Thoughts On Computer Cases?

[VideoTechMan]

Hey, I was wondering what are some good computer cases...lately ive been seeing cases at some stores that have the clear sides with the neon lighting...i thought that was really cool. Ive looked at some cases made by Cheiftek and they looked pretty good with all the storage bays. What are ya'll thoughts on a good computer case and what do you know about the liquid-cooled cases...are they really good and do they work? Thanks guys.

VTM

[Faustus]

I have one of the Blue cheiftec cases, but not with a window, and I love it. Of course the good ones are no longer steel and so are alot lighter but its a very nice case design. Personally I keep my PC on the floor so I don't really see the need for a fancy window and lights, but to each their own...

[rhegedus]

I quite fancy one of these:

[holistic]

....clear sides with the neon lighting...i thought that was really cool....

That's right up there with Honda Civics and spoiler kits ---- all show.

What you want in a case is

1: ventilation
2: access
3: expandability


Power supply can of course be purchased separately

Then again ............ each to their own

][

[pbhalerao]

holistic is dot on.

What you want in a case is

1: ventilation
2: access
3: expandability

For comprehensive reports on cases and cabinates, search within Tom's Hardware Guide

Regards,

[defense]

Here's a pic of the case I have. It's a Kingwin and it's smooth as hell.

All aluminum, seven total fans which you never even hear....and a super smooth look. The chieftech cases are nice too, but I don't think they compare to the kingwin cases...and they have that real odd design I personally don't like. My case actually looks nicer then the pics....I just never took a picture of it...this pic was taken from the KingWin site.

Nice case rheghedus....those look smooth too.

8)

[Will Hay]

I have a black Chieftec Scorpio and man is it easy to work with.
The HDD's are in removable caddy's, the cd/dvd drives are on rails, there's loads of fan space, loads of space to work in and they look great.
Best hardware investment I made, I can't see when I'll ever change it.
Will

[Faustus]

Look here:
Long URL to newegg.com
Pick the color you like with a side window, I also suggest getting one without a powersupply, then getting your own Powersupply such as a Enermax or an Antec True power, because alot of bad hardware comes down to bad power. After that you add your own light kit which is cheap and your done.

The case is petty sweet and easy to work with with LOTS of fannage.

[mrtristan]

I have a Lian-Li PC60. It's all aluminumininum and comes with four fans. One on the top of the case, one rear exhaust, and two intake. It's also comes with thumbscrews, so you can take the case apart easily, without a screw driver handy. The panels come on and off really easily, which is a bonus when you're troubleshooting or adding a new component.

I would buy one again.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention one of the best features of the case. The motherboard mounting plate thingamabob comes on a removable chassy. You can unscrew it, take it out and install the motherboard on the plate, then shove it back in. Makes setup a little easier.

[Craig Tucker]

Well Flaystus has a blue cheiftec, Will has a black one, I will complete the set, I have a silver Chieftec Scorpio. These are great cases and very resonably priced. Lots of room for hard drives, and fans and plenty of expansion bays. Here is a pic of my case. It does have a hinged cover which closed over the drive bays, but it is removed in this picture.



I bought mine here

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Chieftec_Cases_128.html

[Faustus]

My moms in in a black one, my friends server is in another blue one, and one of his normal PC is in a purple one. Personally I've been eyeing that yellow one to put my 2nd PC in.

Or the Green one, then I could continue calling that PC by the network name HULK.

[rallynavvie]

I've got an older Lian Li that's not quite the PC60. I think it may have been a PC70? Anyway, I love the case as it cools better than any case I've ever had, and that includes those among my friends who are overclocking enthusiasts. I've got a Digital Doc5 monitoring temps in my case and even though airflow is inhibited by all the cables I've got in my case (6 HDDs, 6 full PCI slots, 8 temp sensors, 8 fan wires running to the Doc5, and 3 optical drives) It still keeps the CPUs pretty cool. The only thing I'd suggest is getting a 120mm fan and cut a place for it on the side to draw cooler air in right over the CPUs. I may end up doing this since the addition of my two 15k RPM SCSI drives in the HDD cage (which is right in front of the 2 intake fans) have made temps go up 5-10 degrees C all around. I've got a 550W power supply which is being put to the test with all the drives and peripherals I've got running off of it but the Doc5 watches 12v and 5v power and I've never had it drop more than 5% or so.

My next case will be one of Asetek's VapoChill cases if they ever come out with an OEM dual CPU case. From what I hear the VapoChill is even quieter than the liquid-cooled cases. The other advantage is you can pretty safely overclock the sin out of any CPU you put in the Asetek case. Mmm, overclocking dual 2800 MPs

[flaninacupboard]

Well, i've been meaning to put up some pics for while, but i'll do my best to describe...

Main machine is an Athlon XP2000, in a micro ATX case, that i sprayed silver. i connected the PSU fan to the 5v line instead of th 12v, to reduce some noise. in the end i removed the PSU, and it now sits behind the PC, and behind the monitor. this was done so i had some more space inside to build a duct. there's a duct which runs from the rear of the case straight onto the CPU cooler, which has a 6V fan running on it. there is an open ended duct nearby, which runs out of the back of the case, with a short exhaust to make sure the air is not recycled. this machine is -very- quiet, i'm very pleased with it.

My encoder is an Athlon 650, in a cheap generic ATX case. i decided to create a look appropriate to the performance, so it's painted in a textured stone effect finish. looking from the top it looks like a paving slab!! Again this has a 5v PSU fan, and two 6v fans cooling that CPU. this is the second quietest!

My capturer is in a custom painted blue camo midi tower. this again has the undervolted psu fan, and the chip (being a Via C3-800) runs with no fan at all!
the case looks like this, and you can see my mobile phone done in the same way here.



I also have a (now retired) pink camo case as well, in much the same style.

The server for the house is in a totally custom case. there is a sheet of glass, a motherboard, and another sheet of glass. it's damn pretty! the CPU is a P-266 so heatsink and no fan, and the power supply has a row of heat sinks, and no fan at all. the PSU is offboard, laying behind the desk, as is the hard drive, which only spins up for 3 minutes a day. i have to get a pic up of that one...

The final machine is my house mates little project.......
He decided to put his XP2500 into an old blue wooden storage chest, with several layers inside. there's his PSU and SATA HDD on one level, the mobo on the next, and then a level for the fan speed controllers. the CPU and PSU/HDD section are individually ducted with the pipe you use on tumble driers (cheap, effective and widely available!!) and his two ROM/RW drives are in a seperate box on his desk, with long IDE cable down to the chest. he's still tweaking, but this should end up being silent and cool.

[tgpo]

I think the smaller the better



This is my case.

[freak_in_cage_10k]

if i were u i would buy a nice case (aluminioum are 2 expensive) with a good PSU and cut a bit hole in the side and make a window. just make sure u get one with gd airflow abilities, and not 1 too big m8

[zzyzzx]

I'd like to see more large desktop cases.

[stiltman]

I think the smaller the better
This is my case.

Ahhh, of course you didn't say what's inside

[flaninacupboard]

how i would love for it to be true! there's some great case mods on that site, i quite like the toastor!

[Craig Tucker]

I think the smaller the better

Guys with small ones always say that Ask the girls size does matter

[tgpo]

Ahhh, of course you didn't say what's inside

What a waste!!

[stiltman]

You reply to mine after getting your manhood questioned by Craig?
Well, least we know how to right click