nMedia Black HTPC 1000B Desktop Media Center HTPC Case Review

Pros:
This HTPC looks like an audio-video receiver and has tons of rooms inside.It features a nice slide-in/out ODD/HDD cage design that made it really easy to install those parts and make more room for installing the mobo.There were no sharp edges to be found and all the metal was solid not flimsy.It came with a ton of screws (albeit none labelled) and lots of ties for cable management.Fit and finish was perfect with all the screw holes lining up, ODD lining up with ODD door, etc.

Cons:
The included fans (3 of them!) cannot be control by mobo.They are just molex connectors.The included documentation is horrible so here are some hints: 1) the ODD screws in on the bottom of the cage 2) you want to use the HDD cages with the rubber bushings that are turned 90-deg from the ODD) 3) the little screws are for the standoffs, the large ones for the HDDs and the hex head ones didn't fit anything.There were no M3 ODD screws included (but the mobo screws work!).Despite there being a windows for an LED/VFD there's nowhere to put an IR receiver internally so you have to have a USB dongle.I don't see why they don't just pre-install the LED that you can buy separately anyway.

Other Thoughts:
I've wanted this case ever since I saw the AMD Maui system. I grabbed this case along with an Antec EA380D power supply, Gigabyte 785G mobo and a Phenom II X3 705e for my HTPC build. When I took it out of the box I knew I'd made the right decision. It looks almost exactly like my Onkyo AVR. There was a ton of room inside for everything (not that I had much to put in). Routing wires was a piece of cake. The ODD/HDD works great once you figure out how to use it (see above). The front blue power LED is subdued and the HDD light is very subdued which is perfect. I love the build in card reader. I doubt I'll get the LCD add-in given the reviews.I am excited that there will be plenty of room for an ATI HD 5550 when they come out in 2010.

Overall I am really happy with how easy it was to build and how great it looks.You can pay a lot more and I don't think you'll get much better.This is it.

Specs:
nMediaPC 1000B uATX HTPC case
Antec Earthwatts EA380D PSU
G-Skill 2x2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
Gigabyte AMD3 785GX uATX mobo
AMD Phenom II X3 705e CPU
WD 320GB Caviar Blue HDD
Lite-On Blu-ray ROM ODD

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