Moneual Labs MonCaso 312 HTPC case

I like it too but I can't find any reseller either. I guess it is still too new.

How high is a "low profile" PCI-card? Will any TV-cards fit?



Here are some links:
http://moneual.cafe24.com/english/sub02/sub6.htm
http://www.moneual.co.kr/us/sub03/sub1_5_01.php

I spoke with Moneual in late December. They had said that the availability of the 312 would be second week of Feb and a cost of approx. $199.

This is all I know for now.

Michael.

There are Low profile versions/adapters for some cards.

AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe ATSC/NTSC/QAM TV Tuner Card
has a LP bracket in the kit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815100015

Got this information a few days ago:

Got a reply from Moneual in Korea today. It seems that MonCaso 312 is already on sale and in stock in Europe (from Germany)

http://www.pc-cooling.de/Cases/Moneu...12+Silver.html

Good news... Just spoke with a very helpful guy at FrozenCPU.com, and he kindly called MonCaso while I was on hold to inquire about the 312. Turns out they will have it on their site and ready to order in 10 days.

I think it looks great too, but I wish there was a way to install full height expansion cards. Doesn't look like that is the case...

I too, am seriously interested in this case! I spoke to Moneual Labs USA today and was told to expect it to be available on March 16. Apparantly the do have them in stock in the warehouse, but due to a 'remote control issue' they are having to wait till the parts arrive to ship them out fixed.

Yet another irMon screw up perhaps? Heck, I already have an MCE usb reciever and remote - not even planning on using the one in this case - shame we have to wait another few weeks.

-PGPfan

Odd, the website clearly shows there is no display. The pictures don't show a remote, and the specs are vague, but don't have any reference to an IR reciever that I can see. Sounds like they were making up an excuse?

True there is no display, but this link HERE describes a MCE remote as included in the chassis kit.

To the immediate right of the power button there looks to be a lens for an ir reciever as well. Still sucks that they chose iMon for their remote - they are horrible.

-PGPfan

I found a reseller: frozencpu.com
They sell them for $219.99
However they currently show "Out of Stock" on both the black and silver case. I'm really wanting this case. Can't wait.

If they'd only put the PSU on the left rear and had 2 80mm fans on the right hand panel, that would have been a superb solution.

As it stands, there's no adequate airflow to get the hot air out the case.

CPU's are getting cooler but IGP's are not, so making heat exhaust from the case is paramount.

The design of the ill fated Omaura TF8 (which I have) is superb and keeps my kit nice and cool & quiet! I firmly believe that all HTPC cases should have the same airflow pattern (although the std arrangement on the Omaura was to intake at the right side insead of exhaust, which is a bit strange).

However, these cases do look superb, and technical cooling aside, I'm almost tempted!!

D

I agree that fans should be included, however there are 3 40mm fan slots in the rear which you can purchase. Even though they aren't in an optimal position, they should suffice. The main draw for me is the slim form factor coupled with the standard size power supply. Full size HTPC cases are too deep for any real home AV rack.

The problem with the 40mm fans is that nobody makes a truly silent one - regardless of their claims. There just isn't enough fan area to move air unless you spin it fast.

I don't think it will be that big of a problem if you choose your components properly, however.

-PGPfan

any thoughts on if this will accommodate a deep optical drive like the LG BD/HD DVD combo?

From the looks of the layout, it will require careful selection of the CPU heatsink/fan to keep the back of the drive and the top of the fan out of each other's way

Something like this leaves lots of room over the top of the CPU,

http://www.silverstonetek.com/produc...T01-E&area=usa

but that one is too tall

Well, just for the heck of it I went and ordered one (in silver) from an online store in Germany. They have it in stock so I should have it by mid next week.

I plan to get an nVidia 9300/9400 based motherboard and use my existing Q6600 processor, with my LG BD/HD DVD combo drive and Samsung 2.5" hard drive.

When the Asus Xonar HDAV low profile version comes out I will get one so I can get bitstreaming of HD audio.

Not sure what power supply I will get, I think the case needs a PS with a single 120mm fan that matches the vent on the case bottom.

This is a complete gamble but I really like the look of the case. Now for the fun of finding components to fit.

Excellent!!

You won't need to match a 120mm fanned PSU as an 'old' style PSU with an 80mm fan will be adequate as well, if maybe not as quiet.

