How To Build An HTPC: Part 2 : Chassis nMediaPC 6000B

nMediaPC 6000B Review Summary

HTPC DIY Rating

3.8 out of 5

Appearance:		3.5/5

Quality:		3.5/5

Value:		4/5

For my MythTV Frontend/Backend HTPC I chose the nMedia PC 6000B chassis.  The 6000B is about the size of a mid tower case but is styled to look more like A/V equipment than a standard PC case. The design is simple and elegant looking

Build quality is what you would expect for a lower priced PC case but the 6000B feels sturdy enough and I didn't find any sharp edges while working inside the chassis. The case holds up to 6 internal hard drives, 1 optical drive and comes with 3 very quiet fans. 

Check Prices: Newegg

Why I Chose the nMediaPC 6000B

When it comes to PC cases I'm not all that picky and usually go with the cheapest case that meets my requirements.

For my HTPC build I wanted to have something that was designed to fit in with other media components so I opted for an HTPC case which tend to be a little pricier than normal PC cases.

At first I was interested in a thinner HTPC case but instead decided on a case that can accommodate many internal hard drives. This allows me to have a combination media PC and backup server in one box. The nMediaPC 6000B provides mounts for 6 internal hard drives. Four of the hard drive bays have rubber isolation mounts to help prevent drive vibration noise. These bays are also mounted near 120mm intake fan vents although only 1 fan is included with the case.

nMediaPC 6000B Video Review

Watch me showing off the nMediaPC 6000B chassis and getting it ready to accept the rest of my HTPC hardware. To help others build a HTPC I'm documenting the process in videos.  The video was taken right after unboxing the case.The clear protective cover on the front of the chassis hasn't been removed to prevent scratching while I build the server.

Optical Drive Button Issue

A separate optical drive door is used to cover the external 5.25" external drive bay to keep the front of the chassis looking consistent. This way you don't wind up having a mismatched DVD drive bezel in the middle of your slick black HTPC. This requires a button on the front of the case which when pressed presses the actual button on the DVD drive.

Many reviews indicated that there was a misalignment issue with how this button was setup which required the internal drive rack to be mounted askew and with only one screw. I was concerned with these negative reviews because an insecure drive rack could lead to noise when the drives vibrate but went ahead an bought the case anyway.

Either these reviewers mounted the optical drive incorrectly or nMediaPC has updated the design. The case I received did not have this defect. The optical drive bay allows for some wiggle room to allow you to align the drive in a way where the button works properly without having to install the drive rack incorrectly.

Misaligned Power Supply Screw Holes

One thing other reviewers mentioned that I did encounter, the mounting holes for the power supply did not line up with the holes on the power supply. You'll see what I mean in the next video. I could only get 3 screws in. After the video, I managed to get the fourth screw in put it took some work. I haven't noticed any vibrations or noise from the power supply as a result.

6000B Technical Specifications

Dimensions

Width: 17" Height: 6.6" (with feet) 6.3" (without feet) Depth: 16.4"

Material

Black acrylic front panel with aluminum and steel chassis. The chassis feels solid enough but if you're used to using more expensive desktop cases like those made by Zalman, you might think it feels a bit light. While building my system I didn't notice any sharp edges that are common in some very cheap cases.

Motherboard

Supports ATX and Micro ATX motherboards. This case to a mid-tower case in size and supports larger sized motherboards.

Power Supply

The 6000B doesn't include a power supply which makes this case a little more expensive than other HTPC cases that do include one. Most of the reviews for HTPC cases I read noted that the included power supply was inferior in some way. Either it was noisy or it didn't last long. Because I wanted a quiet, low power system I didn't mind having to buy a separate, better quality, 80+ Certified power supply.

Ventilation

The case  comes with 1 120mm intake fan mounted on the front, right side of the case which brings cool air over 2 of the hard drive bays. Two 80mm exhaust fans help expel the heated air.

Airflow through the chassis is adequate. The three fans and multiple vents help cool air come in and warm air go out of the case but there aren't any features that help direct air flow like you might find in a high performance desktop or rack server chassis. This isn't that much of an issue since I chose low power components that generate little heat since this computer will be on fairly regularly.

Drive Bays

The chassis has a removable drive rack which can hold up to 6 internal 3.5" hard drives plus 1 external 5.25" optical drive. Four of the drive bays feature rubber isolation mounts and are mounted near vents for better hard drive cooling.

