Righty ho.
Some parts of my HTPC have turned up. Some haven't. Frankly, that gives me time to sit back and consider the bits that I do have, and what I'm going to do with them.
There's been a good thread on HTPCs here linky and I've basically followed Cat5's parts list as stated.
The first thing I've had turn up is the case, which is an Antec NSK1480.
Frankly, I'm so impressed I thought I'd start this thread.
The case. Not that much to look at in this shot. Note the HDD cage and DVD cage
Getting a bit funkier. The DVD cage is not screw fixed, but come out with a "back and up" type manoeuvre. You screw it into the cage, then drop it in and forward to a nice snug fit. Note the black sticky rubber damper pads on DVD and HDD cages.
There are two removable HDD cages. Each has 4 rubber grommets to hold the HDD in place. They each have a carry handle, and each is individually held to the chassis with a thumb screw. Later photos show the holes in teh compartments to thread wires through.
One cage out, showing one below.
There are 3 x 8cm fans in the case. Each has a molex connector, and a separate "low, med, high" speed controller. THis is not the clearest photo in the world, but it's of a 3 position switch. I've not tried the fans yet to determine noise ,but apparently low is 1000rpm, 25 db. I may replace it with a thermaltake 18db version, but will try it with the mobo, etc, to see exactly how noisy it is.
Just demonstrating the wiring from the front of the case, really.
Now to the good stuff. I'm only putting one HDD in the machine, and I'll put it in the upper cage. I am therefore going to hide a LOT of the wiring in the "spare", second, lower HDD cage. This includes ALL the molexs from the three fans, which I have joined together and attached to one power connector from the PSU, the spare MOLEX, a long sata power that I am routing through the cage to join the bluray player, and a sata power cable for the HDD. THis will leave a minimum of wiring in the main body.
As above, demonstrating what will be the "hidden" wires, which I think is quite tidy.
More to follow when I get the internal components and can monitor temps.