Best HTPC Case Reviews – Take Your Home Theater to the Next Level!

Last Updated on March 3, 2020 by Jake

If you want to build a home theater computer, then you need a home theater PC case, commonly referred to as a HTPC case. Although HTPC cases come in different shapes and sizes, they are designed to fit into your home theater system without looking or feeling out of place. The best HTPC case will offer storage and optical drives, as well as multiple ports that allow you to play videos and stream content to your TV and sound system with no fuss.

 

With an HTPC case, you want functionality, performance, and style. A good case will allow you to easily connect your HTPC to media components, thus allowing you to take your multimedia experience to the next level.

In a Rush?  Here’s Our Top Picks:

Best HTPC Case Reviews

 

Thermaltake Core V21

 

 

This is a marvelous box HTPC case and the latest of the famous Core V series. Unlike other boxy cases, the Thermaltake Core V21 is eye-catching. The same eye-catching design coupled with the large preinstalled 200 mm fan allows for outstanding cooling performance.

 

The Thermaltake also supports all kinds of cooling systems including the DIY/AIO liquid cooling system. There is a transparent side panel that will gloriously display any RGB lighting on the motherboard or graphics card you install. It also allows externally modular upgrades permitting the creation of dual systems.

 

Dimension– 16.7 x 12.6 x 13.2 inches

Form Factor/Motherboard Support– Mini ITX, Micro ATX

Ports– USB 3.0 x2 / Audio Ports (supports HD Audio)

Drive Bays– 3.5’’ or 2.5” (Hidden) / 2.5’’ x3

Cooling System– 200 x 200 x 30 mm fan (800 RPM, 13 dBA)

Max CPU Cooler Height– 185 mm

PSU Limit– 200 mm (With Bottom Fan)

GPU Clearance– 350 mm

 

Pros

• With a price of under $65, this HTPC case is the most affordable on our list.
• For a boxy case, the Thermaltake Core V21 looks awesome. The transparent side panel allows for a pretty display when you install a motherboard with RGB lighting
• It comes with a powerful yet quiet 200 mm fan.
• The interior is quite roomy.

Cons

• It lacks sound absorbing material.

 

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SilverStone Technology Mini-ITX Slim Small Form Factor Computer Case (ML08B)

 

 

For us, this is the best HTPC case currently on the market. With a slim profile, the SilverStone Mini-ITX Slim Small Form Factor PC Case has an optical drive bay and offers superior airflow, which ensures performance is always high. The sleek slim black chassis gives it an elegant and performance-oriented appearance.

 

It also has a GPU clearance of 13 inches; as such, it can fit all sort of graphics cards. Its tool-less drive cage feature makes assembly easy and unsophisticated as you can swap out drives without using screwdrivers.

 

As you may have already figured out, this case is compatible with Mini ITX motherboards. It is also SFX-L PSU compatible. If you aspire to build a small form factor desktop for your home theater, this is an excellent choice. You can orient it horizontally or vertically, depending on your home theater set up. In all, it is very attractive, sleek and small.

 

Dimension– 14.96″ (W) x 3.43″ (H) x 14.57″ (D)

Form Factor/Motherboard Support– Mini ITX

Ports– USB 3.0 x2 / Audio Front Ports

Drive Bays– 2.5” & slim tray loading optical drive x2

Cooling System– Passive vents

PSU Limit– SFX-L (130 mm)

GPU Clearance– 350 mm

 

Pros

• The SilverStone ML08B is gorgeous, sleek and slim.
• Very portable.
• With a price under $85, it is affordable.
• It has a separate chamber for the graphics card.
• It has a carry handle.

Cons

• The chassis is plastic.
• The SFX PSU needed is quite expensive when compared to other PSU on the market.

 

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Cooler Master HAF XB EVO

 

 

The versatile Cooler Master HAF XB EVO is one of the more popular HTPC cases on the market, supporting ATX, MicroATX and Mini-ITX form factors. It is also ideal for overclocking your CPU since it supports tower CPU coolers up to 180 mm tall. You can install as many as 4 drives (SSD/HDD) using removable HDD cages.

 

The motherboard tray can be easily removed, swapped or install. It also has seven expansion slots. Another excellent feature is the rigid carry handles on the side, which allows you to easily carry and move the case. The design of the Cooler Master HAF XB EVO allows for high airflow. This rapidly and efficiently cools the CPU, the graphics card and other hardware components.

 

Dimension– 17.4 x 13 x 16.7 inches

Form Factor/Motherboard Support– Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX

Ports– USB 3.0 x2 / Audio Ports (supports HD Audio)

Drive Bays– 4 HDDs / SSDs

Cooling System– 120 mm XtrFlo fan (1200 RPM, 17 dBA) x2

Max CPU Cooler Height– 180 mm

Expansion Slots- 7

GPU Clearance– 350 mm

 

Pros

• The Cooler Master HAF XB EVO supports all the popular form factors.
• It has several expansion slots.
• Roomy and spacious, which make it easy to install components.
• It is designed to enhance airflow. This makes it easy to overclock the CPU and increase performance.
• The motherboard tray is removable.

