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What Cases Work Well For Building Set-Top Boxes? 19

Posted by Cliff from the outdoing-tivo-and-replay-on-your-own dept.
magnitron asks: "I'm interested in building my own set-top box like TiVo et al, but adding DVD support and the ability to surf the Web. I have looked all over the place for a decent case that will hold the ATI Radeon All-in-Wonder (this is the heart of the system). The nice and small cases usually have a real small power supply and proprietary motherboard (No AGP). I really like this one, but need it gutless and want to upgrade the motherboard and power supply. Anybody know where I could get a small case that would fit a 250W power supply, a DVD drive and an ATI AGP card in it?"
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What Cases Work Well For Building Set-Top Boxes? More

What Cases Work Well For Building Set-Top Boxes?

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  • Improvise.. (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I couldn't find anything, but when I helped do an upgrade for my Dad's work, they had a Compaq something-or-other in a nice slim pizza-box chassis.

    I took it, sprayed it black and it looks very slick. Especially with the slot loading DVD drive showing out the front.

    Word of warning, I had problems with the colour red on the ATI all-in-wonder. Sometimes it flickered and other times it showed up as white.

    Hope this helps.

  • Finally, someone who wants to put a PC in their living room, without it actually looking like a PC in their living room. Someone with taste has posted to Slashdot at last.

    First, the Qbex [qbex.com] isn't what you want. From that shot, it looks like a standard black NLX formfactor box. Which means it's got room for a slim CD/DVD, room for a couple HDs, room for a slim floppy, onboard everything, and usually one or two PCI slots in the back. That's it. No upgradeable AGP, and because of the formfactor, it still looks like a PC. Bleagh.

    The Gateway Destination set-top unit is one of these, too.

    Unfortunately, that's as close as you can come to a decent PC in a decent case, with much upgradeability at all. Rackmount cases [gtweb.net] are 19" wide, which is wider than some shelves or TVs, and usually also onboard everything, but they don't look back as set-top boxes, and 1U units can have a single PCI slot, and 2U units can have 2, maybe three?

    Then there's "real" set-top boxes. Units like this [ecs.com.tw] offer a very non-threatening non-PC look, while still supporting a single PCI slot. Click on the "HTPC" link at the top of the page to see where Qbex probably gets their chassis from. :)

    There's also a nice iDVD [gctglobal.com] offering from GCT-Allwell with an integrated DVD player and PCI MPEG2 decoder... unfortunately it's not upgradeable at all, since the MPEG2 decoder takes up the only available PCI slot.

    So in otherwords, you're pretty much stuck. I'd just LOVE to be proven wrong on this, but I think the only real choice you have is to have a chassis custom-built for you. Then get it FCC approved, and sell it online, and have a tidy little side business. ;)

    --Vito
  • There are systems available called BookPCs that are perfectly suited for this. It has integrated video & sound on a Micro ATX board. It has RCA & S-Video outputs, 56K modem, 10/100 ethernet, 2 USB, & 1 parallel port.

    They're mostly sold as barebone, so you'll need a CPU (Celeron socket 370), RAM (PC66 or PC100 SDRAM), & harddisk (3.5" IDE).

    Make sure you get the one with DVD-ROM & wireless keyboard.

    You can get them new at Directtron [directron.com], or find them on eBay [ebay.com].
  • they don't have infrared or any pci slots. (nor AGP) -- they actually suck for anything video related. I have two. One is a great MP3 server, the other was a waste of a video experiment similar to yours. I have a new box I picked up at frys that I think will do the trick though.
    -Davidu
  • Hello:

    The link by magnitron redirects you to the homepage of qbex.com.
  • I just wanted it for playing DVDs & (like you) MP3s. It's also nice to look up the TV schedule, or sometimes imdb.com, without getting up from the couch. I know, I'm lazy.
  • Unfortunately, I run Win98 so it can play DVDs. The MP3s are stored on a Linux box and shared using Samba.
  • Assuming you are using hardware MPEG-2 decoding for DVD movie playback, you don't need a lot of power. I'm not sure quite how fast would be suitable, but I think any reasonably modern CPU would work just fine. If you are using a software based player, you will need some decent horsepower for good quality, but I'd strongly recommend using a decoder card (many graphics cards have this built in or you can buy a seperate decoder card - don't know about your ATI specifically).