Expansion Slots

The back of the cases features 7 full sized expansion slots which will accommodate all motherboards I've seen. These aren't quick release slots that are found on higher priced PC cases. They need to be bend and broken off the chassis before use.

Front I/O Ports

Hidden behind a door on the front of the chassis you'll find 2 USB 2.0 ports as well as 1 HD or AC97 Mic and 1 Headphone jacks.

Integrated Card Reader

Included with the case is an integrated card reader which is also accessible from the front panel. The card reader can accept a compact flash or microdrive (CF/MD), Secure Digital/MultiMediaCards (SD/MMC), Sony Memory Stikc (MS) and xD-Picture Card (XD) memory cards which allow you to easily transfer photos and videos to your HTPC.

I was hoping the CF card reader would allow me to run the system drive off a flash card but the front panel won't close with a card installed and I don't like the idea of leaving the front panel open.

LCD Display

The nMEDIAPC PRO-LCD-B Programmable LCD is an optional accessory that can be added to your case to display media information. It is compatible with Windows Media Center, MythTV and other media applications. It can display a variety of different messages but mostly, it just makes your HTPC look cooler. I haven't purchased this yet. Newegg sells it for around $35.

Other nMediaPC HTPC Chassis

The nMediaPC 6000B fit my needs perfectly but nMediaPC makes a wide array of pc cases designed for use as media centers. Below are some of the other under $100 HTPC chassis fron nMediaPC that I considered.

nMEDIAPC Black HTPC 1080P

Dimensions: 3.9" (H) x 17" (W) X 16.3" (D)
Drive Bays: 1 5.25" external, 3 3.5" internal
Motherboard: Micro ATX / Mini-ITX
Expansion Slots: 4
Front Panel: USB, HD Audio, Card Reader
LCD Mount: Yes
Power Supply: ATX power supply not included
Cooling: 2 80mm silent fans

Click for more Info and Price

nMEDIAPC Black HTPC 5000B HTPC Case

Dimensions: 5.4" (H) x 17" (W) X 16.3" (D)
Drive Bays: 1 5.25" external, 4 3.5" internal
Motherboard: Micro ATX / Mini-ITX
Expansion Slots: 4
Front Panel: USB, HD Audio, Card Reader
LCD Mount: Yes
Power Supply: ATX power supply not included
Cooling: 2 80mm silent case fanse, 1 90mm case fan

Click for more Info and Price

nMEDIAPC Black HTPC 1000B HTPC Case

Dimensions: 5.4" (H) x 17" (W) X 16.3" (D)
Drive Bays: 1 5.25" external, 4 3.5" internal
Motherboard: Micro ATX / Mini-ITX
Expansion Slots: 4
Front Panel: USB, HD Audio, Card Reader
LCD Mount: Yes
Power Supply: ATX power supply not included
Cooling: 2 60mm, 1 90mm fans

Click for more Info and Price

nMEDIAPC Black HTPC 7000B HTPC Case

Dimensions: 5.47" (H) x 17" (W) X 12.5" (D)
Drive Bays: 1 5.25" external, 3 3.5" internal
Motherboard: Micro ATX
Expansion Slots: 4
Front Panel: USB 2.0 & USB 3.0, HD Audio
LCD Mount: Yes
Power Supply: ATX power supply not included
Cooling: 2 80mm silent fans

Click for more Info and Price

nMEDIAPC Red Wood HTPC 8000 HTPC Case

Dimensions: 14.3" (H) x 19.3" (W) X 11" (D)
Drive Bays: 1 5.25" external, 3 3.5" internal
Motherboard: ATX / Micro ATX
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Panel: USB, HD Audio, Card Reader
LCD Mount: Yes
Power Supply: ATX power supply not included
Cooling: 1 140mm case fan

Click for more Info and Price

nMEDIAPC Black HTPC 2000B HTPC Case

Dimensions: 6.6" (H) x 17" (W) X 16.4" (D)
Drive Bays: 1 5.25" external, 6 3.5" internal
Motherboard: ATX, Micro ATX
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Panel: USB, HD Audio, Card Reader
LCD Mount: Yes
Power Supply: ATX power supply not included
Cooling: 2 80mm silent fans, 120mm fan

Click for more Info and Price