help setting up system, please: 2 hdd, 2 optical drives, SPDIF, . . . Are there "large" micro-atx ca

G

Greg Conquest

I would appreciate some help here. I like the Shuttle and Pandora
small form factor systems:
http://www20.tomshardware.com/howto/20040107/index.html
(review of SFF barebones systems)
http://www.soldam.com/barebone/pandora_claire/index.html
(Soldam's page on Pandora's -- Japan-made Shuttle Box clones)

The cases are light and attractive, BUT
these barebones kits are a little too small for me, and the 200 W
power supplies are also insufficient.

What I want is a nice-looking, mini-tower (?) aluminum case
(especially made for micro-ATX boards) that will allow me to have:

two hard drives (essential for me)
and two optical drives (one DVDR and one very good CDR/DVD (for DAE
and multi-region flashing ability))

As I said, the SFF cases can't handle what I want, but just barely.
The adjacent drives would be too hot and over power the power supply.
Are there cases designed for my demands? 3 or 4 external 5.25 inch
drive bays, 1 or 2 external 3.5 inch drive bays, and 2 internal 3.5
inch drive bays?

I *guess* I am going to need to build a system around a micro-ATX
motherboard:
http://hardwarecentral.dealtime.com/xPP-Motherboards--micro_atx
It is the cases that I can't find.

Thank you.
Greg Conquest

PS Just to make this more difficult, since I am living in Japan, I
have to be able to find these cases here in Japan (popular cases) --
or possibly get one via mail order (sounds pricey).


------ Greg Conquest ------
http://gregconquest.com
 
F

Fitz

Since you are planning alot of 'add-ons', is there a reason you don't want
to use a standard ATX case? The micro ATX board will fit in it, and give you
plenty of room for expansion. Whatever case you buy, I wouldn't go for one
with an included power supply. Get a power supply from a reliable
manufacture with a rating high enough to provide the power you need without
being stressed and overheating.

Fitz
 
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