[mparadiso]

I am interested in setting up a HTPC only I'm in debt a good case.
Should I buy for him motherboad MSI-J1800, MSI-j1900 or ASRock. I like that settings because they have hdmi, usb 3.0 and especially the integrated processor.
My difficulty is finding a good case with picoPSU source for this card because I want to use 2 hard drives (1 hd notebook and the other SSD).
During some research found the M350 cabinet. Only I did not like it gave the impression that he does not have a good ventilation. I think with 2 Hds it would overheat.
I wonder the staff a good indication of a case. I know there are many but most probably have to be very highly rated by members of this forum.
Thanks

[tavoc]

I am quite happy with this one:

http://www.lc-power.de/index.php?id=241

with Asrock Q1900TM-ITX, because it has an HTPC-Header, where you can use the internal CEC Adapter
If you are not using the cd-drive you can have 2 Disks

[shabuboy]

Are you sure you want a HTPC? I personally believe those are the old way of thinking. But it all depends on your requirements.
I sold my HTPC two months ago and got an AFTV.

See these two:
Advice on Kodi Boxes, NASes, and Hard Drives- FireTVs, Chromeboxes, ARM Sticks, etc.

Zotac ZBOX B1320 *Opinion please* Too good to be true?
This Zotac has 1 SSD and space for a HD

Also, have you heard about the new Raspberry PI?

[poofyhairguy]

Are you sure you want a HTPC? I personally believe those are the old way of thinking.

Nothing wrong with a home built HTPC. It is still what is in my primary viewing area. Why? Two reasons:

1. VDPAU/Purevideo is still the best decoding backend on Linux

2. Because all it takes is a GPU upgrade down the road and suddenly the same box will play the meanest HEVC file we run across, which is more than we can say for any current NUC/ARM box/etc. Heck the best HTPC GPU hasn't even been invented yet! We get that card (aka the one with Nvidia's new Purevideo engine) maybe this fall hopefully.

As you said it all comes down to needs.

OP, I would not recommend a M350 with a real HD. For a case that comes with a Pico-ish PSU I like the Antec ISK 110. For something that lets you upgrade the GPU I like a SilverStone ML07B, as it lets you use a fullsize GPU. Easily my favorite HTPC case now. Honestly if you don't want to upgrade the GPU then shabuboy is right, maybe look at the Zotac.

[mparadiso]

Initial thought about buying the Amazon Fire TV. But it seems that there are some limitations that are being corrected.
Because of this I found it advantageous to mount a machine with good hardware to make the maximum XBMC. I am also looking to buy a motherboard that has low power consumption and generate the heat minimum. E and motherboards J1800i and J1900i have this feature.
It seems that the M350 cabinet is one of the most used but have read some people talking about heating problems. It was something that I was very worried when I began to analyze this case.
One of the offices that I liked was the Antec ISK 110 since it seems to be well ventilated. But it seems that he has to stay in emcima vertical position of a base.
I do not know if there is a possibility of it lie flat.
You would have some other office of indications so I can have an idea?

[tavoc]

J1900 has its limitations as well.
When playing interlaced Full HD you dont get the best de-interlaces, because the GPU is not fast enough

[mparadiso]

J1900 has its limitations as well.
When playing interlaced Full HD you dont get the best de-interlaces, because the GPU is not fast enough

I could not understand what kind of limitation that would J1900 motherboard because the onboard video.
This board has the quad core.

Now does anyone have any case of suggestion?

[poofyhairguy]

If you don't like the silverstone and you don't care about a GPU upgrade just get a generic aluminum case like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811321013

[tavoc]

J1900 has its limitations as well.
When playing interlaced Full HD you dont get the best de-interlaces, because the GPU is not fast enough

I could not understand what kind of limitation that would J1900 motherboard because the onboard video.
This board has the quad core.

Now does anyone have any case of suggestion?

The CPU part is fine, the GPU is OK but lacks some speed for lancso3 /yadif

[mparadiso]

Yesterday I started looking on the Internet some cases options and found some that I liked a lot.

