[marcozd]

Hello all,

I am not sure what the general consensus is on this, but I was wondering if it is worth getting a case that has an LCD panel on the front.

I am slowly putting together an HTPC build, and I am looking to make a very quiet (if not completely silent) machine using a Zalman case, as I heard they are very quite and proivide good ventilation for passively cooled components. I want to use XBMC LIVE so I am also looking at minimal "fiddle factor" i.e. I don't want to spend 6 months of my life figuring out how to make the LCD work.

Here are the two models I am looking at:

No LCD ~$150.00 (CAD)
Zalman HD-501

With LCD ~ $240.00 (CAD)
Zalman HD-503

The price difference is about 90 dollars (CAD).

What are people's thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance.

[poofyhairguy]

I want to use XBMC LIVE so I am also looking at minimal "fiddle factor" i.e. I don't want to spend 6 months of my life figuring out how to make the LCD work.

Then avoid it. Every solution I have seen involving Linux also involves a good bit of command-line hacking. Its not like installing XBMC where you can just add the "LCD Screen" repo and upgrade....

[retro11]

Same LCD as mine except i'm on an antec case. The thing I like best about the LCD is the progress bar which shows how far through / how much you have left to watch. Saves me having to keep pausing and unpausing to find out.

Other than that I could easily live without it and if I was using Linux I probably would be.

Although, the graphic equaliser is kinda pretty.

[marcozd]

Then avoid it. Every solution I have seen involving Linux also involves a good bit of command-line hacking. Its not like installing XBMC where you can just add the "LCD Screen" repo and upgrade....

Thanks for your thoughts. I am leaning this way - maybe in future the magical "LCD Screen" repo will be around...

[marcozd]

Same LCD as mine except i'm on an antec case. The thing I like best about the LCD is the progress bar which shows how far through / how much you have left to watch. Saves me having to keep pausing and unpausing to find out.

Other than that I could easily live without it and if I was using Linux I probably would be.

Although, the graphic equaliser is kinda pretty.

Thanks! I can do without an equalizer I think, although the progress bar does sound useful. But I am OK using the pausing method.

[thethirdnut]

I have the HD-501 for my XBMC1 rig. It's a very nice, classy looking case.