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HTPC (Home Theater PC) & Small Form Factor Chassis

Notes on Home Theater PCs and specialized compact chassis used for media centers, industrial controllers, or home servers.

A compact, highly customizable aluminum chassis often used for industrial control or specialized HTPC builds.

Standard Configuration (标配)​

  1. X7 All-Aluminum Chassis: Usually comes with a default panel (no serial ports).
  2. PCI Adapter Bracket: For mounting low-profile expansion cards.
  3. Screw Kit: Necessary mounting hardware.
  4. Independent Packaging: For shipping safety.

Optional Accessories (可选配件)​

  • Custom Panels: Choices of no serial ports, 5 serial ports, or 9 serial ports (ideal for industrial COM port density).
  • Cooling: Supports 4010 small fans for active airflow.
  • Mounting: Supports vertical desktop stands or wall-mount brackets.
  • Power Solution: Often requires a DC-ATX (PicoPSU) plug-in power module (65W - 120W+).
  • PCI Integration: PCI riser cables (ribbon cables) for horizontal GPU or card mounting.

Typical HTPC Build Components​

  • Motherboard: Thin-ITX or Mini-ITX form factors.
  • CPU: Low TDP processors (Intel T-series or AMD GE-series) to minimize heat in small spaces.
  • GPU: Integrated graphics (iGPU) are usually sufficient for 4K video playback.
  • Storage: M.2 NVMe SSDs to save physical space and reduce cable clutter.
  • Software:
    • Kodi / CoreELEC: Dedicated media center interfaces.
    • Plex / Emby / Jellyfin: Media server systems.

Key Considerations​

  • Acoustics: HTPCs should be silent; prioritize fanless designs or high-quality silent fans.
  • Form Factor: Ensure the chassis height fits in a standard TV cabinet shelf.
  • Thermal Management: Aluminum cases act as large heatsinks, which is beneficial for passive cooling.