My HTPC
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:25 pm
The right side of the case (underneath the motherboard). The power cables were run underneath whenever possible. I cut a notch (yellow arrows) so I could replace the right panel without crushing the wires. Everything else was zip-tied into place.
My HTPC/entertainment center. Fortron PSU, Panaflo L1As, and Zalman Fan-Mates and Fan Bracket. Samsung Spinpoint SV1604N HD, but no optical drives. CPU is an AMD 1.1 Ghz Duron. Video Card is a lowly fanless Geforce2 MX400, and the capture card/TV tuner is a Happauge WinTV 401. Power switch has been relocated to a PCI slot cover in the back. All other PCI slot covers have been removed to aid in ventilation. I tried to use Ralf Hutter's patented "folded cable" technique.
If I need more ventilation, I'll cut a hole in the bottom of the computer case and through the bottom of the entertainment center.
The entire hard drive cage is suspended underneath the 5.25" drive bays with zip-ties. As I plan to add more hard drives, I think it's easier than suspending each drive individually. Without suspending the drives, the noise of seeks reverberated throughout the entire entertainment center! Now, seeks are nearly inaudible, and definitely less obtrusive. Definitely suspend your hard drives! And yes, I have a zip-tie fetish.
For Ralf.
Case cover is replaced. The HTPC is concealed.
A look from above the HTPC/entertainment center. Sorry about the dust, fingerprints, and cables. I'll tidy them up soon.
My HTPC in action. Options: TV, Music, Games, Image Gallery, Videos, and Weather. The components are from top to bottom: TV, Cable Box, DVD player (silver), VCR, and Receiver. The left of the VCR is an Evation IRMAN IR receiver, used to control the HTPC. An ethernet cable runs across the floor on the bottom left side of the picture. You can't see the HTPC from the front.
Costs? $29 for the case (Chenbro Jasper), $49 for the entertainment center (@Wal-Mart, Ameriwood 20256), $2 for enamel spray paint. Most of the other stuff was recycled from older systems. Very compact, very cheap, and very quiet. I really need to clean up the fingerprints and dust, though.