MaximumPC 2006 10

COOLER MASTER CM MEDIA 250

The CM Media takes a slightly different tack

than other HTPC cases. It sports extraordi-

narily squat proportions, and only works with

MicroATX mobos. But its inability to accept

a massive hardware payload doesn’t neces-

sarily hurt it as an HTPC enclosure, because

the parts requirements are more modest

than with a Dream Machine type of confi g.

Once you plop down the mobo, you can

add two optical drives, two hard drives, and

a PSU of any size. We even had enough

room to use a single-slot GeForce 7800

GTX videocard—something that wasn’t

possible with some of the other HTPC

cases. The only rub is that this case’s low

profi le makes the interior super-cramped,

especially around the drives and the moth-

erboard, which almost overlap.

The case is blessedly quiet, even despite

the case’s teeny, tiny exhaust fans (small

fans are usually the loudest). Though, with

just these two fans, and no exhaust fan,

there’s almost no airfl ow inside the case.

Like most MicroATX cases, the CM Media

has only four expansion slots.

The front of the case has an empty

window in the lower left-hand corner that’s

designed to hold the optional VFD, dubbed

the Multimedia Value Package. Here’s the

problem: In order to install the display you

have to dismantle the entire front bezel,

which requires removing 12 small screws

and disconnecting all the I/O ports. It’s a

stupid design; we would have much pre-

ferred to just pop off the bezel.

For simple confi gs, this case is

acceptable. For anything else, and espe-

cially if you want a front-mounted display,

it’s not recommended.

The Cooler Master CM Media is sur-

prisingly slim and MicroATX-only.

ANTEC FUSION

HTPC cases are often designed to blend

in with other home-theater gear, which

Antec’s Fusion illustrates perfectly. We

love the look of the case, and the round

volume knob really drives home the

HTPC aesthetic. Looks aside, the Fusion

is a very well-thought-out case that’s

quiet, and surprisingly cool.

It too is a MicroATX-only enclosure,

and it’s designed with distinct chambers

for your various parts. The hard drives,

power supply, and optical drive are

separated by interior walls, which have

holes through which to route the cables.

The main section holds the mobo, and is

cooled by not one but two Antec 12cm Tri-cool fans—our favorite

12cm fan because it’s very cool and quiet. On the quiet tip, the hard

drive cage (which holds two drives) uses thick silicone grommets

to absorb drive noise, and they work

wonderfully.

Not surprisingly, this case uses the

exact same front-panel display as the

other cases in this roundup. There’s one

big difference though—with this case

the display is already installed, which

is a godsend since this was a major

nuisance with the other cases here. The

round knob on the case’s right side con-

trols system volume.

Now for the gripes: Once you drop

the mobo into the case, there are only a

few millimeters of clearance between it

and the perimeter, so plugging in front

panel connections and IDE ports is very

diffi cult. It’s also unfortunate that the Fusion only works with

Micro ATX, which severely limits your motherboard options.

We love the Antec Fusion’s volume knob and

stock vacuum fluorescent display.

SILVERSTONE LC

Silverstone offers 25 different HTPC

cases, so we asked for the very best. We

received the LC18, and it’s typical top-

shelf Silverstone quality—refi ned, elegant,

and very well-made. It’s extremely pricey,

however, which will scare people away.

Like all Silverstone cases, it’s made

from brushed aluminum and looks

absolutely decadent. Once you remove

the top cover, you’ll see an expansive

interior that’s plenty roomy for a HTPC

chassis. The case accepts an ATX mobo,

two optical drives, and any-size PSU. It’ll

basically hold as much hardware as you

can throw at it. It’ll even hold up to five

hard drives, although there are no includ-

ed fans to cool them. There are mounts

below the cage for two 8cm fans.

Installation is pretty straightforward,

but we experienced one small problem.

You have to remove the hard drive cage

from the interior, install drives in it, and

then put the cage into the case. This is a

deep case, and the screws holding down

the hard drive cage are all the way at the

bottom, so to reach them you need an

extra-long screwdriver (which we didn’t

have handy). The optical cage is easy

to remove, and holds two drives, plus a

3.5-inch device.

The front of the case houses a large,

7-inch touch-sensitive LCD similar to

the Ahanix. It’s particularly handy when

you’re having difficulty connecting your

PC to your TV.

Despite a few flaws, the LC18 is a

righteous chassis—if you can stomach

the price.

Like the Ahanix case, Silverstone’s LC

chassis features a 7-inch touch screen.

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4 MAXIMUMPC OCTOBER 2006

7

COOLER MASTER CM MEDIA

$100 ($70 for VFD),

http://www.coolermaster.com

8

ANTEC FUSION

$220, http://www.antec.com

9

SILVERSTONE LC

$600, http://www.silverstonetek.com