After spending many hours examining the ElementQ, we can safely say that we have to do with a compact and good looking basic case.

Listing the pros we can say that even amateur users will find the installation process very easy and in less than 30mins you can have a complete system up and running. On the other hand, the mini-ATX size limits the usage of this box and its relatively the low retail price would also help it become popular in a specific audience.

The overall build quality is good but not top notch. The included power supply is capable enough to power up the system and the available expansion slots can be used to further add something useful to your system. Finally there is lot of empty space left inside the box to make some proper arranging to the cabling and help device stay cool while operating.

What we didn't like about this product? Probably the high noise coming out of the power supply and despite the rubber feet of the case, it is audible and a little bit disturbing when you are watching a movie. A possible solution here would be to disconnect the fan but it would not be recommended since this would void the product's warranty.

For our tests we also installed a low rotation 120mm fan which was a more effective solution for cooling down the to the motherboard and the PSU. Again that is something you should have in mind before buying this product. We also find the available floppy/HDD bay below the CD-ROM not so useful since floppy disc drives are currently obsolete and the small dimensions of the bay do not allow you to install any HDD there instead.

All in all, the ElementQ will cover your basic needs when you need to build an HTPC system. The product retails for just $75 so it might be a good option after all. No matter if you choose an ION or Intel solution, make sure that your set up fits the case and the PSU can handle it first.