Ok so the missus is now fed up with my pc case "taking up all the room" in the living room and whilst the case is large it isn't as bad as she makes out. However i am willing to cede on this point and start looking to find a new home for my components to inhabit. Ideally i would like an htpc style case however i am aware that fitting all my components in may pose a problem. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a suitable alternative?
It would be useful to know what case you currently have so we know what is considered 'too big' for her indoors. I take it your PC is housed next to and connected up to the TV then?
If you want something that will take your current setup then (its ugly but) I found that a Coolermaster 360/361 is the smallest ATX case around that takes a full GPU. Might have to double check on GPU length though. For a classy alternative there is a very small Lian Li ATX case as well. However I would look into getting a MATX or MITX build if you're not worried about cash.
It wouldn't matter anyway, there are no M-ATX or M-ITX AM3+ boards based on 9xx series chipsets (only a couple of very basic 8xx based). A good number of cases will be smaller than a Stacker, so try: Bitfenix Shinobi (lots of colours and types available, but the biggest of these) Corsair Carbide 200R Lian Li A05-B - better and earlier variant of the below, as you don't have to remove the HDD cage to fit long GPUs. Lian Li A05FN-B - will need to remove the HDD cage (screwed in) to fit GPUs longer than 280mm, if you've only got 1 HDD, that can go in the 3.5" slot at the top, so you can remove the HDD cage. Lian Li A55-B - newer version of the above, not huge room for extra HDDs either, but slightly smaller and a better use of space.
There are full sized ATX HTPC cases around which are about the size of a home cinema amp and would fit under your TV. You wouldn't need to change or downsize any components then. Silverstone have a few good models out. You will lose out on thermal performance though compared to a tower chassis.
Silverstone LC17. Have one myself, not sure if there is a newer version with 120mm fans rather than the 80/92mm in the version I have, but I can recommend it highly.
I'm going from a coolermaster Cosmos ll to a corsair carbide 540 exactly the same reason. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
i find the white r4 is neat. plus it's white, so it seems smaller/blends in better/is prettier white r4
I like both the silverstone and the r4. I have had some experience with the LC16 when i built an httpc for my dad and was impressed minus 1 minor gripe. I agree that a similar case to the LC17 with room for 120mm fans would be really nice.
I do have a choice and the options are; 1) I agree "Yes it is too big you are right" - Result i keep a roof over my head 2) I disagree "Its not that big babe! Besides it doesn't take up as much room as your shoes." - its a long walk down to the sally army soup station.
I have decided on two differing cases either the Coolermaster HAF XB or the Silverstone Grandia GD08. I am slightly leaning toward the Silverstone as it will look neat next to other AV equipment once i install an infra-red receiver too.
I would do the same out of those two. Just remember that it will be about 15cm deeper than anything else in your AV setup. Even your Amp.
I would go with the Grandia personally. It's not what I would normally go near (too understated and plain) but if I were going to have it under my TV I would want it to look like that rather than a PC case full of mesh. I had a look and it looks rather lovely.
