[mythtv-users] Computer case recoomendations
Stroller
linux.luser at myrealbox.com
Mon Dec 25 21:20:13 UTC 2006
On 25 Dec 2006, at 06:20, Rich West wrote:
> Robert Seaton wrote:
>> Your absotivly right, and I simply can't afford to buy the wrong
>> case.
>>> ...
>>> First, be a bit cautious about low profile cases. I got burned
>>> because
>>> one of my tuner cards did not have a LPCI bracket available.
>>> ...
>>> Robert Seaton wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm building a dedicated mythbox. I'm looking for
>>>> recommendations for
>>>> a computer case.
>>>>
>>>> 1. Case must be high quality
>>>> 2. Must be desktop form factor
>>>> 3. Must be small enough to fit on top of my TV 4. Must look good
>>>> sitting on top of my TV 5. Must fit an ATX board
>>>>
>>>> Any recommendations, or links would be appreciated.
>
> The Antec Overture II is a nice looking case with LOTS of room and
> it is
> VERY quite. I had one for about two weeks before I decided to sell it
> since it didn't really suit my needs. It's a BIG case. I mean, it's
> like taking a tower, and leaning it on its side (with all of the drive
> trays and such properly oriented). Yes, it is expandable with lots of
> room for hard drives and such, but, for me, since I was just
> planning on
> using it as a FE, it was overkill.
>
> I ended up going for something very small.. a Shuttle XPC barebones.
> ....
> If you have a separate backend server that is hidden away in a closet
> somewhere, then it doesn't really matter how loud or ugly that case
> is;
> it just matters what the frontend server looks like....
Whilst I prefer bottom posting myself, don't you find that
consistency aids readability? Whatever one's objections to top-
posting, don't you find that when two other people have top-posted in
a reply already, that _then_ bottom-posting compounds the problem?
Anyway...
Seems to me that there are two schools of need here.... I understand
the desire of experienced Mythers to have a Honking Big back-end
server and dainty little front-ends scattered around the house, but
it seems to me that for Myth-n00bs (certainly myself, I'm not sure
about Robert?) the case for a combined FE/BE is quite compelling. It
reduces wiring, the risk of network issues, it's only one PC to get
working and is generally less emotional / financial / intellectual
investment in the initial instance.
In this case the combined FE/BE should really have a reasonable
number of PCI slots - unless I'm mistaken Shuttle & mini-ITX cases
generally accommodate only one, or maybe two, PCI slots (?) and
that's pretty limiting in expandability for a Myth system. You might
get a PCI card with two tuners on it, but what about a wireless PCI
card? What should you find it necessary to add an additional tuner
for its hardware MPEG decoding?
If you're unable to commit to a complex Myth network in the first
instance then IMO ATX or mini-ATX form factor is the way to go for a
general-purpose Myth box - that'd seem to give you enough room to
play whilst you get the bugs ironed out. Whilst the 5 or 6 PCI slots
of a full-sized ATX case may not be necessary I'm pretty sure that
mini-ATX cases can offer 3 slots... and a full-sized ATX case gives
you the option of using either. I don't fancy the Overture II, myself
- it looks kinda plasticky to me, and not as classy as the Fusion -
but I can see why someone would choose it.
The option that is leaping out at me is the Silverstone LC16M [1],
tho' - it's admittedly large, and has more 3.5" bays than you'd
probably want to use in a living-room FE, but it has plenty enough
room for tuners inside and (surely?!?) a large passive heat-sink. I
know hi-fi components are smaller these days, but the size of the
Silverstone LC16M doesn't seem to me to compare unfavourably with the
high-end and fashionable hi-fi separates of only a dozen or so years
ago. It has a built-in IR receiver and LCD display and in particular
the door for the optical drive seems particularly well-made & class
[2]. I'm sure this is not the cheapest option, but perhaps neither is
making the mistake of buying the wrong case & having to replace it?
I'm generally of the belief that buying quality is rarely a mistake,
and even if you decided after some time the Silverstone wasn't the
job for you, I'm sure it would hold its value well for resale.
Stroller.
[1] http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-lc16m.htm
[2] http://www.avkorea.co.kr/account/LC16M/IMG_0089-S.jpg
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