HTPCentric

Thermaltake is getting ready to release two new HTPC cases.  They already have some nice products on the market and these two look to up the ante a bit.  Thermaltake is treating these cases like something pretty special and by looking, I can understand why.

The collection is called LUXA2, which actually has it’s own website, where you’ll find details on several of the offerings.  They start with the LM100 Mini and go all the way up to the LM300 Pro Touch, featuring a 7” touchscreen.

While we’ve seen these features in other cases, Thermaltake just seems to get it.  From site images, I find the cases elegant as well as functional as they look big enough to hold any components you’re looking to use.  The LM100 Mini is of course smaller and I have to assume designed to be used as an extender type of box.

While saving money is always an issue, I will say that these are the types of boxes I’d love to use to build a new HTPC.  I couldn’t find any pricing info, but one look says one of these cases will probably run you a few hundred dollars.

It’s one of the most basic parts of a PC.  The thing that holds it all together.  Without it a PC is just a stack of parts on a motherboard.  We’re talking about the case.  In my home, my main MCE machine sits in a standard ATX case.  My goal was to build something that would be hidden away.  Now that I’m about to move things around and the box will be in my living room, I’m starting to reconsider how I want it to look.  As such, I’ve started searching around for an HTPC case.  these are a bit different than your standard PC case in that they look like they belong in a home theater setup.

I certainly can’t list every case on the market, but I want to touch on a few of the options that are available to you if you’re looking to put together your first custom project.  I’m going to look at this from my prospective since I’m looking for one as well.  I only have a few requirements:

• Needs to accept ATX motherboards-Different people like different boards and I don’t want to be forced into a choice on down the road.  If it can handle ATX than a small board should fit too.
• Lots of space-If I want to expand later, I don’t want to have to squeeze everything in.  We’re talking HTPC here so room for lots of hard drives is a must as well as multiple add-on cards.  i.e.:  tuners, video cards, expansion slots, etc.
• Good ventilation-These parts need to breathe and I don’t want to run 20 fans to keep everything cool.  This box is going in the living room so it needs to be quiet.

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