Is Your DVR Beautiful on the Outside?
Your HTPC is going to be the star of your home theater. So we don’t want some beige, dorky desktop case sitting out for all to see. Let’s talk about making sure your HTPC’s outer shell is as beautiful as what’s inside.
Buy A Case
If you are creating an HTPC from scratch, you might want to look into buying a special HTPC case. These are beautiful and fit perfectly with any other home theater gear you have. Big name makers include: Silverstone, NZXT, and Zalman. Be sure to hit eBay for some deals on these.
The problem with these cases is their small size, which can reduce upgrade room and cause overheating if you pack too much in. Keep this in mind if you go with the “buy” route.
Build A Case
For those who are competent with their hands, it is possible to build a beautiful PC case. Look at this writeup on a wooden case. And I’m in love with this creation. Here’s a wild clear case with detailed instructions.
Adapt a Case
The other option is to take the plain case you already have and make something cool out of it. Paint is an obvious choice for upgrading a case, but don’t leave out wallpaper or even fabric! For my first HTPC, I used corkboard contact paper for the top and sides of the box, then painted the rest black using acrylic paint. If you look closely, it’s obviously a homemade job, but it looks great with my other living room furniture. This option can be as costly or expensive as you like. Of course, you need a bit of an artistic bug. If you really have some time, check out this tutorial on getting a car-like finish on your PC case. Beautiful!
Naturally, every HTPC is different and you will know what works best in your situation. Will your case blend into the background or be the star of your living room? My mix of black paint and corkboard contact paper blend in perfectly with my living room and cost me about $10.
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