Realan E-W60 - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-W60.html
Realan E-W80 - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-W80.html
Realan E-K3i - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-K3i.html
Antec ISK 110 VESA - http://www.anandtech.com/show/6192/antec...-it-gets/3

Of the above certainly the Realan E-W60 was what I thought with better appearance of HTPC. In addition it has 120W power supply. The other model of Realan also has the same power supply. The only downside I found was that this case has only one cooler fan 5cm. Different from E-K3i which can have up to 5 fans.
The Antec ISK 110 VESA model is also cool because of the impression of being well ventilated. Except that there is no way to add a fan. As the motherboard I want to buy has onboard processor and has no cooler, I'm afraid to have overheating problem. I was also concerned about the power supply 90W. Is that enough for a board that will have 2 HDDs?
I would like to hear from you guys about these products and quality.

[poofyhairguy]

I will be honest I don't have experience with the other cases, but the Antec is well ventilated and 90W should be a enough for 2.5 inch HDs.

[weirdinin]

this might be out of your price range you're looking for but hey you asked suggestions so I'd like to mention hdplex products.
I have this one http://www.hd-plex.com/hdplex-h5.todd-fa...-case.html and I have no complaints about the case. Heat has not been a problem despite the fact it's fanless. High quality case and I've been very happy for purchasing it couple of years ago. They also have itx cases.

[Dougie Fresh]

Yesterday I started looking on the Internet some cases options and found some that I liked a lot.

Realan E-W60 - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-W60.html
Realan E-W80 - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-W80.html
Realan E-K3i - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-K3i.html
Antec ISK 110 VESA - http://www.anandtech.com/show/6192/antec...-it-gets/3

Of the above certainly the Realan E-W60 was what I thought with better appearance of HTPC. In addition it has 120W power supply. The other model of Realan also has the same power supply. The only downside I found was that this case has only one cooler fan 5cm. Different from E-K3i which can have up to 5 fans.
The Antec ISK 110 VESA model is also cool because of the impression of being well ventilated. Except that there is no way to add a fan. As the motherboard I want to buy has onboard processor and has no cooler, I'm afraid to have overheating problem. I was also concerned about the power supply 90W. Is that enough for a board that will have 2 HDDs?
I would like to hear from you guys about these products and quality.

I am not sure where you're located but if you want something similar to the W60 and W80, these might interest you (the W60 and W80 actually look like a variation on these, probably from the same manufacturer in China -- they all share and tweak).

Iwill S197-H55 (SH-55)
Iwill S197-H80 (SH-80)

The E-K3i only supports 4 fans but realistically you aren't going to fit that many fans in that case. You also don't want to put components in these cases that will require all these fans. If using the ASRock Q1900DC-ITX, you don't need any fans. The J1900 passive boards run plenty cool inside the SH-55 case (I have a Q1900B-ITX in my SH-55). You can also use a low power CPU and the ASUS H81T/CSM motherboard in the SH-55 along with the Dynatron T459 CPU cooler. BTW, both boards mentioned just need an external AC adapter, no internal PSU is needed.

Also from Realan, you might like this similar case: Realan E-Q8

As for Realan in general, I have used just about every aluminum mini-ITX case they have over the past 3+ years and their quality is great. There's not much to these mini-ITX cases to go wrong -- it's a metal box.

Which motherboard were you planning to buy?

[mparadiso]

Yesterday I started looking on the Internet some cases options and found some that I liked a lot.

Realan E-W60 - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-W60.html
Realan E-W80 - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-W80.html
Realan E-K3i - http://www.minicase.net/product_E-K3i.html
Antec ISK 110 VESA - http://www.anandtech.com/show/6192/antec...-it-gets/3

Of the above certainly the Realan E-W60 was what I thought with better appearance of HTPC. In addition it has 120W power supply. The other model of Realan also has the same power supply. The only downside I found was that this case has only one cooler fan 5cm. Different from E-K3i which can have up to 5 fans.
The Antec ISK 110 VESA model is also cool because of the impression of being well ventilated. Except that there is no way to add a fan. As the motherboard I want to buy has onboard processor and has no cooler, I'm afraid to have overheating problem. I was also concerned about the power supply 90W. Is that enough for a board that will have 2 HDDs?
I would like to hear from you guys about these products and quality.

