well im loving it enough to get some cash together & build a HTPC.

found out ctrl+f1 brings up a terminal window & the menu key (on the right side of your keyboard next to the windows key)
brings up the menu - im a bit of a linuxnoob   -  managed to get ubuntu-tweaks installed.

Everything on my Compaq mini700 was supported straight out of the box. Wifi, Video, Bluetooth, etc.
Wanted to try installing XBMC & some hacks to access Hulu but didnt get around to it.

Potentially this will give me a frontend thats easy to navigate & launch different programs for my media.

Im even tempted to sell the popcorn hour to part fund my HTPC project.

Depending on the power you want, I'd recommend the Zotac HD-22.

Better performance than the Atom, and Nvidia Ion based.

Quote from: soopahfly on March 14, 2011, 14:47:48 PM
Depending on the power you want, I'd recommend the Zotac HD-22.

Better performance than the Atom, and Nvidia Ion based.

motherboard wise I'll prob go for AMD Asus deluxe http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=9BmKhMwWCwqyl1lz&templete=2
Finding a case is proving difficult. I'd love to design my own if it was cost effective.
Pity nobody has developed a stacking system like you used to get with hifi's.... Computer in one stack with room for an optical drive & some external ports.
Then another stack for a bunch of hard drives.. another stack with a display, some media control buttons & maybe more outputs, card reader, etc.

Pretty much what rack mount is, with the exception of a "ports" rack, but expect you could get a rack with some 3 1/2 in bays and mount the ports in there? connected to a USB hub?

In terms of my preference for a MC case it would be the Antec Fusion, although isn't SFF, only MATX.. Which has pretty much everything you are asking for, and works with the MCE remote, including power on and off, will take 3 HDs I believe... and the HDs I either have connected to USB or via NAS

It's quiet as hell and I'm running an AMD x2, but has 2x120mm fans running at a slow speed

rack mounts are to big though. Pity they wasnt done 1/2 size.

Im 1/2 tempted to build a custom case, but not sure what the costs will into.
http://www.schaeffer-ag.de/ make custom panels. just need to hard work re measurements,etc.
was thinking of going with

for 2.5" storage (6x drives in a 5" bay)



Thats already pushing me up to 3x bays in height + another for an optical drive & some media ports, a bit higher than I want - at least with a stack, I can seperate on the shelves of my Plasma stand.

Ok if you are looking at "seperates" have you thought just about building a media PC, then re-cycling an older PC just to run as NAS, then you don't even need to put it in sight?

Also would you really want to run 2.5" drives? 3.5 would give you a lot more bang for the buck? Looking at some caddies online you appear to be able to fit 4 drives in 3 5 1/4 bays..

If you really want HD space then just get one of these

I totally agree about bang for buck. Atm all my media is spread across 9 hard drives.
I need to consolidate into a few 2TBs. Just cant find some nice caddies - Ideally I would want at least 4.
Any other drives, I can do what I do now & use a USB/Esata Dock

Ive got my eye on a case from chenbro

looks ideal except they dont come with a card reader - thats an optional extra - but impossible to find!
may just get one of them... though I really want something that can stack.

This will stack

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4U-SERVER-CASE-RACKMOUNT-19-iNCH-/200426005190?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopComponents_RL&hash=item2eaa5222c6

Will have a look at that case looks pretty cool

Also If you did want to maximise available bays... from chenbro 5 drives in 3 x 5 1/4 bays

rackmount case is to big. I still need to fit in my 3 consoles, sky box & dreambox.
Think I'll end up with the chenbro case. If I adjust the shelves, It should fit

Will you run the chenbro as a media centre and storage then, when I mentioned the rack I meant as having a separate NAS, not sitting under your TV

rackmount case is to big. I still need to fit in my 3 consoles, sky box & dreambox.
Think I'll end up with the chenbro case. If I adjust the shelves, It should fit


or maybe I stick to plan A & have a home media server under my stairs serving the house.