters will work for you or not. I'd buy a set from a place with a good return policy to see if it works acceptably for streaming in your place.

Another idea for a lot of local storage in a small space would be to use two stacked Wesena ITX1 cases:

PLmfK.png


Keep the motherboard with msata in one and all the 3.5" drives in the other. The ITX1 case dimensions are 7.75"x7.75"x3" so it might be possible to fit four 3.5" drives using two sheets of aluminum and brass standoffs sandwiched like this:

r7Iec.jpg


Attach the first sheet to the base of the case using the motherboard standoffs, then attach four 30mm brass standoffs to secure the second aluminum sheet to the first. Each drive would be bottom mounted a sheet with screws and silicone grommets for noise reduction.
 
Machupo,

I know what happens when I get a debate raging in my head...so I feel for ya. :)

If you consider any of the Wesena cases, consider using the Xigmatek Praeton, just switch out the stock fan with a 100mmx12mm Scythe 1000rpm fan. They work perfectly in the Wesena and they're dead silent. On my Intel boards I can't hear them past 10 inches on the test bench and they do a pretty good job of cooling in tight spaces.

Best,

Liquid Cool
 
ok, well, I've ruled out thin-mitx options, as I just got an "offer I couldn't refuse" :D Picked up a Z77E-ITX and a 3570K for $315 (after tax) at MC. This will cause a trickle-down of parts and the HTPC will now be running on my Giada MI-Z68.

4TB HDD's are still $300 a copy, so I'm leaning towards the 2x 3.5" option to future-proof this a bit (like that will stop me from swapping out hardware in another 6 months, lol)
 
cut some 1/2" thick black plexi for the base -- looks like everything fits (old mobo, will be the giada board once I get the case made), now to decide how tall to make this badboy!

htpc_mockup.jpg


If I only use one HDD, this will be passively cooled, i'll use that little fan on a resistor if I try to cram two hdd's in here :eek:
 
ok, so in case anyone is still interested, I decided a much longer-term upgrade path was in order ;)

Got a M350, will put the computer in there and attach it to the VESA mounts on the TV. Will suffer a USB 3.0 external until my Wesena eHDD arrives (10 drives, wheeee!)
 
have you considered MOCA instead of powerline?

I've never had any success streaming anything over 720p on powerline.

There's a guy on ebay that sells Netgear & Actiontec MOCA pairs for about $80. eBay username: adamscableequipment

good luck!
 
Supposedly the brand new (top of the line, expensive) Powerline gear can do 1080p if you have decent wiring in your home. Still, I'd rather go with a set of MOCA adapters.
 
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