Things have certainly changed in the past three years in regards to HTPC systems and home theater systems in general. LCD and plasma television prices have dropped significantly, allowing more consumers to integrate these high-end displays into their setups. Larger hard drive capacities (and again, lower prices) are making it more cost efficient to add a great deal of storage space to any computer. The prices on midrange hardware are very reasonable these days, so perhaps now may be a better time than any to consider adding a HTPC to your home theater system.
Of course, once you have picked out all of the hardware for your new HTPC, you will still need a case. Computer cases come in all shapes and sizes, many of which are designed specifically for HTPC use. These style cases are generally designed to fit seamlessly along with your other home theater components (stereo receiver, DVD player, etc.). Today we will be taking a look at one such HTPC case, the Moneual Labs MonCaso 932P HTPC Enclosure.
Moneual Labs is often considered as one of the top HTPC manufacturers in the industry. This is the first Moneual Labs case that we have reviewed here at OCIA.net, so needless to say, I am very curious to see if this this title holds true. Below is a list of specifications on the MonCaso 932P, borrowed from Moneual Labs' website.
Several things instantly stand out on the specs list, most notably the fact that you can install a standard ATX system in this case. Many HTPC cases restrict you to Micro-ATX only systems, which really limits the type of hardware that you can use. A 7" LCD touchscreen is something you certainly don't see on most HTPC cases. The chassis appears to have good cooling also, with four pre-installed 80mm fans.
Continue ahead as we open up the box and get our first look at the MonCaso 932P...
