nMedia System HTPC 180SA & 280BA Media Center Enclosures

Introduction

The term HTPC may not be familiar to most readers or even be common place in computer and technology discussions, yet it is something which most everyone wants without even knowing it. HTPC, or Home Theater Personal Computer, is the professional name for personal computers which have but one very specific duty: enrich the home theater environment. Gamers, movie buffs, music lovers, and couch potatoes all stand to enjoy themselves a little more through the refined enclosures designed to help your PC blend in and be part of the team resting near the entertainment center.

nMedia System HTPC-180SA

If you already play video games, watch movies, listen to music, or record television on your personal computer, then your computer is just one step away from looking the way it acts. This is where the HTPC enclosure market has taken keen note and met the needs of the home theater and computer enthusiast with a variety of stylish computer cases. Now, with many of the most current enclosures being build with IR remote compatibility and Media Center components in mind, it makes perfect sense to build it yourself.

nMedia System HTPC-280SA

There is a company out there that is thinking of you, and they have built a line of enclosures that will have you replacing your DVD player, DVR, and stereo, all for a stylish HTPC. This company is nMedia System. Like most emerging companies that have made a success in the enthusiast market, nMedia System originate from overseas. With offices in Hong Kong and GunagZhou, China, as well as a stateside presence in Fremont, California, nMedia System offers a wealth of research and development for their enthusiast line of products.

In this review, I will reveal the new nMedia System HTPC 180SA and the slightly larger HTPC 280BA enclosures for Home Theater Personal Computers. You can expect that the quality and craftsmanship of these cases will receive thorough testing, and the optional features such as the IR remote integration and cooling fan noise control will demand close inspection. In addition, I have paired these two cases with similar HTPC components, and put them all into action using the new Windows Vista (RC1) Ultimate Edition’s Media Center functionality.