Cons

• Some don’t fancy the boxy nature of this case.

 

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SilverStone Technology HTPC Grandia SST-GD09B

 

 

The SilverStone Technology HTPC Grandia is one of the most smartly designed HTPC cases on the market. Just like the other excellent HTPC cases reviewed, the SilverStone GD09B is one of the more economical ones with a retail price of just over $100. The SilverStone GD09B is well designed and efficient.

 

It is likely the smallest ATX case on the market, which means that you can fit it into any space. Although it is tiny, it has an impressive 358 mm depth as well as room for multiple drives and fans. It also supports the Kensington lock.

 

Aesthetically, it is one of the best-looking HTPC cases you can find. It also feels sturdy and well-built. Since it can support an ATX motherboard and not just a small form factor motherboard, it allows you to expand your system with more cards and functionality.

 

Dimension– 17.32 x 6.69 x 14.09 inches

Form Factor/Motherboard Support– ATX, Micro-ATX

Ports– USB 3.0 x2 / Audio Ports

Drive Bays– 5.25″ x1, 2.5″/3.5″ x1, 3.5″ x1, 2.5″ x1

Expansion Slot- 7+1

Cooling System– 120 mm fan x2, 80 mm x2

PSU Limit– 220 mm

GPU Clearance– 210 mm

 

Pros

• The SilverStone GD09B has drive bays that can support different drive sizes without the need for an adapter.
• It has an impressive 358 mm depth.
• Its positive air pressure design allows for exceptional cooling and prevents dust from entering the system.
• Supports ATX motherboards.
• The fans are very quiet.

Cons

• The wire management system is not the best.
• The interior feels a little cramped.

 

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Fractal Design Case FD-CA-NODE-202-BK

 

 

The Node 202 is a striking console-style HTPC case. Like the SilverStone ML08B, the Fractal Design Case has separate chambers for the graphics card and the motherboard.

 

This prevents heat build-up and allows for better cooling. It also has air filters, which allows for dust free interior. The case can be set up vertically or horizontally, depending on the space available. It supports the mini-ITX motherboard and SFX PSU.

 

One of the main selling points of this HTPC case is how quiet it is. This is managed by the smart thermal interior design. This case has it all. It is sleek, simple and gets the job done.

 

Dimension– 5.7 x 18.2 x 13 inches

Form Factor/Motherboard Support– Mini-ITX

Ports– USB 3.0 x2 / Audio Ports

Drive Bays– 2.5 inch SSD x2

Cooling System– 120 mm fan slot x2

PSU Limit– 130 mm (SFX PSU)

GPU Clearance– 310 mm

 

Pros

• The Node 202 performs quietly.
• 3 strategically placed dust filters for a dust free interior.
• It has the appearance of a console.
• It provides a smart thermal interior design. This allows for efficient cooling at a lower noise level.

Cons

• Cable management is not the best.

 

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What to Look for When Choosing the Best HTPC Case

 

When it comes to choosing a chassis for your home theater PC, the objectives are substantially different from those you encounter when picking a chassis for a gaming PC. An HTPC usually focuses more on movies and streaming content than graphic-intense games. Similarly, HTPC cases are supposed to be sleek, small, and take up little space. At the same time, it should have a bay for your optical drives as well as SSD/HDD bays.

 

Case Size / Drive Bays

 

Having a slim and sleek HTPC case is really important for those with tight space. However, if you want to beef up your case with dual GPUs, for example, that will take up a lot of space. If you want to play GPU intensive games on your home theatre computer, check the GPU limitation of the case and ensure that the GPU you want can fit into the case. Most people won’t need a large case as that is the priority of gaming computers.

 

The HTPC should have optical drive bays so as to allow you to play Blu-rays and DVD. This is an absolute necessity.

 

The PSU also influences the case size you decide to choose. Most HTPC cases have built-in PSU but if you want to fit in a different PSU ensure, the PSU you plan on using fits into the space available as PSU size limitation varies from case to case.

 

Sound Control

 

A noisy PC can really mess with your home theater experience. Usually larger cases with larger fans are quieter but that is not always the case. The design and materials that go into the construction of the case also influence how quiet the HTPC will be. Many HTPC cases such as the SilverStone GD09B and the Node 202 may be slim and small but they are extremely quiet. If you are concerned about noise, make sure to choose a case that provides less vibration.

 

Form Factor

 

The form factor goes a long way in determining the functionality of the HTPC you will build. Form factors such as the mini-ITX and the micro-ATX offer less functionality as they offer fewer expansion slots.

 

 

Best HTPC Case – Wrap Up

 

Having a the best HTPC case possible is a must for everyone who wishes to build a state-of-the-art home theater. Since the first place to start your build is the case, getting the right case will ensure your foundation is solid.

 

Here, we have reviewed the best cases you can find. Although each case has its strength, you can be confident in your decision knowing you are on your way to building the best HTPC case you can, regardless of what you choose.

 

Last update on 2022-06-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API