Maximum PC: One of the reasons traditional PCs will be around for a long while to come is because they're capable of doing so many different things, and doing them well. Just take a look at CyberPowerPC's new Zeus HTPC line, a "sleek new series of Windows-based home theater PCs that can double as your primary desktop." According to CyberPowerPC, you can game, record television, watch Blu-rays, and more all from a thin micro-ATX chassis that fits neatly into your AV rack.
The Mini ITX form factor is the smallest possible one that can be used to build a PC.
There are a plethora of these cases on the market, some of which are curiously pretty big. There are also exceptionally small variants of these cases which will be discussed in depth here.
TechNutz: I have written a few guides outlining components to build both HTPCs and Gaming PCs. One gap I have found is a solution that joins the two in the living room. This is a project where an off the shelf gaming HTPC could cost you a lot of money and the choices available are almost non-existent. Building your own gaming HTPC is a great DIY project that can save you a lot of money. This gaming HTPC build will surpass the latest and greatest consoles in graphics performance while also functioning as an excellent media center. The best method for playing games on the big screen that I have used is Steam’s “Big Picture” mode coupled with a wireless Xbox 360 controller. As always this build can be tweaked to your individual tastes and I will offer up some options to make the basic build more complete. So without further ado, let’s get to the features and considerations of building a gaming HTPC.
TechNutz: Are you looking for an affordable diy HTPC solution to play your media on your big screen from a NAS or external hard drive? Already have an HTPC on your main television, but want one in your bedroom? If you answered yes to either of the two questions then this build is for you. The parts guide I will share is intended to help you build an OpenELEC HTPC that runs XBMC without a hitch. The components do not have to be really expensive or powerful to give you a great HTPC experience. I assembled the hardware, installed, and configured the OS for my OpenELEC HTPC build in about an hour and a half. So read on and let’s discuss the how’s and why’s (or vice versa) for building an OpenELEC based HTPC.
that's a thin PC!