    The other thing to consider is whether you might want to be able to play DivX movies on this box. The DivX/MP4 codec is very CPU intensive and requires a good processor to get acceptable quality playback (I'd guess around 300-500MHz depending on bitrate). Though it isn't too widespread at the moment, DivX is quite cool and you can find a pretty good selection of material on Gnutella, IRC, etc. (not that I would ever advocate infringing upon copyrights).

    Regards, RJS
  • I have one as an MP3 server, and I agree that it's perfect. It does have S-Video out, which is plenty good enuff to show some info on the current track or status... XMMS visualizations look perdy too!
  • Me an a couple other people are experimenting with the Acer NT-150 (details at www.phoenixgarage.net) - now, this box was never sold to consumers, but it has basically turned out to be a set-top box based around an AMD 586/133 - one of the guys (Chris Healy) has managed to set up a system to play MP3s and run Nintendo and Sega emulators, but I don't think it will have anywhere enough power to run DVDs, let alone VCD movies (which I am thinking about trying).

    But you might try an AOLTV box - it is supposedly more powerful (pentium something or another), and maybe hackable as well. Of course, getting one without a subscription might prove challenging...

    Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
  • how did you get the TV-out to work in linux? If I could get that, I would be set.
    -Davidu
  • Intel now sells laptops that can be sort-of custom built. They look really sweet, and you can put in your own processor/ram/hdd/etc., like a regular white box.
  • I built a box to hold a 20x20 AV matrix switch (purchased surplus from BGMicro.com two years ago) and a small linux pc to control it. I just used a standard ATX formfactor desktop case. Its about the same size as standard A/V components, and now that its painted black it blends in nicely. I replaced the standard 3/4sq label with an IR window and hid a LIRC ( http://www.lirc.org ) receiver module behind it for IR remote control. A backlit LCDProc display in one of the drive bays gives out status information. The only thing I would recommend is not connecting the LEDs on the front panel.. on most cases they are way to bright and end up looking tacky.
  • You say that the cases you have found have proprietary motherboards with no AGP. Could the Radeon All-In-Wonder PCI be any help? ATI's site doesn't mention it yet (although I've read comments from people who claim to have one), but these guys [provantage.com] are selling it.
  • Have you thought about modifying an old VCR Case?
  • I'm working on similar hacks (living room audio/video/gaming [mostly mame/emus] PC), here's a few bits from my experience so far. You are going to have a serious problem reconciling two of your design limitations: the ability to use standard video cards/motherboards and a "slim-line" style case. Assuming you want to be able to use an ATX board and AGP graphics card, you are have a minimum box size of approximately 12x9x5 inches.

    It would be very hard to stay with those dimensions since you'd also have to fit at least a power supply, hard drive, dvd drive, and a couple PCI cards in there as well (audio, network). For a reasonably fast processor (such as would be requisite for good DivX/MP4 encoding/decoding) and the AIW card, a 300W power supply will be necessary. Again, ATX format PS is the most flexible so you've got another big chunk (roughly 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 6 inches - see ATX Specs [teleport.com]). Also realize that you'll need a good heatsink for your CPU (I'd recommend a Duron or Thunderbird whose included heatsinks are 2 inches high). Using an NLX/Micro-ATX/FlexATX form factor (specs [teleport.com]) buys some size, but limits peripheral/mobo choices. Also check out this quick form factor guide [pcguide.com] and comparison chart [pcguide.com].

    I haven't settled on a choice yet, but you might look at the following (these cases are typically about 17 x 17 x 6 inches, which is smaller than the Qbex you mention above). Key components are Abit KT7A, Athlon ~1GHz, ATI Radeon AIW, Pioneer DV-105S, IBM 75GXP HD, NetGear FA312, and Soundblaster Platinum.

