mATX case recommendations?
Last year I put together a PC to go under the telly in the sitting room. The objective was to have a quiet computer that would allow me and the missus to watch iPlayer and Youtube stuff from the comfort of our sofa, but without spending a fortune. I bought an Asrock mATX motherboard and a Antec NSK 2480 MATX case and the rest of the bits were just old stuff that was lying around. The system is excellent but the case is massive, much bigger than I thought, and I want to replace it with something much smaller, while keeping the same components.
Can anyone recommend a really compact mATX case? It doesn't need to accommodate a graphics card as the onboard graphics on the Asrock board is fine. Also the 2.4ghz P4 processor is passively cooled with a low profile copper heat sink and doesn't need a fan, though good flow through the box is needed.
Re: mATX case recommendations?
IMO the Antec Minuet 350 is a great mATX case and the included PSU is Seasonic-made. You might want to replace the standard Tri-Cool fan with something a bit quieter if it's for a HTPC though.
Re: mATX case recommendations?
Antec NSK1300 is a reasonable bet - a nice little cube case if you've got the height to fit it in. I've been using one (well, it's predecessor, the Aria) for years now and I still swear by it. Plus it does have 4 full-sized expansion slots, so you've got the option to upgrade your HTPC with any components you fancy further down the line...
Re: mATX case recommendations?
nicest one that I know if is silverstone's SuGo SG3. damn tiny but you pay for that premium. the SG4 is also really nice but again v. expensive. I think that SG5 and up are designed for miniITX but you might want to double check this.
Re: mATX case recommendations?
Of the cases recommended I like the look of the Antec Minuet 350. It has good reviews and I think it will just about fit onto my TV stand, unlike my Antec NSK 2480. At £77 from Amazon it seems good value. Ordering one today probably.