Looking for a MicroATX case, that looks like a VCR (without the flap:) )

E

Eternally

Hey folks,

I'm starting a little project to make a home media center PC. I want it to
sit with all my other home theatre equipment, and thus I want it to look
like that.

So, I'm looking for a MicroATX case (or a small ATX) to act as my Project
Enclosure. I want it to be a desktop (not tower), and be no bigger (or not
much bigger) then a large VCR....In other words, I want it to fit in with my
home theatre equipment.

Does anyone know where I can get such a case?

Thanks a lot!
 
A

Al Dykes

Hey folks,

I'm starting a little project to make a home media center PC. I want it to
sit with all my other home theatre equipment, and thus I want it to look
like that.

So, I'm looking for a MicroATX case (or a small ATX) to act as my Project
Enclosure. I want it to be a desktop (not tower), and be no bigger (or not
much bigger) then a large VCR....In other words, I want it to fit in with my
home theatre equipment.

Does anyone know where I can get such a case?

Thanks a lot!

I don't know what "looks" like a VCR, but if you want a matx box
that's sort of sdhaped like one take a look at this AOPEN
case;

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-130-105&
catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1


I built a system in the beige version of this box and am happy
with it.

Two tips; Look for short IDE and Floppy cables to minimize the cable
mess, and I'd use a 2.5 inch (laptop) disk for a little more airflow
and a little less heat. This probably applies to any small
form-factor system.

This box uses short PCI cards, which isn't a problem for me.
 
E

Eternally

Wow...Those are hot cases. Thanks. I forgot to mention one important thing
though. I am on a budget. Are there any cheap solutions? $150 would be
the most expensive case I've ever bought. Guess if worse comes to worse,
I'll have to build my own or get creative.
 
E

Eternally

Al Dykes said:
I don't know what "looks" like a VCR, but if you want a matx box
that's sort of sdhaped like one take a look at this AOPEN
case;

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-130-105&
catalog=7&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

Oooohhhh......That is nice. Maybe even perfect. Thx.
This box uses short PCI cards, which isn't a problem for me.

That may or may not be a problem. If I can find an adapter to go from VGA
Monitor Output, to instead S-Video or RCA Video, then it's not an issue at
all as I can get most everything embedded in the motherboard.

The only thing that was a bit surprising was the PSU is only 180W. I guess
maybe that's typical for MicroATX (I'm just starting the research)?

Thanks for the help!
 
A

Al Dykes

Oooohhhh......That is nice. Maybe even perfect. Thx.


That may or may not be a problem. If I can find an adapter to go from VGA
Monitor Output, to instead S-Video or RCA Video, then it's not an issue at
all as I can get most everything embedded in the motherboard.

The only thing that was a bit surprising was the PSU is only 180W. I guess
maybe that's typical for MicroATX (I'm just starting the research)?

It's running a Asus matx mobo/duron 1.4GB CPU, and a random old 2GB
disk drive just fine, but I wish I could enable temp monitering.
(It's running a stripped Linux). It has a tiny fan in the PSU, and
the OEM AMD fan on the CPU. Not a lot of air motion.

Think of it as a 100 watt lightbulb running in a small box. That's why
I suggested minimun cables, and a small disk drive.

I was able to take the AT bracket off of a couple of NICs that had
small circuit boards (screws in my case, if you have rivits I'd use a
dremel tool to grind them off.) Then made a tiny bracket out of
sheet aluminum and a nibbling tool to secure the card at the top of
the card. I can send you a ditial pic.
 
J

JAD

a friend of mine gutted a home theater tuner/amp and put the guts of a laptop inside. Custom cutting the bays outlets and rr
connectors. This particular amp had a 70mm cooling fan built in the case and the monitor/screen folded down and became part of the
top of the amp. It was pretty ingenious. It was a MP3 jukebox, had an adapted 3.5 " HD too. The front looked like the amp, with the
knobs and such, except for where the led tuner dial was the CD was mounted.
 

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