I just got my hands on a build that's in an Antec MicroFusion 350, looks to be in excellent condition!

It's still sitting in the back of my car along with 4 other systems (just picked them up yesterday) and haven't had time to bring them all in yet.

I love the look of the case! Much less crude and much more "component stereo". I added some stock photos below.

There's a build in it at the moment, no idea what hardware, but I'll be digging through it over the next couple days. It's intended as an HTPC case, so I have a feeling that's whats in it.

Either way, I really like it and can't wait to either revamp whats installed already or build my own something in it! Never knew this case existed until yesterday.

Here is another example where a company really tried to make it work (page needs translation).
https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/353/353220/
This one is from 2005 (using of all possible choices a pentium D) and looks like a serious piece of hifi equipment.

Aui wrote on 2024-12-11, 13:11:

Here is another example where a company really tried to make it work (page needs translation).
https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/353/353220/
This one is from 2005 (using of all possible choices a pentium D) and looks like a serious piece of hifi equipment.

Hi! Looks great! That device class might be a socalled Media Center PC or Home Theater Personal Computer according to Google.

Jo22 wrote on 2024-12-11, 13:41:

Aui wrote on 2024-12-11, 13:11:

Here is another example where a company really tried to make it work (page needs translation).
https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/353/353220/
This one is from 2005 (using of all possible choices a pentium D) and looks like a serious piece of hifi equipment.

Hi! Looks great! That device class might be a socalled Media Center PC or Home Theater Personal Computer according to Google.

I agree, looks amazing! 😀

Seems it was sold as the "Onkyo HDC-7" Viiv media PC.

"Pentium D820 at 2.8GHz, 1GB RAM, 400GB drive, DVD burner and all the inputs and outputs you'd expect, including DVI, component, VGA, dual Firewire and dual USB."

Retail: $2500 in 2006

Aui wrote on 2024-12-11, 13:11:

Here is another example where a company really tried to make it work (page needs translation).
https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/353/353220/
This one is from 2005 (using of all possible choices a pentium D) and looks like a serious piece of hifi equipment.

There is something similar for sale on ebay right now: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356356797252?mkcid … emis&media=COPY

Finally ! A way to play Minesweeper in style ...

SilverStone has some hifi cases. Had one years ago. Not as easy to build than a normal case. But it fits in with a surround amplifier. They have some compatible with ATX too.

Jo22 wrote on 2024-06-27, 12:30:

As technology progressed, this went so far that modern models got lead weights installed, so the modern equipment wouldn't feel "cheap".

I'm working at a 4-play ISP and around 2015 we launched a new type of TV STB that was cheaper and much smaller than the previous one for better performance. At first we had a negative feedback from upper management as this small STB was too light to be a "serious" product. A bunch of lead was then indeed included in each STB to make it feel like a more premium product.

Just saw an old flyer for a 486 DX2 66!
And Guess what - its an AIWA !

Is it real? It would pass for an AI generated "creation", I think.
On other hand, the Japanese had such a weird taste for aesthethics..

Yes - it is real. I assume AIWA audio quality will be quite good (wonder if those speakers are properly shielded). It seems to come with a genuine SP Pro 2.0 card. It also includes a TV set - so I am wondering about the screen size / resolution. In addition it avertises easy connection to your game console (with all sorts of RGB in, TV in etc.). Probably also a Karaoke machine - look at that Mic! It also came with Win 3.1 but Im not sure how the PC side and the TV side are connected (or if they talk to each other at all).

About those aesethethics - well they tried ... a little. Overall - a fascinating little machine I think.

Aui wrote on 2025-06-20, 07:22:

About those aesethethics - well they tried ... a little. Overall - a fascinating little machine I think.

Hi, it wasn't meant in a bad way. It's just.. it doesn't look like a 486 system.
By the looks, it would rather fit into late 90s. Pentium MMX, Pentium II/III maybe.
By our western standards, I mean. Japan was like 10 (?) years ahead sometimes.. 😅

It seems there have been later (Pentium / K6-2 modells). But the one in the add is a 486 (probably 1995). You can tell from the sticker (only "intel inside") and the little green label at the bottom left. There was a lot of innovation in all directions - but standard IBM compatible machines were not so common, because NEC still ruled uring that time. It could be that the AIWA is based on an standard Fujitsu FMV - Deskpower - but not sure.