home media case ideas

[corey.jstew]

hi guys i need some ideas i want to give my mother a media center pc i have the server in my room and i need to create a client computer downstairs in the sitting room i need to find the right case though:

it need to be:

small- fit a itx motherboard

not look very pc-ish (not a really word)-i.e very clean at the front only a 5.25 bay, as my mother will get scared if it looks like a computer.

and lastly most important- cheap as possible as i am only a student

i have look online i just thought i would ask here to see if aanyone can help

[Chipset]

I very recently built a couple of routers using the Chieftec BT-02B and it's quite nice. Comes with a 180w psu which is probably a load of crap for anything more strenuous than like playing video but chieftec is a reputable enough brand that they probably didn't put the very cheapest one they could find. As long as you stay well within that 180w you will probably be fine.

The case has a single 80mm fan slot in the front and two 60mm in the back, not terrific but I fitted one 80mm in mine and it's probably fine. The entire thing is cleanly styled so you should be fine on the looks requirement. Also it's not very expensive as far as mini-itx cases are concerned, and considering it comes with the psu that's some added value.

I might as well say, I put an Asus C8HM70-I in it, it's a mobo with an integrated celeron 847 which is basically a dual core atom with integrated gpu AFAIK. After some reading about it I doubt the gpu is up to par for HD video though so I don't think I can recommend it for your purposes.

[corey.jstew]

thanks i, showed it to my mother you should have seen the look it hasd to match the living room she said haha all well i have desided to go for a Powercool HTPC-200 as it look good and my mother aproves lol thanks for your help though

and i aredy have the mobo its an old fm1 a8 itx board pulled from a old clients computer that didnt want it anymore, that was the reason i was doing this project

many thanks though