Case Chatter

[Fire$torm]

You can thank JerWA for this thread. :D His post in my project thread got me to thinking that a separate thread for this subject would be a nice addition to the forum. The only suggested rule: Please post about cases that you would actually consider buying.

So here is impetus for it all....


I used to do cheap cases too. The HAF 922 I'm using now is the most expensive I've used on a system by a healthy margin. Unfortunately, I'm never going back lol. It's so nice having room, and places to hide cables, and not getting cut every time I put my hand in the case.

Maingear started making a 180mm self contained water cooler. I don't think there's any way to buy one by itself yet (or maybe ever). But if they do go on sale, my 2600k system is totally going in a Silverstone Fortress and I'm gonna put the 180mm water cooler on the inside fan. Should be sweet.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/28091-silverstone-fortress-ft02-mid-tower-case-review.html

http://www.maingear.com/epic/index.php

Original post here. (http://www.setiusa.us/showthread.php?1281-The-Project-A-Sequel&p=13176&viewfull=1#post13176)

I like that FT02. Its style is a tad understated but its not offensive. The most I would spend on a case right now is about 200 smackers. One case that I really like is the Corsair Graphite 600T. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139003) It has an awesome feature set. Check out a review here. (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/36421-corsair-graphite-600t-mid-tower-case-video-review.html)
Still my all time favorite case is the Antec SX1040BII (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129120) which I bought back in 02' for about $120. I believe it has been the most copied case ever.

[JerWA]

If you want more of a looker check out the Raven, it's the same case basically with different outside parts.

The reason their current setup is nice is the MB is rotated 90 degrees, so you're bottom intake top exhaust. That's nice, I don't know it's worth the $ though. For me the kicker is that new custom 180mm Maingear cooler that would fit perfectly on the 180mm fans in the Silverstone cases. The front-most intake is right next to the CPU, so it would be perfect to mount a cooler there (and people have, but hacked together 120mm setups on top of the 180mm holes).

They have an even newer one, the TJ11, that's awesome personified. Unfortunately it's also $600 which I'm just not even considering.

[Fire$torm]

Here is another case that I think has a lot of style and nice feature set for the money.

Lian Li PC-K57 (http://www.lancoolpc.com/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=43&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=96&g=f)
http://img807.imageshack.us/img807/7372/lianlipck57.jpg

[Fire$torm]

I discovered this Way Cool case today.

Corsair Vengeance C70
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8294/corsairvengeancec70.jpg

It looks RAD! Nice feature set too. And comes in three colors but I love the Military Green aka Olive Drab. **==

AnandTech Photo Gallery (Here (http://www.anandtech.com/Gallery/Album/1958#1))

AnandTech Review (Here (http://www.anandtech.com/show/5834/corsair-vengeance-c70-case-review-going-for-the-gamers/1))

Guru3D Review (Here (http://www.guru3d.com/article/corsair-vengeance-c70-review/1))

[spingadus]

That's the nicest looking ammo can I've ever seen!

[rgathright]

That's the nicest looking ammo can I've ever seen!

:-bd

[trigggl]

I discovered this Way Cool case today.

Corsair Vengeance C70

It looks RAD! Nice feature set too. And comes in three colors but I love the Military Green aka Olive Drab. **==

AnandTech Photo Gallery (Here (http://www.anandtech.com/Gallery/Album/1958#1))

AnandTech Review (Here (http://www.anandtech.com/show/5834/corsair-vengeance-c70-case-review-going-for-the-gamers/1))

Guru3D Review (Here (http://www.guru3d.com/article/corsair-vengeance-c70-review/1))

You would definitely need Army Flashlight Red for the cooling fan leds.

[Fire$torm]

You would definitely need Army Flashlight Red for the cooling fan leds.

Not sure if anyone produces military red fans but you could make your own using 660nm LEDs

Digikey: LN28CALXU (http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/LN28CALXU/P604-ND/644224) & WP3A8HD (http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/WP3A8HD/754-1218-ND/1747617)

LEDTronics: http://www.ledtronics.com/Products/ProductsDetails.aspx?WP=1181

eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/QTY-12-BR5351K-RECTANGULAR-LED-RED-2X5MM-660NM-3MCD-TINTED-DIFFUSED-2PIN-09901-/261016655158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc5ce1536

[Fire$torm]

This is one really cool case. It is bigger then the pic suggests, 17.4" x 13" x 16.7"

The HAF XB
http://www.pcgameshardware.de/screenshots/811x455/2012/11/11.jpg


In the top section you can fit a 140x280mm rad in the front and 120x120mm in the rear (Nice spot for VGA WC rad.). Also supports a 200mm fan on top.