Regarding your choice of MB, I'm using the Gigabyte 9400 board and it's very good and I highly recommend it. NB temps are maybe higher than my last G35 board, but they're nothing to be concerned about.

I can potentially see a problem getting an aftermarket heatsink to fit due to the location of the CD bay and the lack of area around the CPU, but I'd give the stock (not low profile) Intel cooler a go first.

Keep us posted via this thread please, or PM me if you start a new thread as I'm very intersted in this.

cheers

D.

Sure. I'll start out by using this thread and I will also start posting some build pictures after the case has arrived.

I went ahead and ordered some components yesterday:

• Gigabyte GA-E7AUM-DS2H motherboard
• OCZ Vertex Series SATAII 2.5" SSD 30GB
• Gigabyte ODIN GT 550W power supply (overkill but I want one with modular cables and these have gotten great reviews)
• Nexus LOW-7000, Socket 775 CPU Cooler
• 2 x Adda 40mm fans (in case they turn out to be needed)

The Nexus cooler is also a bit of a gamble as I don't have the case yet, but I do not have a stock cooler and apart from being low profile it can also be oriented away from obstructions. If it doesn't work out, there are lots of alternatives. After I have the case I will take some detailed measurements - e.g. available vertical space for cooler - and post here.

I did some research and found that Moneual offers a Lite-On DH-4B1S Blu-ray drive as an option when they sell a complete system. That drive is 178 mm deep and the LG combo drive is 185 mm deep so I take that as an indication that the LG drive will fit.

Both drives will most certainly reach over at least a couple of the memory slots on a typical MicroATX motherboard, so I assume the optical drive sits high enough in the case that that won't be a problem.

I think it's going to be a tight fit...

No, low profile cards only in this one I guess.

But there is a model called MonCaso 812 that also looks really good, has full height card slots and also meets my limit of 150 mm height.
Unfortunately I've heard they have some production delays on this model.

Agree, that's another nice looking one. From the picture, I'd guess 150mm would be without the feet...

My 312 case was shipped by the German dealer (pc-cooling.de) today so I should receive it this week. They only had 1 in stock and I have seen it available nowhere else - all the Swedish retailers say April - so I guess I got lucky. Just hope it doesn't have early-production gremlins.

I have a height limit of 144 mm in my AV rack so I have to contend with low profile expansion slots. I'm planning to mount my FloppyDTV-T tuner in one of the internal hard drive slots, that should work fine.

Yup, the 812 looks good.
Does it have a VFD display?

No VFD on the 812. Just an IR receiver.

Okay, the shipping company told me the case will be delivered to me tomorrow. Can't wait.

It appears pc-cooling only had a very small number of them, possibly only this one, remaining in stock. They are a very reputable retailer so I'm not expecting any problems - well, if the box ends up containing a Moncaso 972 case I guess I wouldn't complain...

Anyway, my other components are all here waiting so I should have it up and running soon. Unfortunately I'm going skiing with the family until Wednesday next week so I won't be able to post any build update or pictures until the end of next week.

Anyone know if there is any limiting length of Bluray (or dvd) drive on these new cases, like the 6.7" (170mm) length restriction my 972 has?

As I understand it the issue with the 972 is that the optical drive sits low in the chassis and therefore the cables/connections at the back of the drive hit the edge of the motherboard. A friend of mine solved this problem by adding an extra motherboard standoff, that way raising the edge of the motherboard giving the optical drive connections some more space. That meant bending the board a bit, but so far it appears to have worked fine.

The 312 is different, the optical drive sits at the top of the case so it will reach over the memory slots on a typical mATX board. There is no way the optical drive will come into conflict with the CPU cooler unless the cooler is so large that it covers the memory slots.

But it may well be that memory modules higher than normal will be a problem. There is not likely to be much available vertical space between the drive and the memory slots.

I'm also waiting on this case. I've got all m components ready to go. As soon as I have it I will post some pics of the install and finished product.
CPU: Intel Q8200s w/ Zalman 8000T cooler
Mobo: Asus P5N7A-VM
Mem: 4GB DDR2-800
PSU: Antec NeoHE 430
ODD: Lite on Blu-ray drive
HDD: Hitachi 320GB 7200RPM notebook drive for OS
2 (or 3 if room) Seagate 750GB DB35.3 drives for content

Good news: My case has arrived and the box is at my house. Bad news: I'm in the airport waiting for a plane and won't be back until Sunday. Grrrr.