    • Lian-Li miniPC 31 [neoseeker.com] - very spiffy aluminum case (black with silver) ... very pricey as well.
    • SuperPower Landmark KS-699 [spower.com] - Small and decent looking, but will need to upgrade power supply and heat could be an issue.
    • Palo Alto ATCX Convertible [paloaltoproducts.com] - Supports custom faceplates, buy without PSU (only 235W).
    • CoolerMaster ATC 100 [coolermaster.com] is similar to the Lian-Li, but slightly larger.
    • Neoseeker has an interesting case listing [neoseeker.com], with collated reviews and rankings, but not a lot of independent data.
    • If you get inspired to do a custom job, see HardOCP's article on case modding [hardocp.com], which may be helpful.
    • Slashdot has run many past articles on cool cases and quiet PCs (search for them, too many to link).
    • Another tip: consider the Pioneer DV-105S [pioneerelectronics.com] or similar slot loading DVD drive, so you can orient horizontally.

    Personally, I think the thing to concentrate on is the loudness of the unit, rather than its physical size (and, to a lesser extent its stylishness). I have a Tivo (Phillips HDR312 with 1 30G Quantum) and find it unacceptably loud when watching movies unless placed in an enclosed cabinet (its considerably more quiet than a PC). My focus on cases is just for something that can fit inside my audio cabinet and which can flow enough air (preferably out the back) to keep the system reasonably cool. If I get something really good together, I'll probably just build myself a custom case once its all settled out (but there is lots more important things to do for integration software, remote contol, DivX support, mp3 management, etc. first IMO). Remember you are also going to have a tangle of cables to deal with if you want good integration to an A/V receiver or multiple components.

    Some other options to think about:

    • Mac Cube, which is already compact, stylish, and quiet. Unfortunately, it lacks S-Video, tuner, and S/PDIF (digital audio) connections, costs quite a bit of money, and has limited software choices
    • Laptop PC - compact and sometimes stylish, but may not have the horsepower for DivX and would probably require a lot more software to integrate functions, pricey (maybe buy used with dead LCD).
    • Sony VAIO Slimtop [sonystyle.com] or similar - small with many multimedia features, but you have to pay for LCD and don't have component flexibility.

    Good luck, and please email me if you find anything else good or build software around the AIW and/or remote controls.

    Regards, RJS

  • This is the best info I have got so far. Thanks for the scoop. Another idea I had since posting this is to actually put a "normal PC" (mini tower case in a separate room and use it with a monitor as a normal PC. This reduces the cost and restrictions on the PC. How does this help you might say ???? Well there is a unit that transmits the video signal wirelessly to a receiver unit. X10 DVD anywhere [x10.com] After all it is only the TV that displays the video or PC screen. In this way you can put all the noisy equipment in a room where the low frequency electronics hum does not really matter and leave the serious watching to the lazy chair room. Another problem I found is the resolution when using the TV monitor as a PC screen. It sucks! here I can use the PC on a PC monitor and watch TV in the coner if I want or watch DVD's in comfort at the TV. The only down side is that you have to put the DVD in and then walk over to the TV :-p Might be good for all tha Xmas padding!
  • I'm looking at doing something similar (one step at a time). I'm currently setting up the classic MP3 player to my home stereo. I'd like to be able to add DVD at some time, but I'm wondering what kind of power you would need to run DVD to the TV. I don't have the machine in front of me so I don't have exact specs, but here's roughly what it is. 300A Celeron (not overclocked - I know I should), 64MB, with an onboard 8mb ATI w/S-Video out. I don't know the exact model of video. I don't have a DVD drive, so I can't see how well this would perform. So what does everyone think? If I added a DVD drive, could I watch a movie?
  • I suspect output quality would suffer significantly, though I don't see any specs for the X10 unit quickly browsing their website. It also seems to only support 2 channel audio (not surround sound), but I'm guessing based on limited information. You can have fairly long runs of S-Video, RCA, or TosLink cables without significantly impacting quality, so I think that would be a better solution (but cable routing could be an issue).

    A typical TV indeed lacks the ability to scan high enough for reasonable computer use, though higher end units and/or good video processors can provide excellent results (expect to pay big bucks). I'd like to stick an LCD screen to the side with an RF keyboard/pointing device, but the price is still kind of high for that.

    Regards, RJS

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