I am not sure where you're located but if you want something similar to the W60 and W80, these might interest you (the W60 and W80 actually look like a variation on these, probably from the same manufacturer in China -- they all share and tweak).

Iwill S197-H55 (SH-55)
Iwill S197-H80 (SH-80)

The E-K3i only supports 4 fans but realistically you aren't going to fit that many fans in that case. You also don't want to put components in these cases that will require all these fans. If using the ASRock Q1900DC-ITX, you don't need any fans. The J1900 passive boards run plenty cool inside the SH-55 case (I have a Q1900B-ITX in my SH-55). You can also use a low power CPU and the ASUS H81T/CSM motherboard in the SH-55 along with the Dynatron T459 CPU cooler. BTW, both boards mentioned just need an external AC adapter, no internal PSU is needed.

Also from Realan, you might like this similar case: Realan E-Q8

As for Realan in general, I have used just about every aluminum mini-ITX case they have over the past 3+ years and their quality is great. There's not much to these mini-ITX cases to go wrong -- it's a metal box.

Which motherboard were you planning to buy?

Hi Dougie Fresh,

Did yesterday found the cases that you spoke.
The motherboard which to use will be a J1800i MSI, Gigabyte or ASRock or J1900i from MSI.
From what I read this board has low power consumption and low heats.
How will I put 2 HDD (SSD another 1 HHD 2.5), I thought I'd add at least one fan.
The only annoying point is that this motherboard does not have PCI socket Mini. I q ue your card has but in Brazil there is still no such plate.
Ideally have a case with PCI output to add a wirelles board. As found nothing so I will have to use a USB wireless adapter.
I enjoyed the two chassis but I think the SH-55 model would not be good because of the 2 HDD. I think it might end up overheating.
What is your opinion as you have a motherboard similar to what I use ?

[Dougie Fresh]

Hi Dougie Fresh,

Did yesterday found the cases that you spoke.
The motherboard which to use will be a J1800i MSI, Gigabyte or ASRock or J1900i from MSI.
From what I read this board has low power consumption and low heats.
How will I put 2 HDD (SSD another 1 HHD 2.5), I thought I'd add at least one fan.
The only annoying point is that this motherboard does not have PCI socket Mini. I q ue your card has but in Brazil there is still no such plate.
Ideally have a case with PCI output to add a wirelles board. As found nothing so I will have to use a USB wireless adapter.
I enjoyed the two chassis but I think the SH-55 model would not be good because of the 2 HDD. I think it might end up overheating.
What is your opinion as you have a motherboard similar to what I use ?

The Iwill SH-55 is best used with motherboards like the ASRock Q1900DC-ITX or ASUS H81T/CSM that have a DC-DC powersupply built into the motherboard, similar to the W60.

The Realan E-Q8 is a bit bigger than the SH-55 (more like the W80) though the same style and has a DC-DC powerboard built-in so you could use the other motherboards you mentioned with that one.

The big issue is all the wires and managing them so there's at least some airflow.

Heat won't be an issue with a laptop drive and a SSD without a fan. If you've ever looked inside a laptop. the HDD and/or SSD doesn't have a fan. But, there will be a lot of wires in there though, so you'll have to manage them well. There is one fan in the SH-55 so if you did notice some heat problem (mine runs completely fanless and doesn't even get warm to the touch) you could use it.

I've used both the J1800 and J1900 CPUs. I noticed a difference that the J1900 just felt faster. If you have the budget get the J1900.

You can also find the SH-55 and E-Q8 on eBay. You will only need the 60W versions. In my testing, the system with the J1900 doesn't even hit 20W at full load.