HTPC 4-Way Roundup

by Joshua Buss on November 22, 2005 12:00 AM EST
Lian Li PC-800B (cont’d)

Turning the opened case to get a better idea of what the back looks like, we can see the main cooling components of the PC-800. Dual 60mm fans exhaust warm air from the CPU area, and all the intake air should come easily from the perforations on the front and top mounted 80mm fan.


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Turning it back around and examining the front closer, we find that the main removable components of the PC-800B are the combined 5¼” and 3½” drive cage and PSU mounting plate.


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Getting right on with examining this case would be easiest by simply starting the installation process anyway, so here we have a couple pictures of the process of setting up the drive cage.


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The stealthy optical drive cover is designed to work with more types of drives than 3R’s solution, but it still ends up failing to work with our MSI DVD combo drive. After removing the stealthy bezel, the drive is slid into position, but won’t go far enough after the bezel has been re-attached to line up with the screw mounts.


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Switching to a different optical drive fixes the problem fine this time. The Sony burner fits behind the stealthy cover without incident.


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After placing the drive cage into place, the assembled motherboard can be put into place. Choosing to put the power supply first might have worked too, but with longer units, it’s definitely easier with the PC-800 to put the motherboard in first.


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Lian Li PC-800B Lian Li PC-800B (cont’d)
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  • BigandSlimey - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    These guys http://www.atechfabrication.com/products/HTPC_case...">http://www.atechfabrication.com/products/HTPC_case... have been designing their cases in conjunction with the HTPC guru's at avsforum. I'd suggest anyone planning to build a HTPC to go to http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=...">http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=... and do some reading, there's a lot to consider.

    I'm also surprised at your omission of the Ahanix cases http://www.ahanix.com/ahanix_product_list.asp?cid=...">http://www.ahanix.com/ahanix_product_list.asp?cid=... which IMO look a lot better than any of the options on your article.

    See also: http://www.origenae.com/products_htpc.htm">http://www.origenae.com/products_htpc.htm
    http://www.silverstonetek.com/product-case.htm">http://www.silverstonetek.com/product-case.htm
  • ceefka - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    Those Origenae look very nice. I meant the X15 in my earlier comment. This one will cost around 500 bucks. Expensive, but very pretty.
  • lukecon - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    All well and good on the review love AnandTech's review but I think you guys forgot something - The TV tuner in your system - I mean it is a Home Theater PC.
  • Tamale - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    The tuner shouldn't really pose any additional problems with a particular case, and the 6600GT we use gets as hot or even hotter than most video cards with built-in tuners.

    Perhaps the cooling in an HTPC would be changed dramatically though if another expansion card is also in the system.. hmm.. I'll have to think about that one. Thanks for the comment.
  • BigLan - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    Actually, tuners can get pretty toasty, maybe not as hot as a video card, but they don't have active cooling on them. An MCE-500 dual tuner stuck in the last slot with no airflow could be a problem.

    If you are adding a soundcard as well, it can also impede airflow which exacerbates the problem.
  • tkr2099 - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    Very nice review! I'm planning on building a HTPC this holiday season, so this review could not have come at a better time. Thank you, Anandtech, for another extremely well written and helpful review!
  • tayhimself - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    IMO Silverstone especially and less so Ahanix are specialized HTPC vendors. Either you didnt know this, didnt bother to do research, or didnt get a free sample from them. None of which is a terribly good thing.
    AFAIK no 3R systems cases have been available in North America since about 3 years ago when newegg carried a few. Theyre a Korean manufacturer of quality cases that are quite popular in Australia (I'm in Canada FYI).

    Also, why the POS power supply along with the lousy thermaltake heatsink with a hot P4 system? Not too many people are building HTPCs with P4s, and they tend to use better components than Mad Dog and ThermalTake (no offense to the *bling* obsessed).

    The measurements dont jive with the subjective measurements as a 9 dB difference between the loudest and quietest is almost twice as loud.

    A poor review, that doesnt belong on AT. I could probably write a better review and I've never done one before.
  • MPE - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    I could probably write a better review and I've never done one before.

    Cop out - not to mention inconsequential, immature, ad hominem, and probably false.
  • tayhimself - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    ad hominem? Go to http://dictionary.com">dictionary.com
  • ceefka - Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - link

    Isn't that just perfect? If you can get these temperature numbers with P4, you know that a 90nm s939 is going to do just fine.

    There are so many cases to chose from. Even with built in LCD screens (not cheap btw). Maybe AT can inlcude HTPC's in their entry/mid-range/high-end reviews and builds. On the other hand, this could be a totally different category by itself. You'd also have the opportunity to chose platform.

    This brings forth the next question: How long before Apple makes a Home-Pod, HTPC based on Mac ingrediënts. They should be able to make/develop one by now.

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