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Antec MicroFusion Remote 350
Home Theater Personal Computers (HTPCs) have been a steadily growing market for nearly a decade now. However, up until the past few years, if you wanted a quality HTPC case you either had to build it yourself, or modify an existing desktop case. While there is certainly some merit to building your own case, most major case manufacturers these days have their own line of cases for just this purpose. Today at Benchmark Reviews, we will look at one of the recent additions to the Antec Veris line-up: the Antec MicroFusion Remote 350 Mini HTPC Enclosure. After a thorough inspection of the exterior and interior features, we'll put it through its paces with a full range thermal performance benchmarks.
The Antec MicroFusion Remote 350 is labeled by Antec as a "Mini HTPC Enclosure" and for good reason with dimensions coming at 4.5 inches tall and 15.1"x16.1" width and depth. This makes for a fairly crowded interior, but could be an ideal case for those whose entertainment centers won't fit the larger HTPC cases. As you'll see throughout this review, Antec took great strides in making the small space as convenient as possible. We did, however, run into a few issues which I will point out along the way.
Minor snags aside, the Antec MicroFusion Remote 350 really a great case to work with. If there is one thing Antec knows, it's how to please the enthusiast crowd; this case is no exception. It comes with pretty much everything you'll need to complete your build, including a quality power supply, three case fans, external LCD, remote, and even cable ties. As you'll see the testing portion of this review, those case fans and the dual chamber design add up to impressive cooling performance as well. At $200, though, I would expect nothing less.
MicroFusion Remote 350 Features
The Antec MicroFusion Remote 350 is a compact and lightweight housing for your media center PC. Featuring an aluminum front bezel, an LCD display and a built-in IR receiver, the MicroFusion Remote 350 has the sleek and stylish look of a high-end home theater component, all in a compact and low profile case. If that weren't enough, the MicroFusion Remote 350 comes with a high-efficiency 80 PLUSpower supply, a petite remote control, and iMEDIAN HD by iMON software. The MicroFusion Remote 350 is the perfect addition to your home theater setup.
Included: Petite remote control and iMEDIAN HD by iMON software for media management and playback
Low-profile desktop height fits in any environment
Dual chamber structure for HDD and motherboard to separate heat and reduce noise
High-quality aluminum plate front bezel with LCD
2x80mm side fans to exhaust air from CPU & VGA card
IR receiver for compatibility with Windows MCE and VistaTM
Universal Input and Active PFC
80 PLUS Certified 350-Watt power supply delivers stable and reliable power while saving you money on your electric bill
Removable HDD tray with extra soft silicone grommets in a separate chamber for maximum quiet and cool operation
80mm intake fan to cool the HDD
Antec SKU:15737 Specifications
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2 Drive Bays
• Internal 1 x 3.5"
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4 expansion slots
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Cooling System:
• 1 x 80mm TriCoolTM 3-speed intake fan for HDD cage (standard)
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Adjustable air guide directs cool external air through CPU
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Motherboard: microATX Form Factor (9.6" x 9.6")
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Front-mounted ports provide convenient connections:
• Audio In/Out (HDA & AC' 97)
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Case Dimensions:
• 12cm (H) x 39cm (W) x 41cm (D)
About the company: Antec
I've used Antec case and power supplies for several years. In fact, my primary desktop rests safely inside an Antec P182 mid tower case. Not all of their products are an instant hit, but you can always expect high quality parts and product design that reflects a thorough understand of an end user's needs. Here is what Antec has to say about themselves:
"Antec, Inc. is the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators.
Antec's offering of enclosures includes a wide range of cases, such as its advanced Performance One Series, economical New Solution Series and VERIS family of media components designed for the home theater PC market. Antec's products also include front line power supplies, such as its premium Signature Series, powerful TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, one of the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are designed for the gaming demographic, like the premier gamer enclosure: the Nine Hundred. Antec also offers a line of computer accessories comprising many original products, including its patented LED fans and notebook cooling solutions.
Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China and Taiwan. The company's products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.
As part of its commitment to the gaming industry, Antec is a member of the non-profit organization PC Gaming Alliance, with Senior Vice President Scott Richards sitting on the board of directors."
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