Newegg Video Overview (Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr-06GLSLC8))

Cool Master Interactive page (Link (http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/landing/hafxb/))

[Fire$torm]

I was going to post this in the "Deals & Savings" thread but figured this one could use a bump.

Newegg has a sale on the Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 midtower case for $79.99 with Promo Code EMCYTZT3598 and before $10.00 MIR (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352031&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS061513&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS061513-_-EMC-061513-Index-_-ComputerCases-_-11352031-L04B))

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/11-352-031-Z01?$S300W$

I have the original version of this case and I really like. Great styling and airflow. This revision includes most of the perks seen on other quality cases like front USB 3.0 ports, Front (x2), top(x2) & bottom(x1) mount points for 120/140mm fans, 140mm rear fan, front & top mount point for most rads up to 120x240, integrated fan & PSU dust filters, large side panel window, 7+1 expansion slots, etc...

Reviews of the Arc Midi R2
Tweaktown (Link (http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5412/fractal-design-arc-midi-r2-mid-tower-chassis-review/index.html))
Bit-tech (Link (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2013/05/10/fractal-design-arc-midi-r2-review/1))
Guru3D (Link (http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/fractal_design_arc_midi_r2_review,1.html))
Overclockers (Link (http://www.overclockers.com/fractal-design-arc-midi-r2-midtower-case-review/))
Hardware Secrets (Link (http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Fractal-Design-Arc-Midi-R2-Case-Review/1744))

Promo Code & Rebate expire on 06.16.2013

[Fire$torm]

Just discovered Cooler Master has come up with a little brother/sister to the Cosmos II, The Cosmos SE.

http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?ct=articles&action=file&id=7236&admin=0a8fcaad6b03da6a6895d1ada2e171002a287bc1

Guru3D Review (Link (http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/cooler_master_cosmos_se_review,1.html))

Newegg price: $169.99 (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119285&Tpk=Cooler%20Master%20Cosmos%20SE))

Note: It's listed as a full tower but doesn't come close to that. It's a mid-tower.

[DrPop]

Does she deliver it by any chance? ;)

[c303a]

I'll take 2 as long as she delivers and my wife isn't home!

[Duke of Buckingham]

I could go to her home.

No, she is coming ...

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/going-home-stylianos-kleanthous.html
Site forbidden to weak hearts.:p Joking some very good pictures, I think.

[Chron3]

Agreed. Definitely the easiest build I ever did. I finally retired the half-tower case I'd been using for about 7 years when I monitored the temps.

The HAF brought me down ~ 10 degrees with better airflow and room for a bigger, badder cooler (haven't gone water-cooled yet, but that is coming when I have some spare $$ and tinker time).

Top and sides come off for super easy access to internals, the mobo tray lifts out, drives and PSU squirreled away underneath.

It does dominate the desktop though.

[Fire$torm]

Found another new entrant into the "Not your Usual Case" category.

Introducing the XFX Type01 ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1860011/width/500/height/1000/flags/LL

http://www.overclock.net/content/type/61/id/1860004/width/500/height/1000/flags/LL

I like it! It has a very Japanese Industrial look to it. Since it's so new, I can't find any reliable reviews on it yet. We'll just have to wait and see.

XFX page (Link (http://products.xfxforce.com/en-us/PC_Case/Type_1_Bravo/TY-PE1B-3000))

Newegg Listing: $129.99 + 5.95 Shipping (Link (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811207003))

[Fire$torm]

Another kool looking case. This one is for mini-ITX MBs only.

The Xigmatek Aquila
http://c1.neweggimages.com/BizIntell/item/11/815/11-815-041/banner.jpg

Although Newegg has the white version in stock, they are asking $129.99 + $9.72 Shipping (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815041&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=PPSSMZNLRCYNOY-_-11-815-041-_-Product)

NCIX has them as pre-orders, in both Black (http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=99804) and White (http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=99805), but they only want $99.99 (Their shipping fee is unclear atm)