Smallest case for 4 drives?
#1
Question 
I'm looking to build an HTPC and I'm looking for suggestions.
I'm staying away from using two separate systems: NAS + Small HTPC; I'd rather
use a single system.

So, what's the smallest case I can get that holds 4 full-sized drives? (I'll probably
go with 3TB Reds). Also, I wouldn't mind suggests for the rest of the hardware
considering I'll be running full 1080p videos. I've never used one of the newish
CPUs with built-in graphics... so my knowledge is lacking in that department.
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#2
HP microserver.
Modded MK1 NUC - CLICK ----- NUC Wiki - CLICK

Bay Trail NUC FTW!

I've donated, have you?

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#3
U'll be needing for example 1 of the larger Silverstone cases for example, Silverstone Grandia GD08 Home Theatre Server Case - Black (SST-GD08B USB 3.0) plenty of drive space and cooling to keep everything cool

the guts of the system

a new haswell i3 with a after market cooler (scythe)

maybe a ASrock mobo + 4/8 gig ram depending on o/s u using etc

and a 60gig SSD

that's just some examples that's u could use anther interesting idea would be:-

HP N54 micro server + a low profile passive cooled gfx card to do the 1080p

although with that option u wont get sata 3 and I think but not 100pct sure on it but think it only supports up to 8 gig internal storage , unless they fixed that issue with a new bios
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#4
The HP ProLiant MicroServers are great for a NAS but not so much an HTPC, since even the newest ones do not have HDMI. Adding a graphics card to one puts the price above what a DIY setup would get you.

I'd look at the Fractal Design Node 304 case
ASUS H87I-PLUS mini-ITX motherboard
Haswell Pentium (if you only need 2D support) or Haswell i3 (if you need 3D support)
If you're going to be running Windows, consider a 60-120GB SSD for the O/S.
4GB DDR3-1600 RAM
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#5
(2013-09-02, 19:25)Dougie Fresh Wrote: The HP ProLiant MicroServers are great for a NAS but not so much an HTPC, since even the newest ones do not have HDMI. Adding a graphics card to one puts the price above what a DIY setup would get you.

I'd look at the Fractal Design Node 304 case
ASUS H87I-PLUS mini-ITX motherboard
Haswell Pentium (if you only need 2D support) or Haswell i3 (if you need 3D support)
If you're going to be running Windows, consider a 60-120GB SSD for the O/S.
4GB DDR3-1600 RAM


I love that case even more since they made a white version of it Smile
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#6
Check out the Lian Li PC-Q25B as well, I have one and it's great. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811112339
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#7
I went with the Lian Li; love their cases.
Now I just need to decide on the system itself. I can't make up my mind if
I want to go the all-in-one route with an embedded system, or what.
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#8
I'm thinking of building a portable XBMC+NAS box using one of these (probably the two-bay version). Idea is to put 2 x 3-4TB drives in it and transcode all my movies to 720p, so the family can have access to all our movies when we go on holiday.

http://www.u-nas.com/product/nsc200.html
http://www.u-nas.com/product/nsc400.html
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#9
(2013-09-02, 19:25)Dougie Fresh Wrote: The HP ProLiant MicroServers are great for a NAS but not so much an HTPC, since even the newest ones do not have HDMI. Adding a graphics card to one puts the price above what a DIY setup would get you.
That's certainly not the case in the uk, with HP's cashback deals (on again at the moment).
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#10
Yup. CCL for £99 after cashback.

http://www.cclonline.com/product/108949/...r/SRV0383/
Modded MK1 NUC - CLICK ----- NUC Wiki - CLICK

Bay Trail NUC FTW!

I've donated, have you?

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#11
yes 100 quid for the microserver and a 6450 for 30 quid(low profile bracket) cant go wrong , prolly need the hacked bios to run over 8gig space (or was needed before)
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