new HTPC case from Moneual

[QueBert]

I'm in the process of building a HTPC for a friend, so it has me on the kick of wanting to build one. I looked at hundreds of HTPC cases and most of them were pretty blah to me. I found this Moneual one, it's not out yet, but when I called them on the phone they said sometime in March. He didn't want to wait, but I think I'll be getting it for my HTPC build I'm going to start on. One of the cleanest and most sexy cases I've seen. Of course for a regular PC case it would blow, but for HTPC OHH WEE!

site is Flash so I can't link directly to it but it's under the chassis section
linky Will be $220 I guess without a PSU (they don't say) but so damn sexy!

 

[nerp]

The MonCaso 312 is really really nice.

 

[QueBert]

it's very simple too, you would think a case like this would have been put out long ago. There are a lot of HTPC cases and this one to me looks the closest to an actual A/V component. They pretty much nailed it, no low res LCD screen, no exposed USB ports. not freakishly tall. I only need room for 1 optical drive maybe I'll buy it to use my regular PC in. I know it's not a big case, what would any water experts on here say is the W.C. potential of this?

I apologize for the double post I just noticed that lol Safari must be acting up on me thanks for pointing out it's the 312 nerp, people probably aren't psychic enough to figure out what case I was talking about - double DOH!

question, what would be the best low profile cooler for this? Looking at the inside pics I don't think water would really work for cooling.

 

[ther00kie16]

hmm... thought you were talking about the 811 and 812 that's in flash on the korean site. those look sweet.

 

[thilanliyan]

You need low profile cards for this right?

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: thilan29
You need low profile cards for this right?

according to the specs it's 93mm tall, definitely gonna need low profile cards and a low profile heatsink. 3.66 inches is pretty damn shallow almost too much so. Not sure how much space the MB + stand offs take up, but the Artic Cooler 64 low profile is 59mm that might even be a pretty tight fit. Sh1t now I have to look into low profile video cards too if I wanna get this lol.

This is probably not a great case to use for an every day PC, low profile card, 40mm fans (loud?) but it looks so damn sweet.

ther00kie16, I like the features (sounds cool) not a big fan of how it looks though.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: QueBert
I'm in the process of building a HTPC for a friend, so it has me on the kick of wanting to build one.
I looked at hundreds of HTPC cases and most of them were pretty blah to me.

I didn't realize there were over 200 HTPC cases being produced...
Got links? :laugh:

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: QueBert
I'm in the process of building a HTPC for a friend, so it has me on the kick of wanting to build one.
I looked at hundreds of HTPC cases and most of them were pretty blah to me.

I didn't realize there were over 200 HTPC cases being produced...
Got links? :laugh:

ok, over 100 (I exaggerated a bit maybe) seemed like hundreds, hell Newegg alone has over 100 I think and they don't even have them all. Then I was seeing all the ones that are only avilable in Canada, Europe & Asia. Oh and the ones that are no longer made. Maybe 200 total I dunno. It was a damn lot, and most of them sucked.

 

[natethegreat]

Have you seen the Silverstone GD02B

 

[QueBert]

Yeah, I saw the Silverstone one, it's not bad but it just doesn't do it for me. Too thick looking for me, it might be able to hold a regular video card, but the Monueal one is about 1/3 the height. And the Silverstone can only hold 2 HDs. Not sure exactly what it is about it, but it doesn't totally strike me as HTPC when I look at it. Where to me I wouldn't ever think the Monueal is a computer case. I think the Nmediapc 6000b Newegg has is about the 2nd best looking HTPC case - until you hit the expensive ones. that GMC one is crazy sick but $450 is just too much lol.

 

[Stoneburner]

Originally posted by: natethegreat
Have you seen the Silverstone GD02B

You think this could hold a dual slot GPU?

 

[zerogear]

I love my LC29M *Silverstone)

 

[QueBert]

Case was supposed to be available today, I called Moneual and they said not yet This is the first case I'm actually on a waiting list to buy, never mind I don't have an MATX MB/PSU and low profile video card to actually go in it yet lol.

 

[Zap]

Nice that it uses a normal ATX PSU.

Besides the height, I still think most HTPC cases are too deep. I've got a design in my mind of how to lay out one that would probably be less than a foot deep, normal component width and just high enough to hold full-height cards, making the chassis about the size of a typical receiver.

Anyone want to invest in a new line of chassis?

 

[speedfreak]

good looking case, simple and stylist. i'd pick that anytime when i build a new htpc.

 

[zerogear]

It seems like a pain to have to find low profile for everything I'll keep my LC20M

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: zerogear
It seems like a pain to have to find low profile for everything I'll keep my LC20M

not really a pain, but your selection is pretty limited. I'm not going to be able to get a high end video card in here, but I have a 8600GT right now so even if the best low profile video card is about half as good as the best. It will still be a huge jump for me. Not sure how well low profile heatsinks works and I'm guessing the 40mm fans won't be silent lol. It's the price you pay sometmes. Thia case would be easier to work with inside if it was 6 inches tall like a lot of the HTPC cases, but then it would lose it's whole appeal.

Maybe I'll wait a few months to get it, or at least start buying components for it, I'm sure a slightly better low profile video card will have hit the market by then. I'd like a 4850 level card in it.

Now I need to go find reviews of 40mm fans - but I won't find too many hah.