I guess I’m too picky. After spending countless online hours trying to locate an attractive case I have found only a few that satisfy my taste. Don’t get me wrong, there are hundreds of HTPC cases to choose from, ranging from the cheap and downright ugly to those that incorporate nifty touch screens and a lot of other features that I really don’t need. My requirements are a smallish low profile case with a nice clean look with good build quality. Here are some cases that caught my eye:
Omaura TF8
The Omaura TF8 has a nice clean simply look but further research shows quality problems with this case and distribution problems. Dell was selling Omaura cases for a short time but apparently they no longer handle them, presumably because of all the problems users have reported. I couldn’t find the case available from any other US distributors, but I think I’ll pass anyway based on what I’ve read so far. Too bad…
Here’s an interesting case made by A-Tech Fabrication. It’s a passively cooled Mini ITX case made from CNC machined aluminum and features a proprietary CPU/GPU cooling solution which directs heat to the finned case. I love the clean minimalistic look and high build quality, but high quality comes with a high price tag. Nice case, but expensive…
OrigenAE S10V
I keep gravitating towards the OrigenAE S10V slimline case. I think it’s the best looking Micro ATX case in this group and is highly regarded among enthusiasts for it’s exceptional build quality. While I don’t need a VFD, the display on this case is larger than normal and should actually be readable from a distance. I also understand that the display is compatible with Linux. Things that concern me are cooling and the high price – around $390.00 US
Reviews:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Origen_ae/S10V/
MCubed HFX-519
The MCubed HFX-519 is another passively cooled case with a similar minimalistic look as the A-Tech Fab case. Though cheaper than the A-Tech case, it’s still expensive at around $340.00 US and I was unable to locate a US distributor for the case. More info here.
Thermaltake VC7001SNS
Here’s another interesting slimline case that caught my eye made by Thermaltake. The Mozart Sx VC7001SNS features an attractive front with VFD display and numerous control buttons. The VC7000SNS is also available and excludes the buttons, which I probably wouldn’t use anyway. See Thermaltake’s site for more details on these cases. Newegg is currently selling the case for about $200.00 US, unfortunately reviews concerning this case are not encouraging. Users are reporting problems getting the 2nd generation VFDs to work under Linux and there are some problems using PCI tuner cards in this case. While I don’t plan on using a tuner card, I like to leave my options open. I’ll probably stay away from this case, but I do like the look and the price isn’t bad compared to some of the others here.
Lian Li PC-C37B
I recently came across photos of this case by Lian Li. I am not familiar with Lian Li but the case gets fairly decent reviews at newegg. This case currently retails for around $155 and looks decent, but I’m not getting the warm fuzzies over it. I haven’t had a chance to pull up any reviews on the case yet. Perhaps I could be persuaded by some glorifying reviews.
Silverstone LC19B
The Silverstone LC19B is yet another slimline Micro ATX case that looks stylish and simplistic. It retails for around $200.00 US. I haven’t had a chance to research this case but intend on finding out more about it. It might be a strong contender.
Kilokat7's MythTV Notes 
Nice read this, as I’m in the market for something similar. I think you’ll find that the Silverstone LC19 has an inferior (external) PSU, only managing 120W. In addition, the case is so low-profile, that you’ll have problems finding a cooler that fits. (All depending on you hardware of choice of course…) They recommend Mobile components because of the two things mentioned above.
The Lian Li case is fantastic, but I’d personally prefer the PC-C36B over the PC-C37B, as it has a more minimalistic front, and since it already comes with (what is mentioned as a really quiet) 300W PSU. Lian Li’s build quality is REALLY good, and the finish of the case in general is about as good as it gets. All at a (fairly) low price.
The MCubed HFX-519 is VERY nice looking, and just looked up on the net and it’s now discontinued. I like the idea of having passive cooled PC cases – though it’s the weight issue that would have everyone thinking otherwise (via the heatsinks).